Montreal, November 20, 2019 – The Fabienne Colas Foundation is pleased to announce that Fabienne Colas, its President and Founder, has been named a Women’s Executive Network (WXN) 2019 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner, presented by KPMG. This high distinction brings great recognition to the outstanding work she has been doing across Canada and internationally for many years as a trailblazer who works tirelessly and passionately to foster, support and promote Diversity and Inclusion in the arts and in our society.
The list of Top 100 Winners was released today, paying tribute to the outstanding women across Canada who advocate for diversity in the workforce and inspire the next generation of leaders.
“We are celebrating 110 of Canada’s highest achieving women in fields ranging from arts and entertainment to sports and science,” said Sherri Stevens, CEO of WXN. “All 110 winners exemplify power not through their standing or abilities, but rather through how they inspire, champion and empower others – which is why it’s very important to recognize and celebrate their great achievements,” Mrs. Stevens concluded.
“Being recognized as a WXN Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women is a tremendous honor and it’s an opportunity for me to send a message to female leaders of color that ceilings are shattering, and possibilities are endless,” said Fabienne Colas, Top 100 Winner. “I dedicate this national recognition to my devoted team at the Fabienne Colas Foundation and to all visible minority women out there who are working in the shadows or trying to get their voices heard. This Award encourages me more than ever to continue breaking down barriers and building more bridges,” Mrs. Colas concluded.
The Top 100 Awards span the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, with the initial candidates selected by WXN’s Diversity Council. The final vetting process for the 2019 Top 100 Award Winners was completed by WXN’s 2018-2019 Diversity Champions. Past Award Winners includes Canada’s most iconic women trailblazers: Margaret Atwood, best-selling author, Dr. Roberta Bondar, astronaut, Arlene Dickinson, chief executive officer, Venture Communications, Christine Magee, president, Sleep Country Canada, Michaëlle Jean, former governor general of Canada, Heather Reisman, founder and CEO, Indigo Books & Music, and Kathleen Taylor, chair of the board, Royal Bank of Canada.
To mark this year’s awards, Women’s Executive Network (WXN) is hosting an Awards Gala on November 21st at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. More than 1400 senior professionals will attend.
Award-winning actress, entrepreneur, filmmaker, producer, sought-after speaker, philanthropist and consultant, Fabienne Colas is known as the “Queen of Festivals. She created and manages 8 successful arts festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, New York City, and Port-au-Prince. These festivals have attracted over the years close to 1 million Festival-goers and welcomed high profile guests such as Harry Belafonte, Stedman Graham, Danny Glover, Spike Lee, Tarana Burke, Martin Luther King III, Dany Laferrière, Wyclef Jean, Alfre Woodard, P.K. Subban, Isaiah Washington, Jennifer Holness, Clement Virgo and many more.
Fabienne Colas is the founder of the Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF), a not-for-profit cultural organization that offers scholarships for arts schools and mentorship programs to visible minority artists, as well as awards of excellence. Since 2005, the Foundation has supported over 2,000 artists in Canada, the USA, and Haiti.
Fabienne Colas is considered a force of nature, a fierce entrepreneur, an unstoppable leader who makes things happen for positive social change and impact in our society. Also the CEO of Zaza Production, a consulting company dedicated, among other things, to business development and intercultural communications strategies, she continues to create strong platforms to showcase a diversity of voices, faces and points of view. Colas has served on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Celebrations of Montreal 375th anniversary.
In addition to receiving a 2019 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™, Fabienne Colas is the recipient of the following awards and recognitions: Prix 2019 Prix Relève, Femme d’Exception (Mercuriades) from The Federation of Quebec’s Chambers of Commerce; Femmes en cinéma, télévision et médias numériques (FCTMN), the coveted 2018 Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, being named La Presse’s Personality of the Week, and named 2018 La Presse’s Person of the Year (Arts & Culture), Colas is also the winner of the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award from the Black Theatre Workshop, as well as the Gala Dynastie’s 2019 Hommage Culture prize. She was also awarded a Medal from Quebec’s National Assembly in 2015 – recognizing Fabienne’s leadership and contribution in the fight against racism and discrimination in Quebec.
For more information on Fabienne Colas:
www.FabienneColas.com | LinkedIn – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – Youtube
Source: Fabienne Colas Foundation – www.fondationfabiennecolas.org
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For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact:
For press material and interviews with Fabienne Colas:
Véronique Fecteau
Publicist
514-893-0772
veronique@perfecteaucomm.com
WXN:
Lee Deline
Director, Marketing & Communications, WXN
519-421-9556 ext. 216
ldeline@phasenyne.com
