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Voices of Resilience

May 2, 2026

EFry Week takes place from May 4 to 10, 2026, in the lead-up to Mother’s Day. Across Canada, Elizabeth Fry Societies mark this week by engaging their communities and raising awareness of the issues facing women, girls, and gender-diverse people who are at risk, involved in, or affected by the justice system.

Each year, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver (EFry) marks its founding (in 1939) with a week dedicated to raising awareness of its work and the issues facing women, girls, and gender-diverse people who are at risk, involved in, or affected by the justice system.

For seven days, communities across the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island come together through events, conversations, landmark lightings, and municipal proclamations. Landmarks light up in blue and cities formally recognize EFry Week, helping bring visibility to gender-based violence (GBV) and its disproportionate impact on women, gender-diverse people, and girls in Canada.

Each year, EFry Week highlights a specific area of focus. In 2026, EFry is shining a spotlight on gender-based violence and its impacts across our communities. Throughout the week, events create space for learning, reflection, and dialogue, while increasing understanding of the realities faced by those supported through EFry’s programs.

How Can You Participate?

There are many ways to take part in EFry Week. Attend an event, engage with the conversations happening across communities, and help raise awareness by sharing information and resources within your own networks. You can also stay connected by following EFry and signing up for updates to learn more about our work throughout the year, or support this work through donations, partnerships, and advocacy.

Voices of Resilience – A Conversation on Gender Based Violence

Join us on Monday, May 4th, for a powerful gathering that raises awareness and inspires action to end gender-based violence.
This is a limited, closed-invitation event, taking place at Northview Golf & Country Club.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, MD, CCFP

Hear from Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, as she raises awareness and inspires action to end gender-based violence.

Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, MD, CCFP is a visionary leader, physician, author and advocate whose work spans clinical practice, health system transformation and social justice advocacy. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President of North America for the Medical Women’s International Association and Past President of the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, representing and amplifying the voices of women physicians worldwide and the healthcare empowerment of all women and girls.

Prior to this, she was the President of Doctors of BC in (2022-2023) where she played a pivotal role in shaping healthcare policy, gender equity, cultural safety & humility for truth and reconciliation and advancing primary care reform in British Columbia.

She was the first Punjabi female in 122 years to lead the association.

She was also previously the President of BC Family Doctors, served as a board member for her Division of Family Practice and on the Child Health BC board for four years.

She also launched the Health Justice Alliance, a groundbreaking intersectoral initiative bringing together physicians and lawyers to explore collaborative approaches to improving the family justice system. She has also been appointed to the Collaborative Strategy Justice Commission.

Her leadership extends to multiple professional committees and strategic bodies, including the Physician Services Committee, BC Coroners Service Illicit Drug Toxicity Provincial Steering committee, indigenous specific anti racism steering committee and the Provincial Digital Health Leadership Committee.

She is a passionate force for healthcare equity, human rights, and challenging the status quo. A mother of three daughters, survivor and keynote speaker Dr. Dosanjh combines compassion, resilience and strategic vision to inspire change within medicine and beyond.

Follow Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh Online:

Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | X/Twitter | Website

Voices of Resilience Panelist: Hermina Khara

From Surviving to Thriving: A collective call to end gender-based violence

Hermina Khara is a Partner at Odgers, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm, where she advises boards, CEOs, and founders on senior leadership appointments and critical leadership transitions across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. With more than 25 years of experience, she has built her career across leadership, strategy, and organizational transformation. She began in financial services and asset management, where she led inside sales teams and developed a strong commercial foundation in performance, client relationships, and revenue growth.
 
She later moved into recruitment, where she was a co-founder of Strive Recruitment, an established Vancouver-based firm.
 
She went on to spend a decade inside a global organization, where she progressed from leading talent acquisition, supporting international expansion and scaling teams, to serving on the executive team as Senior Vice President, People and Culture. In that role, she led enterprise-wide transformation, supported expansion into new global markets, and built the People and Culture infrastructure required to scale the organization through its next phase of growth.

Her work is grounded in firsthand operating experience, bringing both perspective and judgment to complex leadership decisions.

Having been the only woman of colour at the executive table, she brings a deeply held commitment to advancing women and underrepresented leaders. She believes sponsorship is not an act of generosity, it is a responsibility of leadership. Beyond her professional work, Hermina is an active contributor to the broader leadership and community ecosystem. She serves as a Board Member of the Better Not Bitter Society and as a Regional Ambassador Council Member with Women Get On Board, and is engaged with organizations including Laadliyan, the BeaYOUtiful Foundation, and Dress for Success. Based in Vancouver, she brings a deep connection to the region and its leadership community. Her community involvement reflects a broader commitment to expanding access, advancing women into leadership, and supporting the next generation in realizing their potential.

Follow Hermina Khara Online: Instagram | LinkedIn

Voices of Resilience Panelist: Katrina Chen

From Surviving to Thriving: A collective call to end gender-based violence

Katrina Chen (陳葦蓁) immigrated to Canada from Taiwan on her own and began her career in grassroots community work before serving as a Trustee on the Burnaby Board of Education. She was later elected MLA for Burnaby–Lougheed and became the first Taiwanese-born Canadian appointed to the BC Cabinet as Minister of State for Child Care, where she helped lay the groundwork for the $10-a-Day child caresystem.

With nearly 20 years in community service, Katrina is now a life and impact coach and the President of 安信 Community Savings, B.C.’s first credit union initiative serving Chinese-language communities. A survivor of gender-based violence, she is also the author of A Stronger Home, a picture book about family violence, healing, and the meaning of home. She continues to advocate for child care, public education and equity.

Follow Katrina Chen Online: Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Threads | Website | Updates

 

 

Voices of Resilience Panelist: Mariat Jibril

From Surviving to Thriving: A collective call to end gender-based violence

Mariat Jibril is a global speaker, storyteller, and leadership advisor with over 20 years of executive experience across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.

She is the Founder of Better Not Bitter Society, a nationally recognized organization advancing mental wellbeing, equity, and community resilience through storytelling and inclusive programming. 

Mariat is known for delivering powerful, honest conversations that move people and shift systems from surviving to truly thriving.

She is the Founder & Chief Happy Officer for MIJ Consulting.

Follow Mariat Jibril Online:

Instagram | LinkedIn | Website