From the Editor: In honour of International Women’s Day, three women who shaped my life
Art by Chelsea Lai
Growing up, it was always ingrained in me that I could do anything I set my mind to and be whoever I wanted to be — whether it be a teacher, journalist, or artist — regardless of my gender.
This has a lot to do with my upbringing, by watching the women closest to me do incredible things, even when they weren’t always recognized or got the credit they deserve.
In a world where it can be so easy to give up on your aspirations or be told you’re not good enough, I want to highlight the women who have shaped me into the woman I am today — my mom, Carol Laflamme, and my aunts, Christina and AJ Laflamme.
My mom was a single mother and had a hard upbringing, so she had to do a lot of things on her own. She has always been strong, no matter what cards she was dealt that day, week, or month.
Life wasn’t always easy, but she taught me resilience, how to overcome adversity, and to never give up, no matter how difficult things got. She showed me how to think outside of the box and that there is always a solution to a problem, even if it seems like there isn’t. I have watched my mom overcome money troubles, heartbreak, and addiction, all while doing chores like cooking, cleaning, and laundry. She is the strongest person I know, and I will always admire her perseverance, even if it was difficult.
She also always went the extra mile to make chores and events fun. I remember making homemade pizza and coconut cookies with her in the kitchen while listening to 2008 hits from the speaker in the living room. She always knew how to throw the best birthday parties with whichever theme I wanted that particular year, from Harry Potter to Hello Kitty. She bought so many character-shaped cake tins from Bulk Barn so she could make me a cake, all while creating the decorations for the party from scratch. Her mindset has taught me so much and I will forever be grateful for that.
My aunt Christina’s mindset is insanely positive, and something I will always admire. I have seen her accomplish so much from running over 50 marathons and climbing the CN Tower stairs to riding a bike across the country alone twice and creating a YouTube channel of her hiking journeys around the world.
From all these things, she taught me anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Growing up, I would visit her often in Toronto, where she lives. I lived in St. Catharines, a small city in Ontario, and remember her saying “Oh yes you can!” when someone said or felt like they couldn’t do something. This has always stayed with me, even during times when people have told me I wasn’t capable of achieving my goals.
When I would visit her, we would always try something new — whether it be trying a new dish, experience, or activity — this has stuck with me when traveling to new places or hanging out with friends. She is never afraid to try new things and step out of her comfort zone, which has shaped me into the person I am today.
Stepping out of your comfort zone can be scary, and this is exactly what my aunt AJ did during the pandemic. Before, she was a stage manager for theater productions. Stage managers help communicate the creative and technical departments in the show, which includes overseeing the sets, props, lights, and sound in addition to managing technical cues during a performance.
A year after the pandemic hit, she had to change her career as the theater industry was still on pause. This can be a very challenging and sometimes devastating thing to do as she was a stage manager for several years. She moved on to working as a public servant, and she really enjoys it now. She taught me to always push through in difficult situations and that it’s okay if things don’t work out, you can always try something else.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my mom and two aunts. They have taught me so many valuable lessons and given me strength to always keep going and step outside of my comfort zone.
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the accomplishments women have made, no matter how big or small. However, it is vital to also look beyond the day to celebrate and acknowledge the women who change your life everyday like these women did for me.
