Cornerstone event: April Workshop
7th Annual Making Waves Workshop
Saturday, April 26th 2025
​
​
Making Waves is made with, by, and for young women, queer and gender diverse people, aged 14-24, who want to speak up and make a difference.
​
At this inspiring all-day workshop, you will learn:
-
the importance and power of your voice
-
why speaking up matters,
-
how to make change.
You will connect with like-minded young people, as well as adults, who care about gender equality and investing in youth.
​
Making Waves was co-founded by Avery Simard when she was 17 years old, as a way to build an intergenerational community of women who care about equality, especially gender equality. The workshop is inspiring, content-rich, energizing, and impactful.
The young wavemakers planning the workshop wanted to:
1) learn more about what is happening in the world and how this impacts young people and their futures.
​
2) have more opportunities to connect with participants in small groups.
For our 7th Annual Making Waves Workshop we will be joined by:
​
• Janis Irwin, NDP MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, who will talk about how the personal is political and engage in an animated Q&A.
​
• Ziyana Kotadia, young wavemaker and gender justice advocate, who will help us understand what is happening in the world right now, and what is needed to make change.
​
• Shari Graydon, catalyst of Informed Opinions, who will share stories and research to make clear why women’s voices matter, why we need to speak up, and how to do so effectively.
​
• Shannon Norberg, co-owner of art gallery Norberg Hall, works to advance gender equality for artists, and will lead a tour on gender equality through the art collection at Bennett Jones.
​
There will be lots of opportunities to learn, to connect, and to practice speaking up.
And did you know that the workshop is introvert friendly?
Making Waves is a safe no-fail environment, where you can speak up as little or as much as you want.
​
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, including Bennett Jones and The Calgary Foundation, as well as a dedicated group of supporters, the workshop is FREE!
If you (or an adult in your life) would like to support Making Waves, we very happily accept donations (see homepage)
​
Making Waves is for all young women, non-binary, trans, and gender diverse individuals aged 14-24.
There are just 50 spots!
Proposed Agenda
9:30 Doors Open, Jones Boardroom, Bennett Jones. Light Breakfast
10:00 Shari Graydon, Informed Opinions
11:45 Janis Irwin, MLA
1:00 Lunch & Gender Equality Art Tour with Shannon Norberg
1:30 Ziyana Kotadia: Making Sense of the World
2:00 Co-Creating an Equal World
3:00 Co-Creating Actions for an Equal World
4:00 Ask Anyone Anything
4:30 Farewell (Informal networking until 5 pm)
Food and beverages provided. Water is available all day.
Bring something to take notes with. Wifi is free.
​​
We can't wait to spend the day together with you!
​
Inaugural Work Shop: April 2019
The very first Making Waves Workshop was held in the stunning board room of Bennett Jones, and was attended by 50 young women and supported by 20 accomplished adult women. It was an inspirational and magical day! Shari Graydon of Informed Opinions held a 2 hour workshop, which was followed by a catered lunch. The afternoon started with a panel of young women who shared their experiences, concerns and aspirations for the future, and invited the participants to take the mic and join the conversation. For the final session 10 adult women told their stories of agency, in a fast-paced style. Interspersed throughout the day were opportunities to practice networking and building a support network. Created by and for young women, the day was a massive success.
Photo credit: Monique de St.Croix
Photo credit: Monique de St.Croix
Making Waves goes virtual
April 2020
Weeks before the April 2020 workshop, planned with an entire new group of young wavemakers, the pandemic swept the world. Our young wavemakers insisted the workshop take place, as everything else was being cancelled. We quickly adjusted and created a concise and impactful 3.5 hour online Zoom event. This was an astonishing success!
When it was safe, we organized a responsibly planned, outdoor, in-person event. In this year of covid, we decided to keep connected, to keep going with Making Waves. We created new and exciting opportunities to practice speaking up. ​​
We also expanded by adding committee members from St. Albert and Toronto. We are proud of these changes and will continue to adapt to keep making waves!
