Angela Sterritt was the guest speaker at the recent Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce International Women's Day event, held at the The'í:tselíya Health & Community Centre on March 7.
The author spoke to the audience, which was mainly women, about her childhood, career and the power of personal agency and storytelling. Sterritt learned about reporting from a young age and went on to work for the CBC. Her resume includes hosting the CBC original podcast Land Back.
Sterritt has won numerous awards for her journalistic work. In 2021, Sterritt won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Reporter of the Year in Canada, for her coverage of an Indigenous man and his then 12-year-old granddaughter who were arrested while trying to open a bank account at BMO. Sterritt's talk in Chilliwack touched on how that coverage was handled by her then-employer, and the importance of authentic storytelling.
Guests were given a copy of her debut book, Unbroken, a combination of memoir and investigative journalism that focuses on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Sterritt's next book, Breakable, is set to be published in 2026. Breakable investigates how racism and colonialism cultivate harmful behaviours in men, and how Indigenous men and communities are breaking cycles of unhealthy notions of masculinity. Both are published by Greystone Books.
To learn more about Sterritt and her work, visit angelasterritt.com.
The Chamber event also included a catered lunch and opportunity to ask Sterritt questions, in a conversational Q&A led by Culture and Co.'s Coralee Grimm.
Women's Leadership Collective
There is another women-focused event coming up for the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce, via the Women's Leadership Collective (WLC).
WLC Presents: The Journey of Three Sisters at Greendale Acres will be held Thursday, April 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
It is billed as "an inspiring evening of conversation, and abundance at Greendale Acres, where entrepreneurship, family, and leadership are woven throughout this entrepreneurial journey."
The event involves a panel discussion highlighting the story of three sisters who have built a thriving agri-tourism destination "through authenticity, innovation, and a deep connection to their roots."
They will be sharing insights on entrepreneurship, their family legacy, leadership in farming, and the power of celebrating success and finding solutions.
The discussion will be moderated by Alison Colthorp from Tourism Chilliwack, with an opening welcome from Lindsay from Wilde Wellness, panel discussions and networking. There will also be charcuterie, mocktails and fresh flowers.
"While this event is centered on the experiences and leadership of women, we welcome all individuals—regardless of gender—who support and advocate for women's success in business, leadership, and community," notes the event page.
For more information or to book your space, email joanne@chilliwackchamber.com.
