Ahead of Int'l Women's Day, 4 Sask. women share their female inspirations

As part of International Women's Day on March 8, 2024, CBC's call-in program Blue Sky is honouring women who've made an impact in other's lives. Share your thoughts in the form below for a chance to win a prize and/or CBC swag, and tune in to CBC's Blue Sky between noon and 1 p.m. CST to hear more.

Joan McCusker knows how hard it can be for female athletes to pursue their sporting goals while also juggling careers and children.

She and her curling team of Sandra Schmirler, Jan Betker and Marcia Gudereit were hitting their stride as three-time Canadian and world champions, and representing their country in the Olympics in the 1990s, but she describes that journey now as "crazy."

"It was very unusual for us in our day when things were going well for us to have children and continue to play. And it was really, really hard," she said.

"There weren't a lot of women role models out there that were doing that, that were trying to juggle, that were leaving the kids at home to pursue those really high-level goals."

She was the first of her team to have children, but her teammates and her husband encouraged her not to quit on her curling aspirations.

"We had to really lean on each other," she said. "But we survived, and of course it all worked out really well for us."

Three-time Canadian and World curling champion and Olympic gold medallist Joan McCusker says she hopes other female athletes can increasingly see it's possible to balance their athletic goals with family obligations. (CBC file photo)

These days, she believes it's still a hard road for women to pursue athletic success, but she believes more women can see a path for themselves to juggle child-rearing with athletic goals.

"There's going to be less people that will judge you for that, and there'll be more people that will cheer you on and support you."

Looking at a life in the legislature and beyond

Marissa Beatty is a University of Regina student who recently connected with MLA Nicole Sarauer through a mentorship opportunity. That connection has led her to a deeper desire to become a politician in the future. (Janani Whitfield/CBC)

Politics has long been seen as a battleground, with women describing the political arena as a hostile space. But one University of Regina student says her relationship with a sitting MLA has opened her eyes to a potential career in politics.

Marissa Beatty was paired with Regina Douglas Park MLA Nicole Sarauer through a mentorship program, allowing Beatty her to see politics play out through an up-close and personal lens.

"Walking into the legislature on the first day, I was super overwhelmed. It was like my Disney World. And it was so empowering to see female (MLAs) speaking their minds and being confident and not being worried about what other people are thinking about them," Beatty said.

"The way that the world is going right now, there's a lot of separation, there's a lot of hatred. So I really look forward to maybe being able to help bring us back to a better place one day."

Nursing for a better world

Marlene Smadu says she was inspired to go into nursing through the example of a dedicated nurse and volunteer who dedicated herself to the health of her community. (Janani Whitifeld/CBC)

Marlene Smadu remembers growing up in Cupar, Sask., watching a family friend throw herself into every part of small-town life.

Rosella Gibson worked as a nurse, but would also help with dances, bake sales and other community events. It shaped Smadu's outlook on what a career in nursing might involve.

"She was so engaged with the community and seeing her practice, I really saw nursing as a way bigger profession than simply perhaps what people see as clinical nursing."

Inspired by Gibson, Smadu became a nurse who worked not just in Canada, but in other countries, and in various roles that helped her find fulfilment in her work.

"Health is way bigger than just the absence of illness," she said. "You can be a yeast to help a community, be really positive and grow and be well."

The power of a mother

Victoria Flores says she's pursued a career in the non-profit sector, thanks the inspiration from her mother Sara Herbas, who worked as a social worker in Bolivia. (Submitted by Victoria Flores)

As a child growing up in Bolivia, Victoria Flores would often follow her mother at work. As a social worker, she helped with projects bringing water, health care and other opportunities to rural and Indigenous communities.

"For me, it was such an amazing thing to see her commanding rooms and just being so caring and so involved in those projects," Flores said.

At the time, she got a glimpse of how difficult it was for her mother to navigate the challenges of being a women in leadership.

"I think the way that she handled all of that and how she persevered through any barriers was really inspirational for me. And I think it gave me a lot of confidence in being able to to speak up and go for it and do the things I I feel I need to do."

Her mother was the one that prompted Flores to pursue a career in helping other people. Flores dedicated herself to work in the non-profit sector, starting with the food bank and now as a communication manager at Regina Open Door Society. To this day, she said she can still feel the impact of her mother in her life.

"She is my biggest cheerleader. She will come to any event that I have or any any public-facing thing that I have to do," Flores said, chuckling.

"You know I'm an adult, right? But it's still so nice to see your mom supporting you and just knowing that she'll be there for me and providing inspiration and feedback whenever I need it."

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