The Professional Aboriginal
Women's Network

Please join us for a networking and powerful panel presentation comprised of two Professional Aboriginal Women in British Columbia, Kim Baird and Dorothy Grant.  Both Kim and Dorothy are recipients of the Order of Canada and have outstanding career accomplishments, which they will share with you!  Join us for this unique opportunity to listen, share, and collaborate with Professional Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women in Vancouver.

About Kim Baird

Kim is the owner of Kim Baird Strategic Consulting and offers First Nation related and strategic advice to industry, government and First Nations. While Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation for over thirteen years, her most notable achievement was when she negotiated and implemented British Columbia’s first urban treaty. She spent six years on the BC Hydro Board – providing her with in-depth knowledge on energy issues in BC. She is on several boards including the Vancouver Board of Trade, Canada Public Policy Forum, and Clear Seas. Kim is a recipient of the Indspire Award, a member of the Order of Canada and holds an Institute of Corporate Director’s designation.  Twitter - @KimCBaird

About Dorothy Grant

Internationally renowned fashion designer and traditional Haida artist Dorothy Grant’s strong connection to her culture and Haida identity has been the driving creative force and her foundation as a contemporary fashion designer for over the past thirty-two years. In 1988, Grant became the first to merge Haida art and fashion utilizing her formal training at the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design.

Dorothy believes that her clothing embodies the Haida philosophy Yaangudang meaning “self respect.” The driving force behind her clothing designs is “empowerment, pride and feeling good about oneself.”

There are few designers in Canada that are manufacturer, a wholesaler, and have had their own retail storefront, Dorothy Grant is one of those few. In 1986 Grant began to pursue a vision of building a business and storefront in downtown Vancouver which became a reality in 1994. Over the course of seventeen years and three recessions, she kept going with her vision in spite of the struggles and challenges of being a small business owner. Grant’s ability to maintain a successful business while remaining true to her artistic ability has been one her most impressive achievements. Dorothy’s success is evident by her invitations to participate in many prestigious art and fashion exhibitions. She is the recipient of numerous awards, and her work is featured in 13 museum collections across Canada, United States, and United Kingdom. In May 2015, Dorothy received the “Order of Canada” for her contributions to Canada’s fashion industry and for mentoring youth through her example as a designer and entrepreneur.

After seventeen years in retail and manufacturing, Grant has transformed her entrepreneurial focus to Native art market trade shows and online sales through her website www.dorothygrant.com. She continues to make one of a kind garments for her clients and she shows in various art markets in Alaska, California, New Mexico, New York and various cities in Canada.

More about Professional Aboriginal Women’s Network:

The Professional Aboriginal Women’s Network was created in partnership with the Professional Women’s Network that was founded 18 years ago to support professional women in career and business development (please see www.pwncanada.ca).  There is a growing interest in the development of a network for Indigenous women.  The Professional Women’s Network partnered with Chastity Davis, Kim Van der woerd, and Teara Fraser to host two inaugural events in 2015 with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women to explore the need for a Professional Aboriginal Women's Network.  This year, there will be four networking and speaker events hosted by the Professional Aboriginal Women’s Network.  This is the first event of the year featuring two strong professional Aboriginal women, Kim Baird and Dorothy Grant, who will share their story and provide an opportunity for Aboriginal women and non-Aboriginal women to gather, network, and inspire!

Register Now!