Episodes
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Episode 60 features special guest, Shannon Parker. Shannon graduated from University of Regina with a Bachelors degree in Anthropology, and the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelors degree in Education. After teaching high school for 6 years, Shannon became a police officer with the Saskatoon Police Service. She retired 2 years ago and joined Deloitte as a Director for their cybersecurity practice. Tune in to hear about some of the experiences Shannon has had including as a former chair of the National Cyber Council for Canadian Law Enforcement.
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Episode 59 features LCol Melanie Lake. A graduate of RMC, Class of 2002. Melanie studied Chemical Engineering. While originally enrolled in the RCAF, she switched early and was trained as a Combat Engineer. Currently the CAF Senior Advisor to Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security. Melanie was Commander of a Task Force in Ukraine on the last complete rotation before full scale war. Tune in to hear about her unique journey.
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Episode 58 features Kathy Litalien. Kathy entered CMR at 16 and graduated in 1992 from RMC with her Honours Economics & Commerce degree. Kathy was an Army Logistics officer who has continued to reinvent her career across continents, companies and industries. Tune in to hear about her newest adventure as a franchise owner and the advice she shares about starting at the bottom.
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Episode 57 features Capt(N) Kelly Williamson. Kelly is a graduate of Royal Military College, class of 2000. Kelly studied Military & Strategic studies completing her B.A with a minor in Military Psychology and Leadership. She also continued into a Master’s program at Carleton University completing a Master of Arts in Communications in 2002. Kelly began her career as a MARS officer (now Naval Warfare Officer) completing her Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate and her Naval Officer Professional Qualification as well as her Above Water Warfare Qualification. In 2009, Kelly made an occupational transfer to Public Affairs. Kelly has continued to grow her career in the Public Affairs branch and currently serves as Director General Coordination Strategic Joint Staff Headquarters Commanding Officer and Public Affairs Branch Advisor. Tune in to hear about Kelly’s journey and some great thoughts on reverse mentorship.
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Episode 56 features Anne Reiffenstein. Anne took a different route to military college, entering as a Captain and graduating with her BMASc in 2000. Anne joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989. She served as an Artillery officer until her retirement in 2018. While getting a later start in her educational journey, Anne continued to learn and teach. Tune in to hear about the opportunities she had for teaching and her current role as a Doctoral Student in Business Administration.
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Episode 55 features Jill Carleton. Jill attended Royal Military College in Kingston and graduated in 1987 with a BA in Honours Economics & Commerce. Jill was commissioned as a Naval Logistics officer upon graduation. Jill served aboard HMCS Preserver and HMCS Terra Nova. Upon her retirement from the regular force, Jill joined the Public Service and continued to serve. She worked in multiple organizations from Pension Plan to CHFA Strategic Planning. In retirement Jill is still an active volunteer in multiple organizations. Tune in to hear some of her wisdom from across her experience.
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Today’s episode is a bonus, featuring our first ally. Sam Chung has founded a women-only mentorship, coaching and advisory platform centred on equity, access and self-advocacy called Elletourage. We're partnering with Elletourage to support equitable pathways of learning and growth for women veterans. Elletourage provides a platform for connection between community members that are looking for more formal mentorship, sponsorship, advisory and coaching. This partnership will also help support the podcast with a portion of member revenue going back to WMN Canada. Use referral code WMN24 to sign up at https://elletourage.com/register.
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Episode 53 features Theresa Towns. A graduate of Royal Military College, class of 1984. Theresa earned her B.A - Commerce and began her career as a Logistics Officer (Supply) in the Air Force. Tune in to hear about the different transitions in her career and life, from the military to day care to library.
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Episode 52 features Dr. Erin White, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Royal Military College class of 2002. Erin was commissioned as an Air Navigator and later enrolled in the MMTP to become a physician. Tune in to hear about her career transition, her thoughts on mentorship and why it matters to have leaders who look like us.
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Episode 51 features LCol Sarah Lemay. Sarah is a graduate of RMC class of 2008 in Chemical Engineering. She began her studies as a prep in CMR, St Jean. After earning her commission she started her career as deputy SAMEO at CFB Valcartier as part of the Tactical Aviation community. With a spouse serving in the Army, Sarah talks about some of the challenges and opportunities she has navigated - resulting in 7 postings in the 15 years since graduation. Tune in to hear some great advice for approaching mentorship and life.
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Episode 50 features a special guest, retired flight surgeon Dr. Karen Breeck. A graduate of Memorial University in Newfoundland, Karen was recruited into the forces through the Medical Officer Training Plan during her first year at Med School. Tune in to hear more about her career and her current activities as an advocate for Veteran Women’s Health. We are dedicating this episode to a colleague and friend we shared more than 20 years ago, Capt Juli-Ann (Jules) MacKenzie, RRMC Class of 1995.
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Episode 49 features Julianna Fudge. A graduate of RMC, class of 2008. Julie began her career at CMR before moving to RMC to study Civil Engineering. Julie has served as an engineering officer in Gagetown, Ottawa and Petawawa. She completed a post grad in Geodesy and Geomatics at UNB and has applied this in 2 postings to Mapping and Charting Establishment in Ottawa. Julie talks about her career and how she transitioned male to female while continuing to serve.
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Episode 48 features Tracy-Anne Versteeg. A graduate of the Class of 1994, Tracy began her studies at Royal Roads and completed her B. Eng in Chemical and Materials Engineering at RMC. She was commissioned as a Marine System Engineer completing her training service and serving on multiple ships. She has also done tours at CF Naval Engineering School, CF Recruiting Centre Hamilton,NDHQ, and as Deputy Base Support Group Commander at ISAF HQ, Kabul.
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Episode 47 features Trish Loye. Trish is a graduate of RMC, class of 93. She graduated with a BSc in Honours Physics. Having completed the RETP program, Trish served as a Signals officer for 1 year in the reserves before moving to Calgary to complete her Masters in Medical Physics. Trish is now a successful author of Military Romance and Urban Fantasy. Tune in to hear about her career transitions. Trigger warning: This episode includes reference to sexual assault.
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Episode 46 features Jen Causey. Jen graduated from RMC, class of 1999 with a BA - Economics and Political Science. She began her journey as a prep at CMR before transferring in first year to RMC. Jen served for 22 years in the Regular Force as an Artillery officer and has juggled her civilian role as an Activity Leader at Calian for the past 6 years with her Primary Reserve role as Commanding Officer of 42nd Field Artillery (and also now 30th Field Artillery). Tune in to hear more of Jen’s experiences.
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Episode 45 features Sherry Lachine. Sherry is a graduate of RMC, Class of 1993. She began her career at CMR in St Jean, QC transferring in 3rd year to complete her B.Eng Mechanical. Sherry was posted to NDHQ Ottawa upon graduation and completion of her CELE (Air) training. She left the Forces through the FRP (Force Reduction Program) and pursued a number of varied roles before deciding to study Psychology. Over the past 12 years Sherry has grown her business providing mental health training. Tune in to hear about the path she took and some great advice she shares for us all.
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Episode 44 features Victoria Benotto. Victoria joined in 2008 and attended 1st year at CMR before attending RMC for the remainder. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Honours Military Psychology and Leadership, having gotten married and having her first child during her undergrad. Upon graduation Victoria was posted to Gagetown as a logistics officer with a specialization in supply chain management. She began as Systems Control Officer at base supply and continued on to the Canadian Army Trials and Evaluations Unit in 2015, as the Adjutant and Quartermaster. She transferred to PSEL in 2016 (in Gagetown) until 2018, then was posted to Ottawa as 2IC Personnel Development,. In 2021 she was posted to Transition HQ and is currently in the transition centre awaiting a medical release, while pursuing education as an interior decorator. Tune in to hear more about her experience as a mother while completing the ROTP program.
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Episode 43 features Special Guest, Sandra Perron. An ROTP graduate from the University of Winnipeg, Sandra joined the Canadian Forces as a Logistics officer before transferring to the Infantry when it first opened to women. Sandra has shared her experiences through her 2017 memoir, Out Standing in the Field. In this episode she talks about how she’s giving back to the women veteran community through her retreat, The Pepper Pod.
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Episode 42 features Daryl Tremain. A graduate of RMC, class of 1986, Daryl received her Bachelor’s of Engineering Physics as a Reserve Entry Training Plan candidate. Daryl was classified as an AERE officer and completed OJT (on the job training) during her summers. Daryl shares openly her journey following her younger sister's suicide in 1991 and the impact her discoveries have had in her life.
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Episode 41 features Crystal Gayed. Crystal is graduate of Royal Military College, class of 2005. Crystal earned a degree in Honours Politics, with a minor in Psychology. Crystal began her career as a MARS officer with the west coast fleet transferring to the Public Affairs branch in 2008, where she served until her release in 2016. After her medical release, Crystal completed her Master's degree at Royal Roads University in Intercultural and International Communications with an auto-ethnographic thesis on stigma. Tune in to hear more about her career and her journey with Multiple Sclerosis.
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