The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their
Jennifer Hodge
Image: Myseum of Toronto.
Hodge de Silva’s commitment to storytelling and representation broke barriers in the Canadian filmmaking industry.
1951-1989 | Documentary Filmmaker
During the 1970s and 1980s, Jennifer Hodge de Silva made a significant impact on the Canadian film industry. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Black filmmaker to consistently collaborate with both the National Film Board and the CBC. De Silva’s acclaimed body of documentary work focused on social issues. Her film Home Feeling: A Struggle for Community (1983), co-directed with Robert McTair, has become a staple in film studies programs across Canada. In 1982, she married fellow filmmaker Paul de Silva, and together they established the production company Jenfilms Inc.
Hodge de Silva’s commitment to storytelling and representation broke barriers in the Canadian filmmaking industry and serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers seeking to make a meaningful difference through their art.
Explore more women who transformed Toronto.
Explore More
Content
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.