Blissdom Canada: Follow Your Dreams, They Know the Way #BlissdomCA

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be asked to speak on a panel at Blissdom Canada. Naturally, I said yes despite how busy my life is right now. I would have gone to Blissdom Canada even if I hadn’t been asked to speak; being a part of a panel was a bonus.  I love sharing my story with other amazing bloggers, media people, and entrepreneurs and Blissdom Canada is the perfect opportunity for that.

My panel was called Life By Design, and there were 3 speakers and a wonderful moderator. Each of the speakers spoke about a life changing moment and how following their instinct had brought them fulfillment. I spoke about how I’d always  wanted to be a journalist, telling the story about how I used to talk into my hairbrush and pretend it was a microphone. I also shared the story of how, when I was a little girl, I had gone up to my parents waving a copy of the Montreal Gazette; telling my parents I would write for it one day and my mother responded, “No you want to own it one day”. All of this became a reality earlier this year when I was offered my own weekly Op-Ed column in the Montreal Gazette. Life was amazing! Then it got better – I was offered my job with City News Montreal.

But that job almost didn’t happen. Media, especially videographers, aren’t supposed to have opinions, and my Op-Ed column and blog are not exactly neutral. Maintaining my online presence and the community I have worked so hard to build over the years is important to me. Thankfully, City News believed in my voice. The life I now live was born. I am so proud to host a regular segment #DiverseCity on CityNews Montreal and Breakfast Television Montreal as the FIRST hijab-wearing woman on television in Quebec history.  I get the honour of exploring the culturally diverse communities in Montreal and sharing those stories with our viewers. Thankfully, it’s on a network that exemplifies our nation’s diversity at its finest by hiring not one but BOTH of Canada’s first hijab-wearing journalists. Huge hat (or hijab) tip to my colleague Ginella Massa for being the first hijab-wearing television journalist in Canada on CityNews Toronto.

The other speakers had similar stories of perseverance through adversity. Biko Beauttah came to Canada seeking political asylum because she identifies as transgender – a crime in her native Kenya. Biko had to leave everyone and everything she valued in order to be her true self. She came to Canada with only $200 in her pocket, not knowing a soul. Living in a refugee shelter, unable to find work despite her experience and education Biko decided something had to be done. Biko created the change she needed – she created Trans Workforce, a job fair specifically for workers who identify as transgender. She is also a UNCHR #Glambassador – spreading her message of love and tolerance for refugees and the LGBTQ* community. 

Emily Mills had it all – a family, a place in Toronto, and a great paying career with Canada’s national broadcaster working on the morning show as a senior communications strategist.  It was a dream job in a competitive industry but there was something missing.  While working on preparations for Canada’s 150th birthday, Emily noticed that there was a lack of representation and diversity in the stories being told. Where she wondered, were the women like her? So, she created HERstory in Black – a photo project that highlighted 150 black women for CBC.

For years, Emily had been running a side gig called How She Hustles – a diverse network connecting women in the GTA and beyond. When her photo project took off, it earned a lot of attention – including from the Prime Minister. Soon, it became apparent that Emily couldn’t do both. She had to choose between a steady job at CBC and her side hustle that she believed in.  Emily walked away from a steady job that most people would jump at in order to pursue her dream. 

Three women. Three stories. On the surface, they seem so disparate, but each of us stood at a fork in our path and made a choice. Not the safe choice, not the easy choice, but the choice that would fill our cups.  The Blissdom Canada panel we spoke on inspired people to follow their dreams and forge their own paths. The energy in the room after the talk was amazing and the buzz was palpable. I am certainly grateful to have had the opportunity to speak on such an amazing panel.