The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their
Phyllis "Yogi"
Image: Myseum of Toronto.
Phyllis Bomberry was a trailblazer for Indigenous women in sports. As a vocal advocate for racial unity within sports, her legacy lives on in Canadian sports today.
1937 - 2020 | Softball Player
Phyllis Bomberry’s athletic journey began at a young age, excelling in softball house leagues both on and off the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. Dubbed “Yogi” for her exceptional catching skills, she became a star player on the Ohsweken Mohawks team (1951-1963). Recognized for her talent, Yogi joined The Toronto Carpetland team in the Ontario Senior Women’s League. The team achieved back-to-back victories in the Senior Canadian Women’s Softball Championship in 1967 and 1968, with Yogi earning top batter and all-star catcher distinctions. In 1969, the team won gold at the inaugural Canada Games – where Yogi was hailed as the Most Valuable Player and all-star catcher once again.
As the first woman to receive the Tom Longboat award, Yogi broke barriers for Indigenous women in sports, inspiring generations of athletes.
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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.