Canadian Association of Girls in Science (CAGIS)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

In 1992, at age 9, Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko founded the Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS), an award-winning organization that supports interest in Science, Technology, Trades, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) with virtual programming and local clubs that visit labs, workshops, and field sites to meet mentors and do fun, hands-on activities.

Larissa remains president of CAGIS and has become a strong voice and advocate for gender equity in STEM.  Larissa has created awareness of the barriers that still exist, and through her tireless efforts has become renowned for her work.  Larissa has received a variety of honours, including Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Toronto Woman of Distinction, London Woman of Excellence, Chatelaine’s 80 Amazing Canadian Women to Watch, to list a few. She has participated and advised committees and roundtables such as the Parliamentary Committee on the Status of Women, Canadian Space Agency Roundtable, and NSERC Science Colloquium and has been featured in media stories across the country. In addition, Larissa serves as chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades, and Technology (CCWESTT), a national coalition of organizations, institutions, and individuals that support gender equity in STEM.

When CAGIS was founded, it was the only organization of its kind in Canada. Larissa broke new ground by allowing girls to actively explore their interests, and lead their own club.

girlsinscience.ca   //  @girlsinscience