Next month’s Surrey Women in Business awards event will feature Sophie Grégoire Trudeau as guest speaker, April 12 at Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel.
The popular annual awards luncheon, planned by Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT), usually features a high-profile keynote speaker, including the likes of Erin Brockovich, Kim Campbell, Margaret Trudeau, Justin Trudeau and Chantal Kreviazuk in recent years.
Grégoire Trudeau is a celebrated mental health advocate and champion of gender equality, youth self-esteem, emotional literacy and connecting with nature, a bio from SBOT says.
She also happens to be the wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, although the couple separated last year.
Grégoire Trudeau began her career as a journalist in Quebec, hosting shows on wildlife, extreme sports, entertainment and technology. She has interviewed many people including Gloria Steinem, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake and others.
SBOT is “thrilled” to have Grégoire Trudeau speak at the April event, according to Anita Huberman, president and CEO.
“Women face unique mental health pressures stemming from societal expectations, including the demands of caregiving, career advancement, and body image standards,” Huberman said in a press release.
“Sophie will empower the audience on our shared paths towards gender equality, mental well-being, self-understanding and embracing acceptance.”
Also in April, Grégoire Trudeau will publish her first book, “Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other,” which explores “the questions that matter most for our individual and collective growth, drawing on Grégoire Trudeau’s personal journey as well as exclusive interviews with renowned experts to explore the science behind brain health and our unique emotional signatures,” according to a bio from SBOT.
Tickets for the luncheon start at $195 on businessinsurrey.com.
In February, three finalists were announced in each of the seven award categories:
Entrepreneur (Large Business):
Anna Matcheva, Smilestones Junior Kindergarten Ltd.
Mona Matta, Verka Food International Ltd.
Sonia Singla, Salius Rehab Inc.
Entrepreneur (Small Business)
Katherine De Vita, Ocean Pointe Business Centre Ltd.
Mojgan Nadafi, Surrey Mama Midwifery
Rasha Moursy, Customizo Solutions Inc.
Professional
Anita Atwal, Anita Atwal Law
Christine LaLiberte, Insightful Wealth Group, Raymond James Ltd.
Karen Powar, Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation
Not-for-Profit Leader
Mannu Sandhu, iSAFF - International South Asian Film Festival
Michelle Schmidt, Autism Community Training Society
Raj Brar, Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS)
Corporate Leader
Kristin Bishop, Civic Hotel
Lily Zhao, UNIC Immigration Ltd.
Madhvi Ramnial, Powertech Labs Inc.
Emerging Leader
Danielle Fernandes, Lustre Lagoon Marketing Ltd.
Manpreet Minhas, RBC
Trisha Dulku, United Way British Columbia
Social Trailblazer
Gurjinder Bhurji, RunSurreyRun
Lauren Simpson, Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo
Neena Randhawa, Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS)