Hosted by Denise Vourtzoumis and Daniel Johnson, the Montreal International Women’s Day Breakfast is a celebration of leadership, inspiration, and connection.
Vourtzoumis, co-founder of the Women’s Day breakfast explains, “Behind every woman is a story. A story shaped by family, by mentors, by friendships, and by the women who believed in us before we even knew we were meant to become. These moments remind us of something very important – none of us arrive here alone.”
Women of all ages, from students to established leaders, come together to share ideas, build networks, and honour the accomplishments shaping our communities. It’s more than a breakfast. It’s a movement empowering the next generation of changemakers.
“It was amazing to be selected as student of honour and an MC this year. I’ve known Daniel Johnson since high school. He had a leadership program that I was part of and it’s like a full circle moment. So I’m very proud to be here today,” said Evelyne Redjebian, a student of honour and co-master of ceremonies.
Daniel Johnson, the co-founder of Montreal Women’s Day breakfast, says, “This is an incredible classroom. We can bring students together to learn from women who have trailblazed, who have broken through the glass ceiling, who have overcome challenges and improved the world, but also created more opportunities. So it’s important for the next generation to honour that, to see it, and to participate in that conversation and even for my own daughters too.”
While Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, a businesswoman and entrepreneur, explained that, “It’s always important to introduce yourself in the language, I think, first and foremost…My cause is our nation, our people, as Indigenous, because we don’t often get represented in spaces, you know. So if we’re invited, it’s important to show up, and it’s important to share and educate. I was so honored to be able to…start our day off in a good way this morning, and have people combine together in the attitude of gratitude, of creation.”
Johnson adding, “This belief and this idea that this world can be better, that if we take opportunities that are in front of us, if we listen and we learn, then we can do the work to improve our communities, our country, and the environment right around us.”
As for advice, Redjebian would offer to other girls her age, “Push yourself, you have more potential than you think you do. Like you can do whatever you want to do, whatever you set your mind to, and if something doesn’t work out, something else will. There’s always a path, there’s something that will work out at the end.”
Sky-Deer added, “They should use their voices, that they should take risks, that they need to authentically be themselves. For you to be the next role model or to be, we all like to use the word a good ancestor. There’s going to come a time when I’m no longer here, and I would like to think that I left some kind of an impact behind, or I opened up doors, or I did something that was impactful.”
Vourtzoumis says, “Honestly, it warms my heart to see a room as full as this. You’re all very special.”
