On May 15, Loretto Abbey hosted the inaugural Girl Meets W.I.R.L. (Women in Roles of Leadership) Conference, bringing together over 150 student leaders from the six TCDSB all-girls schools—Loretto Abbey, Loretto College, Notre Dame, St. Joseph’s College, Madonna, and St. Joseph’s Morrow Park—for an empowering day of connection, leadership, and collaboration.
The conference was held at the Catholic Education Centre and began with a panel featuring five TCDSB graduates who shared inspiring stories and insights on navigating leadership roles as women. Students also participated in an art workshop facilitated by Ms. Racioppo, Department Head of Arts at Loretto Abbey, where they collaborated on a collective artwork to be shared with the TCDSB. Each school also received a section of the artwork to display in its own community.
The day culminated in student-led workshops, during which schools shared best practices with the goal of inspiring one another and fostering future collaboration. These best practices included STEAM Days, International Women’s Week celebrations, Catholic servant leadership initiatives, fundraising campaigns, partnerships with community organizations, and mentorship programs such as Big Sisters and House Systems.
Vianca Vacheresse, TCDSB Student Trustee and a Grade 11 student at Loretto Abbey, spearheaded the event with the guidance of Ms. Steele and Mr. Lopes. Through her role as Student Trustee, Vianca sought to create a space where students from all-girls schools could come together to share the exceptional work being done within their communities while also challenging misconceptions about all-girls schools and female leadership. The conference provided an opportunity to celebrate student achievement, learn from experienced mentors, and showcase the impact of young women in leadership.
The event was made possible through the dedication and organizational efforts of the Loretto Abbey Grade 11 Leadership classes. We extend our deepest gratitude to Ms. Steele, Ms. Simovonian, Mr. Lopes, Ms. Racioppo, and Ms. J. Vacheresse for their incredible behind-the-scenes work in making the day possible. The invaluable support of Ms. Botticella (Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer), Ms. Singh (Communications, Research, Policy), Ms. Vlahos (TCDSB Chief Communications Officer), Mr. Fernandes (Indigenous Education and Equity Department and Area 4 Superintendent), Dr. Browne (TCDSB Chief Executive Officer), and Ms. Adams (Loretto Abbey Principal) was also instrumental in making this conference a reality.
While TCDSB students are at the heart of many important leadership initiatives, their work and success are made possible through the support, guidance, and dedication of their teachers. We would therefore like to extend special thanks to Ms. Da Mota (St. Joseph’s College), Ms. Deslippe (Notre Dame), Ms. Ferrante (Loretto College), Ms. Herold (Notre Dame), Mr. Lio (Madonna), Ms. McHugh (St. Joseph’s Morrow Park), Mr. Pupulin (Madonna), Ms. Simovonian (Loretto Abbey), and Ms. Steele (Loretto Abbey) for their collaboration in making both this conference and many of these impactful best practices possible. With their continued support, and Vianca’s leadership as Student Trustee, we hope to make Girl Meets W.I.R.L. an annual event.
