On April 16, 2026, MSVU hosted the 15th annual Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice’s (AMI) Girls Conference, welcoming over 350 girls and young women ages 13 to 18 from across Nova Scotia to campus for a day of learning, empowerment and leadership. This year’s theme of “Lead to Inspire: Acts of Kindness, Moments of Courage” aimed to encourage participants to make our communities and world a kinder place to learn, lead, and live.
The conference brought together prominent leaders, award-winning artists, and outstanding professionals to inspire the next generation of Nova Scotian girls through engaging workshops and meaningful conversations. Organized by the dedicated AMI team, the conference featured an array of workshops, including sessions on mindfulness, STEM, leadership and inclusion (just to name a few!).
Tegan Zimmerman, one of the event’s organizers, shared insights on this year’s theme:
“Lead to Inspire: Acts of Kindness, Moments of Courage, spoke to the importance of self-belief, perseverance, and learning to step out of our comfort zones. It also showcased that being a leader means collaborating with and listening to others, “failing forward,” being open-minded, and valuing empathy.”
The keynote address was delivered by the Honourable Leah Martin, MLA for Cole Harbour and the first Indigenous MLA in Nova Scotia’s history. Ms. Martin is the Minister of L’nu Affairs, Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act, and Minister responsible for Youth.
“The other girls in this room are not your competition. They are your teammates,” said Minister Martin. “Your girls are your community. Your girls are on your team. There is more than enough success for everybody in this room to share with each other. When we lift each other up, we raise everyone higher.”
Minister Martin spoke on the importance of kindness and helping each other succeed.
“Encourage one another. Celebrate the success of each other. And most importantly, open doors for each other. I encourage you to pursue your passions and keep breaking down the barriers that have held all of us back for far too long. Be the change that you want to see in the world and show everyone the incredible power that you can hold.”
The conference also featured a Trailblazers Panel moderated by Abbie McDonough, granddaughter of Dr. Alexa McDonough, OC, ONS . The panel showcased the perseverance and determination of four women from different fields, including:
- Captain Cindy Chang, Royal Canadian Air Force officer and Air Combat Systems Officer;
- Hannah Moscovitch, one of Canada’s most acclaimed playwrights;
- Sloan MacKenzie, Olympic bronze medalist and Canadian sprint canoeist; and
- Jazmyne McLaughlin, Dalhousie law student and author advocating for youth rights within the child welfare system.
This transformative event was made possible thanks to the dedication of the AMI Steering Committee and core team members Alicia, Sam, and Adebola. Special thanks to them, as well as event sponsors: Sacred Heart School of Halifax, Wellnify.ai, Matthews McDonough Financial Planning Inc., Nova Scotia Power, Irving Shipbuilding, and Uprising Philanthropic.
And thank you to the incredible speakers who shared their perspectives: the Hon. Leah Martin, Hannah Moscovitch, Jazmyne McLaughlin, Cindy Chang, Sloan McKenzie, Quoia States and Tessa Mendel; our outstanding workshop facilitators; teachers, chaperones, parents; and all of the committed volunteers and MSVU staff who made the day a success.