The making of future leaders: Women in the House students take on Ottawa
How many aspiring political leaders, human rights advocates, and public policy professionals get the opportunity to be mentored by Ministers or Members of Parliament?
In Toronto Metropolitan University’s one-of-a-kind Women in the House program, housed in the Faculty of Arts, women-identifying and gender diverse students are given the unique opportunity to visit Ottawa, walking the halls of parliament and talking the talk with women leaders who are actively shaping the political landscape. As an experiential learning component of the for-credit course, the trip to Parliament Hill promotes meaningful engagement and invaluable networking with women Members of Parliament, Senators, and staff who are leaders and intersectional policymakers. The trip is made possible with the financial support of AMAPCEO (external link) and Unifor (external link) .
Available to third-year or higher undergraduate and graduate students, Women in the House is a multi-partisan program that strives to empower future leaders to take on Canadian democracy with fortitude and a desire to strengthen inclusivity and equity in politics. The 2025 cohort reflected on the life-changing experiences of shadowing women leaders.
Women in the House with co-instructors Peggy Nash and Tracey Raney in the Supreme Court of Canada.
Visiting the Supreme Court
It’s not every day that students can glimpse the magnificent walls of the Supreme Court of Canada (external link) . However, during their trip to Ottawa this March, Women in the House students got to do just that. “It felt incredible to visit,” reflected Emily Moss, a Masters of Public Policy and Administration student. “I have spent years studying law and politics throughout my undergraduate degree, so to finally stand in the room where our country’s most significant, historic legal decisions have been made felt full-circle. I am very grateful to have had this in-person experience.”
Having dinner and networking with women journalists covering Parliament Hill
Not only did students have the opportunity to meet with politicians, they gained a comprehensive understanding of the network of politics from the perspectives of other professionals, such as women journalists.
“I had the privilege of sitting with Rachel Aiello (external link) , a national political correspondent for CTV,” shared Masters of Immigration and Settlement Studies student Leny Rose Simbre. “Her advice to 'keep your feet on the ground' resonated deeply with me, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded and committed to truth in the fast-paced world of political journalism. Hearing firsthand about the journalists' dedication to holding politicians accountable and combating misinformation was both eye-opening and inspiring.”
“What struck me most was her authenticity,” reflected Emily on her experience meeting Aiello. “We had a thoughtful discussion about the current landscape of online journalism and the role of virality in news reporting. She spoke about the dangers of disinformation on platforms with short-form content, and the need to prioritize your health and well-being while working in a field that requires you to be ‘on’ at all times. I appreciated her honesty and was inspired by her commitment to fair and accurate reporting.”
Visiting the House of Commons
Women in the House students got up close to Canadian politics with their visit to, and private tour of, the House of Commons (external link) . Students were encouraged to reflect on the places where women, gender diverse, and Black, Indigenous or racialized people are currently situated in Parliament and the strides needed to make these spaces more inclusive.
Masters of Immigration and Settlement Studies student Carolyn Nicol shared her experience witnessing growing representation in Parliament, “It was exciting to think how far we’d come, now with a Black Canadian Speaker as well as female deputies.”
“Our visit to the House of Commons was an invaluable opportunity to witness the legislative process up close,” reflected Leny. “I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of the Speaker in maintaining decorum and facilitating respectful debate. It was encouraging to hear about the increasing representation of women and racialized individuals in Parliament, although there is still progress to be made to ensure equitable representation.”
Top: Students with the Assistant Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons. Bottom: Women in the House students take their seats in the House of Commons.
Visiting the Senate
Students were hosted by the Honourable Donna Dasko (external link) , Senator of Ontario, for a luncheon networking event where they sat with women Senators to discuss their professional careers and seek mentorship.
“I had the opportunity to sit with the Honourable Kim Pate (external link) ,” shared Rachel Rossi, a Criminology undergraduate student. “I was very excited about meeting her as I engage with criminal justice policy issues in my coursework and got the chance to speak with her about one of the bills she's working on reintroducing to the Senate and House of Commons. The Senators took the time to listen and engage with us about our policy interests and career aspirations in a meaningful way.”
“I had the honour of sitting with the Honourable Senator Marty Deacon (external link) ,” shared Leny. “Her insights on leadership and the importance of listening to diverse perspectives in policy making left a lasting impression, along with her advocacy for the physical and mental well-being of all Canadians. I also learned how Senators use their platform to champion issues of social justice, particularly those affecting marginalized communities.”
Finding inspiration
Students shared that learning about the inner workings of Canada’s political institutions was transformational. From politicians to journalists and members of staff, these women leaders are integral to a representative Canadian democratic process and society.
“Having the chance to sit with Canadian political journalists was extremely valuable for me as it introduced a career pathway that I had not yet been exposed to,” remarked Rajneet Farma, a Politics and Governance undergraduate student. “Having the opportunity to talk with Palak Mangat (external link) from Politics Today and hear her story as a South Asian woman of colour was inspiring. Her advice and guidance were truly unforgettable.”
Other notable women students met with included Charelle Evelyn (external link) , managing editor of The Hill Times; Shannon Proudfoot (external link) , writer for the Globe and Mail; MP Carol Hughes (external link) , Assistant Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons; the Honourable Lucie Moncion (external link) , the Honourable Marnie McBean (external link) , the Honourable Joan Kingston (external link) , and the Honourable Bev Busson (external link) .
Apart from their trip to Ottawa, Women in the House students also had the opportunity to meet with either a federal MP or provincial MPP to learn about the experiences of being a woman or gender-diverse politician. Working collaboratively with the politician and their team, students are currently preparing a briefing note on a policy topic of shared interest that they will provide to the politician they shadowed to help inform their policy or constituency work. “Shadowing MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam (external link) taught me that policy changes take time and that progress is not always immediate,” shared Politics and Governance student Theresa Obi. Other students shadowed Liberal MP Iqra Khalid (external link) , the Honourable Karina Gould (external link) (Liberal), Conservative MP Karen Vecchio (external link) , and the Leader of the Official Opposition of Ontario, Marit Stiles (external link) (NDP).
“This experience also reinforced the importance of continuously pushing for change and not falling compliant with a regressive system. It affirmed my passion for politics and governance, reinforcing my belief that I can be a force for change and progress in the future.”
Top left: Parliament Hill. Top Right: Students attending dinner with political journalists. Bottom: Women in the House students visiting the Senate.
How the Women in the House program has shaped students’ understanding of political participation and future career aspirations
For Leny, the experience of travelling to Ottawa and meeting inspiring politicians fortified her career aspirations. “It reinforced the importance of representation and advocacy in creating inclusive policies. As someone passionate about social justice, this experience has strengthened my desire to pursue roles that contribute to positive change, whether through advocacy, policymaking, or supporting marginalized communities.”
“Being in the Women in the House program has shown me that although we still have a long way to go, Canada really has made important strides in politics,” reflected Carolyn. “More and more women, people of colour, and Indigenous peoples are joining the political sphere with confidence and strength. I’ve also seen that I don’t necessarily have to be an elected official to get involved. We’ve met countless people who work in advocacy, community groups, and policy-making. These are all important ways to make change and live in the kind of equal, fair society we all want.”
Politics and Public Administration undergraduate student Chelsea Smith reflected on the newfound confidence the experience gave her and shared her encouragement to keep moving forward: “The resounding message I keep hearing is that we need more female voices in the conversation, not less, so don’t shy away, even though it might be intimidating.”
The Women in the House visit to Parliament Hill was a remarkable success in encouraging future leaders to pursue new pathways, even those less travelled by women historically. While feeling empowered, students were reminded that the political journey requires tenacity and a determination to continue dismantling barriers.
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