Stay Focused, Be Prepared To Re-Invent Yourself
Career Women Agree at International Women’s Day Event
Times Change Women’s Employment Service celebrates IWD with networking breakfast

Gloria Steinem once said, “I have yet to hear a man ask for advice about how to combine marriage and a career.” 

But women, who are out of a job or underemployed, are more than willing to ask for advice. They want to learn about work-life balance, career strategy, managing conflict in the workplace, caring for an aging parent and dealing with ageism.

At the annual International Women’s Day event at Times Change on Friday, March 5th, women gathered at a breakfast networking event designed to help women find success at work. 

The Path to Employment Success event featured a panel of dynamic women including Lois Marsh, Documentation Manager, from BMO Financial Group, Lori Lennox, who conducts the reception for The Simple Alternative Funeral Services, Karen Bertrand, registered nurse and Vice President of the Ontario Nurses Association and Rachel Walters, Volunteer Coordinator at the City of Toronto.

Along with the four other women, Audrey Campbell, a volunteer President of the Jamaican Canadian Association also shared her workplace experiences. Campbell, a businesswoman and entrepreneur learned early that a no from a potential client means they need more information.

Says Campbell: “Never accept no for an answer. If you hit a no, it means you’re not giving them the right information.” Campbell began working in her teens and along the way she learned how to read people and manage business relationships. She advised the women, “Never let anyone tell you, you can’t do something.”

Lois Marsh, agreed with Campbell that a 'no’ does not have to be the end of the discussion. Ms. Marsh tried a number of jobs before she found her true calling. “Thirty-five,” she confesses, “was a big turning point.” She moved from Los Angeles to Toronto and returned to night school. In her current position, she writes, edits and interacts with people. “I’m doing what I love to do,” she says. She often uses strategy to promote herself within her company. She advised the audience members: “get to know the people who influence change and make them aware of your skills.”

Rachel Walters, Volunteer Coordinator with the City of Toronto, was out of the workforce for many years as a stay at home mom. Then, one day her husband came home and told her their marriage was over. Ms. Walters went back to school and enrolled in a program in Volunteer Management. After that she returned for her fundraising certificate. She’s fortunate. She bounced back. “I love my career in volunteer management,” she says. “The bonus is I get paid for it.”

Karen Bertrand, President of the Ontario Nurses Association learned a lot from her very first part-time nursing job. Her mother helped her to get the job when positions in her field were scarce. “I was 20 years old and I worked one day a week. The pay wasn’t terrific but it was about getting job experience.” She now works as a Long Term Care nurse in a career that gave her the flexibility to be available to her children when they were growing up. 

Participants received door prizes donated by local businesses.  Thank you to all the businesses who donated gifts for participants: TD Financial Group, Cineplex Odeon Theatres, The Big Carrot, Goodlife Fitness, Herbal Clinic and Dispensary, Pharma Plus and the Artists' Health Centre Foundation.

Our grand raffle prize of a $100 gift certificate to spa services was generously donated by Body Blitz Spa.

Click here to see the photos from our fun and inspiring event and be sure to check back with us next year if you’d like to attend! New clients welcome!

For media inquiries please contact:

Iona Frost, Marketing/Outreach Coordinator
Tel: (416) 927-1900 x234 (direct)
Fax: (416) 927-7212

Times Change Women's Employment Service
365 Bloor St. East, Suite 1003, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4
Telephone:(416) 927-1900, ext. 0

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