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SheTalks conference aims to empower women

First-ever Surrey event features 15 female speakers, including the founders of the charity Ruben's Shoes.
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Insurance brokers Kelly Strongitharm and Desiree Dupuis founded the charity Ruben’s Shoes

by STEPH TROUGHTON

In some parts of the world, shoeless children are not allowed to attend school.

That’s why insurance brokers and entrepreneurs Kelly Strongitharm and Desiree Dupuis decided to add a second almost full-time job to their already busy schedules and establish Ruben’s Shoes.

Named after a young boy living in the Dominican Republic, Ruben’s Shoes is a charitable drive that was started in 2013 by Strongitharm, who was sponsoring Ruben through World Vision Canada. To date, the campaign has shipped 24,000 pairs of shoes to the Dominican Republic, and this summer a shipment of 10,000 pairs is scheduled for Ebola-ravaged Sierra Leone.

Dupuis and Strongitharm will be sharing their female-driven success story at the inaugural conference of SheTalks this weekend in Surrey.

Dupuis, who acknowledges males are still more prevalent in the entrepreneurial world than females, says the one fact she hopes listeners will take away from her Ruben’s Shoes presentation is confidence.

“I really hope women feel inspired and empowered to follow what’s in their hearts,” she says.

To be held March 7, one day before International Women’s Day, at Chandos Pattison Auditorium in North Surrey, SheTalks brings together 15 female speakers with backgrounds ranging from life coach to city councillor.

Other speakers include conference founder Natasha Raey, author Megan Williams, You Glow Girl founder Diane Taylor, Sole Girls head coach Ashley Wiles, Monika Hibbs, Amplify Governance co-founder Bethany Borody, political activist Jodie Emery, blogger Jamie Dunlop Khau, Ladies Who Lunch founder Maria Kritikos, former Surrey city councillor Barinder Rasode, Broadbent Institute director Mira Oreck, coach Tetyana Golota, Dominion Lending Centres CEO Diana Zitko, Lunapads co-founder Madeleine Shaw, fitness model/nurse Harpreet Pandher and lawyer Gurpreet Gill.

Their eight-minute talks will cover a variety of life and career experiences, educational backgrounds and world views.

“I’ve always been amazed by all the things women do,” said Raey (left), who came up with the all-female conference concept last spring.

“I never considered myself a feminist, but I guess lately, I’ve realized I am. So I wanted to create an opportunity for women to share their stories, especially some women who have never shared their stories before.”

Conference tickets are $40 (or $25 for students). All proceeds will go toward the SheTalks scholarship created in conjunction with Simon Fraser University.

To learn more or to register, visit http://shetalksyvr.ca/#home