*Photographs by T. Andrew Morton
- Left to right: Mari McAndrews, Tanja Mirazic (ScotiaMcLeod) , Laureen Harper (wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper), Ela Landegger (American Woman’s Club of Oakville), Diana Borowski (Canadian Red Cross), Alexandra Landegger
- Left to right: Sonia Baxendale (former CIBC senior executive vice-president), Juliana Sprott (Sprott Foundation), Fern Gordon (Profit Line co-founder)
- Left to right: Ginger Sorbara, Christina Sorbara (Sorbara Development Group), Tahreem Arshad (Ernst @ Yonge), Tanja Mirazic (ScotiaMcLeod)
- Left to right: Laureen Harper(wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper), JP Taschereau (Canadian Red Cross), Ann Medina (broadcaster), Jodi Steinhauer (The Bargains Group)
Left to right: Mari McAndrews, Tanja Mirazic (ScotiaMcLeod) , Laureen Harper (wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper), Ela Landegger (American Woman’s Club of Oakville), Diana Borowski (Canadian Red Cross), Alexandra Landegger
Left to right: Sonia Baxendale (former CIBC senior executive vice-president), Juliana Sprott (Sprott Foundation), Fern Gordon (Profit Line co-founder)
Left to right: Ginger Sorbara, Christina Sorbara (Sorbara Development Group), Tahreem Arshad (Ernst & Yonge), Tanja Mirazic (ScotiaMcLeod)
Left to right: Laureen Harper(wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper), JP Taschereau (Canadian Red Cross), Ann Medina (broadcaster), Jodi Steinhauer (The Bargains Group)
Inspired is the best way to describe how I felt throughout this week’s launch of the Canadian Red Cross Tiffany Circle. The Tiffany Circle is an international society of women leaders and philanthropists. In Canada, the Tiffany Circle is fortunate to have Laureen Harper as its honorary chair.
The launch was attended by current Tiffany Circle members as well as many women who were interested in learning more about the initiative. As I looked around the room I was struck not only by the women in attendance – Laureen Harper, Sally Armstrong, Ann Medina, Sonia Baxendale, Juliana Sprott, Kim Phuc – but I was amazed by the electricity and excitement generated by the current members of the Tiffany Circle. They know they are part of something special – something that will make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Truly remarkable, was hearing members’ Red Cross stories; in some way, the Red Cross has touched most of their lives. Libby MacAulay recalls that her father-in-law was at one time the head of the international Red Cross and accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the organization. Ela Landegger and her family were forced from their home by fire, and as she watched their building engulfed by flames, a Red Cross volunteer appeared at her side to offer help and comfort. To this day, the emotion of that night is still fresh.
As members of the Tiffany Circle, each of these women commit $10,000 annually; however, their commitment runs much deeper than that. They are part of an international movement of women leaders networking and helping in their communities and across borders through the work of the Red Cross. Some volunteer locally, while all are working to expand the circle to have an even greater impact. Perhaps Mari McAndrews expressed it best the other night when she said: “Women, when we come together as a group, are a very powerful asset.”