Senator Paulette Senior earns Ontario Community Impact Award

(TORONTO – November 10 , 2025) – The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) announced today that Senator Paulette Senior has received the 2025 Ontario Business Achievement Award for Community Impact.  

The award recognizes a leader who has demonstrated profound positive socio-economic impact through activities across Ontario, exemplifying outstanding community building, leadership, and vision. 

“From providing front-line services to leading national organizations, Paulette Senior has been a champion and builder of more inclusive communities in Ontario and across Canada,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the OCC. “As an organization whose purpose is inclusive, sustainable prosperity, the Ontario Chamber was particularly inspired by Paulette’s work to empower women entrepreneurs while at the Canadian Women’s Foundation. She is a true trailblazer whose influence now shapes national policy.” 

Senator Senior is a lifelong advocate for dismantling systemic barriers and empowering women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Immigrating to Canada from Jamaica at age 11, her early experiences shaped a deep passion for systemic change. She began her career on the frontlines, managing shelters, employment programs, and housing initiatives in Toronto’s most underserved neighbourhoods — a foundation of service that paved the way for national leadership roles, including a decade as CEO of YWCA Canada. 

As President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF), Senator Senior led a national movement for gender justice. Under her leadership, CWF secured over $50 million to support grassroots organizations addressing gender-based violence and launched the Signal for Help Responder tool, dramatically expanding its reach. Her advocacy is rooted in the belief that support should be policy, not privilege, guiding her focus on affordable childcare, housing, and freedom from violence. 

Appointed to the Senate of Canada in December 2023, Senator Senior continues to champion human rights and equity as a member of key standing committees. Her influence also extends to shaping national policy, including her service on the Supreme Court Independent Advisory Board, where she supported the historic appointment of Canada’s first Indigenous Justice. 

“The greatest honour is to work alongside the community builders and advocates who fight every day for an inclusive and just Ontario,” said Senator Paulette Senior. “This award underscores the importance of not just serving the community but changing the policies that affect it. That is the work that truly drives me, and I am honoured by this recognition from the OCC.” 

Conferred by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses of every size, sector and community, the Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs) are the premier celebration of business success in the province. 

The 2025 OBAAs air on TLN TV on November 15 and 16, featuring a Community Impact Award episode celebrating Senator Senior’s trailblazing career, her foundational service in Toronto, and her profound influence on national equity and human rights policy. 

The OBAAs are supported by the OCC’s series presenting partner, CN, and its broadcast partner, TLN Media Group. To learn more about the broadcast and our partners, visit the OBAAs website here. 

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes and empowers business and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities. 

For more information, please contact:  

Michael Thede
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Manager, Communications & Marketing
michaelthede@occ.ca | 647-335-1153