The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their
Image: Myseum of Toronto.
Jill Andrew is the first Black and queer person elected into the Ontario Legislature. Her platform stands for race and social justice, healthcare equity, and the benefits of arts and culture.
Member of Provincial Parliament, Community Organizer, and Body Image Advocate
In 2018, Jill Andrew made history as the first Black queer person elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto-St. Paul’s. She serves as the Culture Critic, Heritage Critic, and Women’s Issues Critic for the Official Opposition and co-founded the Ontario NDP Ontario Black Caucus – the first of its kind in the province. Outside of politics, Andrew co-founded Body Confidence Canada and is an award-winning educator and advocate for equity, human rights, and body-image. She is a community co-owner of Glad Day Bookshop, the world’s oldest LGBT bookstore, as well as an avid volunteer and donor – supporting organizations across the GTA that prioritize Black and racialized communities, youth, women, the arts, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and chronic health advocacy.
Andrew’s dedication and leadership continue to shape a more just and inclusive city for all.
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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.