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Women Who Inspire Awards 2026

Sunday, November 8, 2026 · 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

What are the Women Who Inspire Awards?

The Women Who Inspire Awards celebrate Canadian Muslim women who have made remarkable contributions in their fields and communities. Launched in 2007, these awards recognize women who embody leadership, resilience, and excellence across sports, business, education, arts, community service, and beyond.

The Women Who Inspire Awards shine a light on women who:

  • Are creating positive change in their communities
  • Champion gender and racial equity
  • Demonstrate leadership, resilience, and innovation
  • Serve as role models for future generations

Each year, award recipients reflect the diversity, strength, and impact of Muslim women across Canada and beyond.

Women of 2026

Dr. Alaa Murabit

Physician & CEO, RAIS

Dr. Ayşe Rumeysa Mohammed

Founder and CEO, Renewify Inc.

Dr. Ndeye Dieynaba Ndiaye

Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Political Science and Law (FSPD), UQAM

Mabintou Ouattara

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ubora Women's Initiative

Samar Mudawi

Associate Director, Partnership Development & Stewardship, Diversity Institute

Featured Hosts & Speakers

Duha Elmardi – Panel Moderator

Duha Elmardi is the Education Coordinator of CCMW. She is a Sudanese Canadian resident and nonprofit professional with 15 years of experience as an educator, program and project coordinator, and organizational development consultant in Sudan, Malaysia, the US, and now Canada. She is dedicated to anti-oppression, social change, and creating positive impacts through community organizing, facilitating, and supporting collective work.

Timaj Garad – Featured Spoken Word Performance

Timaj Garad is an Ethiopian-Harari, Toronto-based multi-disciplinary storyteller, arts educator, and community organizer who uses poetry, theatre, and music, and has performed on over 400 stages while facilitating arts-based workshops worldwide. She founded LUMINOUS Fest, Canada’s first Black Muslim arts festival, and co-founded The Sisters’ Retreat, a series of arts-based wellness retreats for Muslim women. She has released the single and music video “Black Gold” and her debut EP “Blooming at the Mouth,” and is currently working on her second EP.



Rania El Mugammar – Keynote Speaker

Rania El Mugammar is a Sudanese Artist, Liberation Educator, Abolitionist, Anti-oppression Consultant, multidisciplinary performer, speaker and published writer. Her work explores reproductive justice, transformative justice & abolition, art as liberation and digital justice.

As a writer, Rania’s work explores themes of identity, womanhood, Blackness, flight, exile, migration, belonging, gender, sexuality and beyond. Rania’s primary mediums are poetry, spoken word and oral storytelling. She is a published poet, storyteller and playwright. Rania is deeply interested in poetic form and the auditory texture of words as well as the visual/aesthetic impact of language and form.

Rania is an experienced anti-oppression, abolition and liberation educator and consultant who is unflinchingly committed to decolonization and freedom as the ultimate goals of her work. She has worked extensively with contemporary arts institutions, STEM based enterprises, media organizations, educational institutions and community/grassroots spaces.

This Year’s Theme

The theme Shaping What’s Next: Muslim Women Leading Canada Forward shines a spotlight on Muslim women who are influencing, inspiring, and moving Canada forward. From policy and advocacy to arts, business, and beyond, these women are not waiting for change – they are creating it. They are mentors, trailblazers, and community builders whose contributions ripple far beyond their immediate circles, leaving a lasting impact on the fabric of Canadian society.

Nominations are now closed, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to submit – your enthusiasm and the calibre of nominations we received is a testament to just how many remarkable Muslim women are out there. Our voting committee is currently deliberating, and we look forward to announcing the honourees soon.

We are busy planning this year’s event and could not be more excited to celebrate with so many of you. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or partnering with CCMW, we would love to hear from you — please reach out to us at mariam.hamaoui@ccmw.com.

Our Sponsors

The Women Who Inspire Awards are made possible by the generous support of our 2026 sponsors. We’re grateful to these organizations for helping us celebrate this year’s Women Who Inspire. Take a look at our full sponsor list and categories here.

Our Vendors

Explore products and services from local businesses, owned and led by Muslim women, and show your support while you’re with us.

Empowering Through Education

A central part of the Women Who Inspire Awards is the Lila Fahlman Scholarship, which supports Canadian Muslim women pursuing post-secondary education.

Established in memory of Dr. Lila Fahlman—an educator and a founding member of CCMW—the scholarship continues her legacy of empowerment through education.

  • Scholarships are awarded to recipients annually
  • Funds support women working toward academic and professional goals
  • The scholarship reflects a long-standing commitment to access, equity, and opportunity

The Awards event also serves as a fundraiser to sustain and grow this important initiative, ensuring that more women can access the resources they need to succeed.

A look back at 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Women Who Inspire Awards 2025.

On November 8, 2025, we gathered at the Novotel Hotel in North York alongside more than 100 attendees for a vibrant and meaningful evening that celebrated the collective impact of our community.

Under the theme “Bridging the Gap – Advancing Equity Through Action,” the event honoured the strength, creativity, and leadership of women who continue to shape their communities and inspire change.

We are grateful to all who attended, supported, and contributed to making the 2025 Awards such a memorable and impactful celebration.

Honouring Past Award Recipients

Explore the inspiring stories of Muslim women we’ve celebrated over the years.

Want to be a Part of Our Journey and Empower Muslim Women in Canada?

At the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW), we are committed to the equity, equality and empowerment of Muslim women in Canada. Your donation supports critical initiatives, including legal aid, emergency financial assistance, scholarships, advocacy, and education programs.

Every dollar you give helps build a more just and equitable society for Muslim women and girls.

Our Proud Funders

As a non-profit organization, we could not do what we do without our funders. 

Get To Know The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)

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