Host a Film Screening and Discussion

The film and associated Discussion Guide can be used by anyone, including immigrant women in STEM, employers, and equity advocates, to start conversations in their community or workplaces and push for meaningful reflection around power structures, diverse experiences, and the loss of potential in Canada’s STEM economy when barriers to equitable inclusion aren’t removed for talented women.

ELIZABETH KALBFLEISCH:
Elizabeth served as producer, co-writer, and as one of the voices in this film. She brings an interest in cultural interventions and knowledge translation to her work. As a former academic and cultural professional with a doctorate in Visual and Cultural Studies, she has conducted curatorial and scholarly research in communities and collections throughout North America, contributed content to documentary film and television projects, and provided research support to exhibition development and cultural policy projects. She completed a Masters of Information Studies at the University of Toronto in Spring 2022.

DANI ELIZONDO:
As a Méxican storyteller who loves working with materials, textures, and colours, Dani was in charge of the animation design and animation for this short film. Her work is a collection of illustrations, stop motion, 2D animation and any crafty combination of those. As a 2020 Sheridan college Animation alumnus, she enjoys making work that captures the wonder, charm, and ennui of life. You can usually find her working away, reading, listening to podcasts, or on an adventure at a park with her dog, Louie. Learn more about Dani’s work here.

SUKAINA KUBBA:
Sukaina is an Iraqi-born, Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist who voiced the film’s main character, Maia. She explores narratives of cultural and material assimilation and appropriation In her research and studio practice. She navigates the position of painting and drawing in relation to architecture, craft, writing, performance, and digital practices in her work. She is currently a sessional lecturer in Visual Studies at Daniels Faculty at the University of Toronto. From 2013 to 2018, she was a lecturer and curator at the Glasgow School of Art. Learn more about Sukaina’s work here.

NICOLE WALDRON:
One of the narration voices in this film belongs to Ms. Waldron, a professional event planner, inspirational speaker, author, community advocate, and host of the Victory Speaks Podcast and the Victory Speaks Online Show. Nicole was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and works for the advancement and prosperity of her community in Toronto by raising awareness on co-op housing, mental health, and other issues. She sits on the board of The Cooperators, the Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada), and the Ontario Caregiver Organization. She serves on committees with The Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH), Stella’s Place, and the Family Caregivers Advisory Network (OFCAN). Nicole was named one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women and one of 150 Women in Canada by How She Hustles’ HERstory in Black series. She is the recipient of the 2020 Brian Burke Community Service Award from CHFT, and the Outstanding Community Service Award from Dance Caribe. Nicole was also presented with the Social Housing Service Corporation Kathleen Blinkhorn Award for Excellence in Volunteerism.

PROFESSOR NADIA CAIDI:
Nadia is a French-Moroccan who served as executive producer, co-writer, and academic lead on the research study, Workfinding and Immigrant Women’s Prosperity in STEM, that this film is based on. She is a Professor in the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto. Dr. Caidi was the 2011 President of the Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS) and the 2016 President of the International Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T). Her research focuses on human information behaviour and information policy. She has published extensively in the areas of global migration and digital diasporas, as well as on information control and the public's right to know in times of crisis. Her co-edited book, Humanizing LIS Education and Practice: Diversity by Design was published by Routledge, in 2021. She was awarded the 2019 Pratt-Severn Faculty Innovation Award by the Association for Library Information Science (LIS) Education. Learn more about Nadia’s work .

SAADIA MUZAFFAR:
Saadia is a Pakistani-Canadian who served as director, executive producer, co-writer for this film, and lead investigator for the research study, Workfinding and Immigrant Women’s Prosperity in STEM, that the film’s story is based on. She is the founder and President of TGC. She is a tech entrepreneur, author, and passionate advocate of responsible innovation, decent work for everyone, and prosperity of immigrant talent in STEM. Her research focuses on the intersection of innovation economies and the future of workers within them. In 2017, she was featured in Canada 150 Women, a book about 150 of the most influential and groundbreaking women in Canada. She is honoured to serve on the board of Women’s Shelters Canada and the advisory board for the University of Guelph’s Centre for Advancing Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence (CARE-AI). Learn more about Saadia’s work .