Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929 - 2018)

American author and novelist of

speculative fiction, including science fiction;

first woman to win the Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel;

second woman honoured as a Grand Master of the

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America;

A Wizard of Earthsea and The Left Hand of Darkness

are considered to be her masterpieces.

Kenojuak Ashevak

Kenojuak Ashevak (1927 - 2013)

Canadian Inuk artist of graphic art,

drawings and prints in stone cut, lithography and etching;

a leading, pioneer figure of modern Inuit art and

one of Canada's preeminent artists and cultural icons.

This 2 minute video of Kenojuak Ashevak and her art 

celebrates her 2008 receipt of the Governor-General's Award

in Visual and Media Arts --

Michaëlle Jean

Michaëlle Jean (1957 -     )

Canadian former journalist and broadcaster,

served as Governor-General of Canada (2005 to 2010),

first Haitian Canadian and black person to hold that office.

Mckenna Grace

Mckenna Grace (2006 -     )

American actor and singer;

Prolific child actor now transitioning

to adult roles in movies and TV;

Films include Gifted, Captain Marvel, and I, Tonya

Dame Julie Walters

Dame Julie Walters (1950 -     )

English actor of stage, film and TV fame;

First film: Educating Rita (1983)

Latest Film: Paddington in Peru (2024)

Rabbi Alysa Stanton

Rabbi Alysa Stanton (1963 -     )

Renée Fleming

Renée Fleming (1959 -     )

American lyric soprano and opera star;

Artistic Advisor at Large for the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC,

until her recent resignation in protest following Donald Trump’s

self-appointment as Chair of the Kennedy Center.

Colonel Bree Fram

Colonel Bree Fram

American military officer US Air Force and Space Force,

astronautical engineer, and transgender activist,

highest-ranking transgender officer in the US Armed Forces.

Rita Dove

Rita Dove (1952 -     )

American poet and essayist

Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1987)

United States Poet Laureate (1993-95)

Poet Laureate of Virginia (2004-06)

Fran Lebowitz

Fran Lebowitz (1950 -     )

American author, public speaker, and actor, 

known for sardonic social commentary on American life.

Cher

Cher (1946 -     )

American singer and actor,

awards include an Oscar for Best Actress (1987),

a Prime Time Emmy and a Grammy,

inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,

advocate and fundraiser for causes including

LGBTQ rights and HIV/AIDS prevention,

fashion and gay icon.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie (1867 - 1934)

Polish-French physicist and chemist

Discoverer of polonium and radium

Pioneer researcher of radioactivity

Nobel Laureate in Physics (1903)

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (1911)

First person to win the Nobel Prize two times.

Diana Ross

Diana Ross (1944 -     )

American singer and actor;

lead singer of The Supremes;

hugely successful solo career;

"The Queen of Motown Records"

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow (1973 -     )

American TV news program host

and liberal political commentator;

author, radio broadcaster and podcaster;

first openly lesbian anchor to host a 

major prime-time news program in the USA.

Zaya Wade

Zaya Wade (2007 -     )

American model and influencer;

Transgender and LGBTQ+ activist

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964)

American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist;

her seminal book Silent Spring (1962) about

the harm caused by synthetic pesticides

is credited with helping to launch the 

global environmental movement.

Margaret Cho

Margaret Cho (1968 -     )

American stand-up comedian and actor

humanitarian activist on behalf of 

women's, Asian and LGBTQ rights.

Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman (1964 -     )

American singer-songwriter;

political and social activist.

Emily Carr

Emily Carr (1871-1945)

Canadian artist and writer;

inspired by the Indigenous peoples

of the Pacific Northwest Coast in British Columbia;

one of the first painters in Canada to adopt 

a Modernist and Post-Impressionist painting style;

achieved her artistic vision despite obscurity, poverty and eccentricity.

Big Raven, 1931

(her most famous painting)

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep (1949 -     )

American actor;

Winner of 3 Academy Awards, 9 Golden Globes

and 3 Emmys, among many other awards;

Most Academy Award nominations of any actor (21);

Often called "the best actress of her generation."

Viola Desmond

Viola Desmond (1914 - 1965)

Canadian businesswoman, civil and women's rights activist,

arrested, convicted and fined for challenging racial segregation

in a Nova Scotia cinema in 1946 (pardoned in 2010);

in 2018, she became the first Canadian-born woman

to appear alone on a Canadian bank note (our current $10 bill),

with the Canadian Human Rights Museum on the reverse.

Len Pennie

Len Pennie (1999 -     )

Scottish published poet, Scots language performer and writer,

mental health activist as survivor of intimate partner violence;

internet sensation on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram

In this short video, she recites one of her best known poems

I'm no havin children, with additional commentary --

Ágnes Klein Keleti

Ágnes Klein Keleti (1921 - 2025)

Hungarian-Israeli artistic gymnast and coach;

Holocaust survivor; Olympic multi-medallist at the 

1952 Olympics (Helsinki) and 1956 Olympics (Melbourne)

with 5 gold,  3 silver, and 2 bronze;

current record-holder as longest-lived Olympic champion.

Amanda Nguyen

Amanda Nguyen (1991 -     )

Vietnamese-American founder and CEO of

Rise, an NGO civil rights organization;

author of the federal Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016

establishing statutory rights for sexual assault survivors,

particularly in regard to rape kits;

will be the first Southeast Asian woman to fly to space

as a Blue Origin astronaut.

Millie Bailey

Millie Bailey (1918 - 2022)

American World War II veteran, civil servant, volunteer and fundraiser;

one of the first African American officers in the Women's Army Corps;

served as a commander of the Women's Colored Detachment.

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull (1946-2025)

British singer and actor,

1960s British pop icon,

noted interpreter in later years of

Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill songs.

Irshad Manji

Irshad Manji (1968 -     )

Canadian author, media personality, and educator;

critic of Islamic Fundamentalism;

founder of Moral Courage College;

asserts that diversity of viewpoints with respect

for freedom of speech automatically results

in diversity of demographics and inclusion.

Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones (1974 -     )

Canadian lawyer and championship curler,

Olympic gold medallist with Team Canada

at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.