Montreal Gala 2026
On September 2, celebrate gender parity with the Mayor of Montreal!
Women in Governance invites you to the Palais des congrès de Montréal on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., for its annual recognition gala—an exceptional evening dedicated to excellence, leadership, and a commitment to gender parity.
We are delighted to announce that Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal, will be among the dignitaries joining us to celebrate gender parity.
A long-time friend of Women in Governance, Ms. Martinez Ferrada honored us by participating in several of our events during her time as a federal minister. It is therefore with great pleasure that we welcome her this year in her new role as Mayor of Montreal.
Soraya Martinez Ferrada is a Quebec politician of Chilean origin. Her grandfather’s political legacy, combined with her own experience immigrating to Quebec, has profoundly shaped her political journey. Driven by a deep cultural sensitivity, Ms. Martinez Ferrada has placed civic engagement and access to culture at the heart of her work since the very beginning of her career.
In 2005, she began her political career as a city councillor for the Saint-Michel district—her adopted neighborhood—before making the leap into federal politics, where she became the Member of Parliament for Hochelaga. Her ability to combine action with leadership led to her appointments as Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Tourism, and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. In November 2025, driven by a deep commitment to her city, she became the Mayor of Montreal—the first mayor from a diverse background to hold the office.
The City of Montreal is also a long-standing partner in our mission and continues to demonstrate its commitment to gender parity, notably by achieving Platinum-level Parity Certification (Certification Paritéᴹᴰ). Presented by Promutuel Insurance, our Montreal Gala will be co-chaired by Marie-Claude Dumas, President of WSP Canada, and Frédéric Guichard, President of Danone Canada.
Bringing together business leaders, board members, political figures, and nearly 100 Paritéᴹᴰ-certified organizations, this evening will honor those who are making a tangible contribution to advancing gender parity in decision-making circles.
