The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their
Columbia "Coco"
Image: Myseum of Toronto.
Columbia Diaz empowered newcomers and caregivers through education and advocacy for rights through her relentless community organizing work.
1953 - 2018 | Community Organizer for Domestic Workers and Caregivers
Born in the Philippines, Columbia Diaz immigrated to Toronto in 1980 to work as a nanny and quickly became a fierce advocate for caregivers’ and domestic workers’ rights in Canada. From the early years of INTERCEDE for the Rights of Domestic Workers, Caregivers, and Newcomers, she played an integral role until its closure. Diaz was a founding member of the Caregiver Connections, Education, and Support Organization (CCESO), a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to educating and supporting newcomers and caregivers.
Diaz’s unwavering advocacy and dedication have empowered care workers and shaped government policies to protect the rights of caregivers and domestic workers.
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The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their stories.
Marcus Garvey and the UNIA
Learn how --
Winners & Losers
Sports Histories of Toronto
Meet The 52
Explore the full list of 52 remarkable women that make up the foundation of our multi-year project.
Bianca Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu has raised the global profile of tennis for Canadians. As one of the youngest winners of a Grand Slam singles title, Andreescu is the highest-ranked Canadian in Women’s
Beatrice Worsley
Beatrice Worsley is recognized as Canada’s first female computer scientist. Her lifetime of research and work in the field were at the forefront of Canada’s burgeoning computer science sector.
Menaka Thakkar
Menaka Thakkar established Canada’s first professional Indian dance company in 1978. Thakkar blended different cultural dance styles to co-create a performance called “East Meets West” in which she bridged cultural
Kathleen Taylor
Kathleen Taylor breaks ground no matter what industry she stands in. An accomplished business leader, her career continues to break barriers and light the way for women at major corporate
Emily Stowe
Emily Stowe was a founder of the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association and the first female physician to publicly practice medicine in Ontario.
Min Sook Lee
Min Sook Lee is an industry-recognized filmmaker who advocates for social justice at the intersection of art and social change through her films and professorship at OCAD University.