Inspiring Island Women

CHEK News at 5 anchor Stacy Ross features stories of amazing Vancouver Island women from both past and present in the new weekly series “Inspiring Island Women.”

Watch the segment live Mondays on CHEK News at 5, or find it below after it’s aired.

If you’d like to nominate someone to be featured in the series, email [email protected].

4 days Inspiring Island Women: Carole James reflects on her time in politics Former Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Carole James says, "You can leave the legislature, but the legislature never leaves you." She reflects on her time in politics, her retirement, and living with Parkinson's Disease. Stacy Ross has more.

2 weeks Inspiring Island Women: Author offers tips to keep dogs entertained and happy Are you a fair-weather dog parent? A local author offers some tips and advice to keep your favourite pooch entertained and happy. Stacy Ross has more.

3 weeks Lara launches her new online art marketplace She's bought and sold works by Renoir, Matisse, and Emily Carr, to name a few. This calibre of art is beyond the scope of most of us, and so art historian/appraiser/seller Lara Tomaszewski has launched an online marketplace that makes buying and selling art accessible to everyone.

4 weeks Language warriors reconnecting Indigenous kids to SENĆOŦEN They are language warriors, two passionate and visionary women who are not only reconnecting their own and other Indigenous kids to SENĆOŦEN, but are creating the teachers who will lead them.

1 month Helping newcomers to Vancouver Island Their own words in their own languages. Why a former refugee launched a unique organization to help newcomers to Vancouver Island share their painful and traumatic stories, leading them to healing and success in their new homes.

1 month Hula teacher says sharing her passion keeps her young She’s a 78-year-old grandmother who teaches five courses at Saanich Commonwealth Place and says hula dancing keeps her young.

2 months Campbell River executive director part of the museum for 40 years Sandra Parrish is the executive director of the Campbell River Museum and has been with the museum for 40 years. We look at what she has done with the space.

2 months Victoria senior talks about her experiences being dropped into the centre of war zones and natural disasters Adrienne Carter was literally dropped in the middle of a massacre in Nigeria, a massive earthquake in northern Pakistan and the war in Kosovo, by choice.

2 months Courtenay store launches scholarship to connect kids to services Courtenay's Wildflower Mercantile is a quaint little store that features unique local products, but what it, and its owner, Emily Yewchuk are doing to support local kids is even more special.

2 months 53-year-old training for next month's Masters World Power-Lifting Championships in Mongolia She's a public servant by day, an elite-level power-lifter by night, and Neilane Mayhew is set to take on the world in Mongolia.

3 months Mortgage Broker turned Harley Davidson stunt rider says the bike changed her life Krista Verhie was 33 years old when she rode a motorcycle for the first time. In the five years since she has made a film, launched a clothing line, and is taking her stunt riding shows across North America.

3 months A Victoria dancer will soon hip-hop her way to Poland Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn Alexander is one of six dancers from the Vibestreet Studio to earn a spot on Team Canada. They need your help to make the trip to the World Hip Hop Championships in Poland next month.