Olivia Chow

For over thirty years, Olivia Chow has been an effective and well-known public figure, serving in Toronto’s municipal politics and on the national stage as a Canadian Member of
Parliament. She was voted Best City Councillor seven times by readers of NOW magazine and Best MP in 2010. Readers of the Toronto Sun voted her Top Torontonian in 2012 and
Canadian Immigrant magazine named her as one of Canada’s Top 25 Immigrants.

As a founder of the Institute for Change Leaders, Olivia and her team of 30+ trainers have taught community and political organizing to over 5000 people since March of 2015. The
Institute for Change Leaders’ mission is to ensure organizers are continually developing the skills they need to transform the resources they have into the change they want. The
Institute does this by teaching organizing strategies and providing a platform for the growth of a network of organizers.

Olivia’s career has been all about creating lasting change. Olivia was born in Hong Kong and moved to Toronto with her parents when she was thirteen. She studied Philosophy and
Fine Art at university, and has worked as a college professor, an ESL teacher, a councillor for new immigrants, and a sculptor.

Olivia has two certificates from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Programs and 9 years of teaching experience.

Olivia Chow has also been one of Canada’s most effective and well known public figures. She served 2 terms as a school trustee, 4 terms as a Toronto city councillor and 8 years as a Member of Parliament.

Outside the political sphere, Olivia is known as a tireless spokesperson, fundraiser and champion of numerous charities such as the Centre for Victims of Torture, Asian Community AIDS Service, Culture Link and organizations helping those with cancer.