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Rochelle

@rochelletrainor

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🇧🇭 born + goan 🇨🇦 |
Public Affairs @webuildadream |
@iss_ssicanada & @dfsottawa & @csawcc board |
@uwindsor & @carleton_u alum | 🎹🌲🤓

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The Dress for Success Stepping Forward event was a success thanks to the amazing support from our local Ottawa businesses and the community of people who came out to dress up, support, and have a little fun!!! The work this organization is doing to support women in our community is inspiring! We always accept donations of money, clothing or your time. Please consider giving. @dfsottawa taken in Ottawa, Ontario by @rochelletrainor

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18 hours ago

Take your space.

That was the message at the heart of the Power & Purpose Summit, and it showed up in every story we heard.

From Katie Telford’s candor, to MP Karina Gould’s reflections on leadership and family, to the powerful, data-driven insights from Dr. Wendy Cukier and the lived experience shared by Lise Bourgon — one thing was clear:

When women step forward, they don’t just change their own path, they change the system.

One of the most meaningful moments was celebrating the inaugural Yellow Chair Awards where we recognized leaders who are not only taking their seat, but creating space for others:

Congratulations again to our recipients:
🏆 @vestacon (Titan Award)
🏆 Natasha Callender-Wilson, CEO, @bassinstallation (Luminary Award)
🏆 Karen Smith, CHRO, @brucepowerngs (Catalyst Award)

This Summit brought together leaders from across industries, all committed to building more inclusive pathways forward.

It was a reminder that this work takes all of us.

Grateful to our fantastic Emcee Rachael Segal, our speakers, partners, moderators, the team at Palais Royale, and the creative team at @theresolution__ and every person who showed up with intention. And to the incredible Build a Dream team, this impact is because of you.

And to Nour Hachem — thank you for your vision, your trust, and for continuing to create space for so many women across this country.

Because at the end of the day, this is what it’s all about:

Women taking their space.
Women creating space for others.
And all of us working together to build a future where the next generation won’t have to fight as hard just to be seen or heard.

Thank you for being part of this.

#PowerAndPurpose #BuildADream #TakeYourSpace #WomenInLeadership #WomenInTrades by @rochelletrainor

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7 months ago

In numerology, 2025 is a Universal Year 9, signifying a major cycle of completion, endings, and letting go.

It was also a year to make space for new growth and aligning myself with purpose. And what a purposeful year it has been!

Closing out this year means recognizing what it brought me, and giving thanks for the lessons, the people, and the transformations.

As Rupi Kaur says,
let it go
let it leave
let it happen
nothing
in this world
was promised or
belonged to you anyway
- all you own is yourself.

Here's to 2026. A year of new beginnings. by @rochelletrainor

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10 months ago

This month, I said goodbye to my grandmother, Christina, my mom’s mom, and the woman whose name I carry as my own middle name. Stacey Christina. A reminder of the bond between my mother and her mother, and of the generations of strength I come from.

Born in Mangalore in 1932, my grandmother was full of quiet courage. She moved to Mumbai as a young woman, where she met my grandfather, a charming man with a quick wit and an unforgettable smile.

They built a life together, raised my aunt, my uncle, and their youngest — my mom — and made the most of everything they had. They stretched every rupee, mended clothes, and my grandma could find a bargain like no one else, something I witnessed firsthand during our last trip together in 2010.

I’ve been replaying moments from that trip all week. My grandpa running across the beach like a joyful schoolboy, me, shopping with my grandma in Mapusa market, hearing her proudly stretch out her arm to tell me they had “big big pomfrets,” and pulling her into every photo I could. Somehow, I think I knew it was the last time I'd have both of them by my side. Those memories and pictures mean everything now.

Like my mother, my grandmother’s love language was food. Every visit in my childhood came with endless cups of hot Bournvita, Marie biscuits, chikoos, and the pomegranate seeds she would lovingly clean and place in a bowl just for me. Funny enough, my mom still does this for me too.

When my grandfather passed in 2017, something in her shifted, as it often does with soulmates. Her health declined in recent years, but her smile never did. Every FaceTime ended with her blessings, even when words were difficult. I always understood what she meant.

Continued in comments... by @rochelletrainor

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10 months ago

J.R.R. Tolkien said, "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." by @rochelletrainor

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10 months ago

In honour of Women's Entrepreneurship Day today, I wanted to highlight the amazing work @startupcanada does to support and empower early-stage entrepreneurs across Canada with expert guidance and resources to build and grow their businesses.

I was grateful to be invited to their breakfast yesterday to learn more about their initiative StartupGov which provides founders with a platform to share their perspectives with government officials and for the government to hear from founders from across Canada.

Thank you to the Startup Canada team and Natasha Morano for the invitation and to PS Annie Koutrakis for sharing more about Budget 2025.

#WomenEntrepreneurship #Women #entrepreneur #Ottawa #startupbusiness by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago

It was great to meet with municipal leaders at @fcmgram reception last night. Local leaders are in town to bring municipal priorities on critical infrastructure, affordable housing, safer communities, and climate resilience to Parliament Hill.

I loved talking about @webuildadream's workforce development initiatives taking place in communities across Canada.

Congrats to the entire FCM team, especially President Rebecca Bligh (Pic 1), CEO Carole Saab, and the FCM board, including Hamilton Councillor Nrinder Nann (Pic 2). taken in NAC - National Arts Centre by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago

I was thrilled to begin #GenderEqualityWeek with the Prosperity Project's roundtable that brought together elected officials, staffers, Senators, community organizations, and women entrepreneurs to advance gender equity as a driver of economic growth.

Like TPP, @webuildadream believes that Canada's economic future depends on unlocking the full potential of women. That is why we continue to invest in the next generation of leaders through events like our #DreamerDay, where we welcome over 3,000 high school girls to explore pathways in skilled trades, STEAM, leadership, and emergency services. Find out more at dreamerday.ca.

Special shout out also to the roundtable reception hosts @mothersmattercanada and @balancepowernow, for the opportunity to celebrate with other leaders passionate about advancing gender equality. by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago

Earlier this week, I attended the #MovingEconomies event on how Canada can build a resilient, forward-looking economy.

#MovingEconomies brings together some of Canada's key industries: forestry, mining, transportation, agriculture, chemistry, and manufacturing to advocate for:

1️⃣ More investment tax credits.
2️⃣ Streamlined regulatory processes so that decisions can be made quickly.
3️⃣ Labour laws that resolve labour disputes quickly to improve Canada's supply chain reliability.

In response to the recent tariffs, we must take strong, intentional action to build the most resilient, competitive Canadian economy. That includes ensuring a steady supply of skilled labour to support nation-building projects that drive long-term economic growth.

Build A Dream's focus on workforce development is helping shape that future by connecting underrepresented talent to high-demand sectors.

📨 Get in touch, together, we can support the next generation of skilled workers essential to Canada’s economic success.

#MadeInCanada #CdnPoli #BuildADream #EconomicInclusion #TakeYourSpace #WomenInSkilledTrades taken in NAC - National Arts Centre by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago

✔️ Career Bucket List Item Unlocked!

Happy to share my @thehilltimesottawa article in collaboration with @prideatworkcan on how clean energy can power economies, but without inclusive workforce development, that promise falls short.

Canada's green transition must be a just one. We must dismantle long-standing barriers and invest in the talent we've historically overlooked. This is just about equity, it's about the human right to opportunity, dignity, and safety at work.

A greener Canada won't build itself. Bold leadership is needed to unlock every talent pool. At @webuildadream, we're ready, and we know just where to find the talent to get it done.

https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/06/06/powering-a-just-transition-why-canadas-clean-energy-workforce-needs-a-recharge/462620/

#WorkforceDevelopment #TakeYourSpace #CleanEmergy #Energy #Electricity #WomenInSkilledTrades #Workforce #Inclusion #Diversity #DEI by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago

Thank you to @cdnprosperity for hosting this inspiring luncheon with women trailblazers #KathleenTaylor and #RobertaJamieson!

To be in the company of such phenomenal women both on the panel and in the audience has left me in awe.

Thank you especially to @prideatworkca's Colin Druhan for the generous invitation and unwavering support for @webuildadream by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago

It was such an honour to chat with the first woman Premier of #NewBrunswick, Susan Holt.

#DYK Ontario is New Brunswick’s second-biggest trading partner?

In April, our provinces signed an MOU that will improve interprovincial labour mobility by working together to align regulated occupations. This could help address the skilled trades shortages in both provinces.

In April, I also had the pleasure of meeting New Brunswick's Minister for Women's Equality #LyneBoudreau while in Fredricton to discuss the possible expansion of Build a Dream in the province.

I look forward to working together to create more opportunities for women in both provinces.

#NBpoli #CDNpoli #ONpoli
#TakeYourSpace #WorkforceDevelopment taken in Metropolitain Brasserie by @rochelletrainor

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a year ago