October 14, 2025
Education News Canada

ST. CLAIR COLLEGE
Power and Progress: A celebration of International Day of the Girl at St. Clair College

October 14, 2025

Breaking barriers. Leading transformation. Shaping more inclusive workspaces.

These are just some of the topics discussed at the International Day of the Girl Stakeholder Breakfast celebration, hosted by Build a Dream at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts Skyline Ballroom on Oct. 9, 2025.

Monica Staley Liang, Nour Hachem (with her daughter) and Yvonne Pilon pose for a picture at the International Day of the Girl at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts on Oct. 9, 2025. (Rich Garton/St. Clair College)

The theme of this year's breakfast was 'Power and Progress: Women Driving Growth and Innovation,' celebrating women breaking barriers, driving economic growth, and fostering inclusive workplaces.

Stories were shared by women leaders in the community, with a range of perspectives covering the role of women in the workplace areas like business, politics, and education.

"On behalf of St. Clair College, I want to thank Build a Dream for bringing us together to honour and empower the next generation of leaders our future innovators, builders, protectors, and changemakers," said Monica Staley Liang, the Senior Vice President of Academic and Career Supports at St. Clair College. "When I walk through our campus and classrooms, I see determination. I see women welding, coding, designing, analyzing data, and learning about saving lives."

"Across our campuses, young women are shaping industries and redefining what's possible in our skilled trades labs, our STEM programs, our emergency response training, and in so many other fields that have traditionally been underrepresented by women," said Staley Liang.

The stakeholder breakfast featured a panel discussion, introduced by Staley Liang, featuring Janelle Abela, Surria Fadel, Sarah Mushtaq and Josianna Marsan, and moderated by Yvonne Pilon, the president of WEtech Alliance.

"Each of the leaders shared their personal 'why' that drives them to make inclusion a priority - not only because it's good for people, but because it fuels growth and innovation," Pilon said. "At a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is being dismantled and global trade disruptions create uncertainty, our panelists reminded us that now more than ever, we must ensure inclusion remains a top priority in our workplaces and communities."

"Engaging the other 50 per cent of the population isn't just the right thing to do - it's how we unlock solutions to our biggest economic challenges," Pilon said.

The International Day of the Girl Stakeholder Breakfast is Build a Dream's annual fundraiser, and St. Clair College was the title sponsor of the event.

Proceeds from the event support programs for girls and young women across Canada.

Rooted in workforce transformation, professional support, and access, these initiatives include Career Discovery Expos, Dreamer Day and our newly launched Trade-Skills Development Incubator all designed for hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities to empower the next generation to explore careers in skilled trades, STEM, emergency response, and leadership.

"Together, we're not just celebrating girls - we're celebrating the future of power and progress," said Staley Liang.

For more information

St. Clair College
2000 Talbot Road West
Windsor Ontario
Canada N9A 6S4
www.stclaircollege.ca/


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