Politician, sculptor, widow of Jack Layton – Olivia Chow is coming to McMaster. The second speaker in a new lecture series from AWSM (Academic Women’s Success & Mentorship), Chow will speak at Convocation Hall on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3:30 p.m.

Free and open to all, her lecture will explore the nature of success and leadership. A Q&A will follow, which will give audience members ample time to interact with the speaker.

“We’ve been planning to have Olivia Chow as one of our speakers since AWSM was launched early last year,” said committee representative Maggie M. Cheng, a PhD Student in the DeGroote School of Business.

“This is a dream come true for all of us,” said Cheng. “Her story as a female leader in Canada’s political arena is simply awesome. It’s particularly meaningful to me as a Chinese student – she is such an iconic figure in the Asian community.”

Born in Hong Kong, Chow grew up in Toronto and studied fine art and philosophy. She began her political career in 1985 as a Toronto school board trustee. She then served as a Toronto city counsellor for 14 years, until her election to Parliament in 2006 as MP for the Trinity-Spadina riding. Chow resigned her seat to run in the 2014 Toronto mayoral election, in which she placed third.

Chow is the widow of Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 and Leader of the Official Opposition from May 2011 until his death in August of that year. Chow published her memoirs, My Journey, in 2014.

Formed in January 2014, AWSM (pronounced “awesome”) is a grassroots initiative of students and faculty members to promote gender equity at McMaster and in the wider community. The initiative has received funding from all six Faculties, as well as the School of Graduate Studies and Forward with Integrity.

DATE & TIME: Thursday, Feb. 5 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

LOCATION: Convocation Hall

REGISTRATION: Register here at Eventbrite

EMAIL: mcmasterawsm@gmail.com

TWITTER: @McMasterAWSM