wendys story

As the impressive Canadian Icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent

was busy mooring at the Expo site in Lisbon, Portugal, in

1998, where it would serve as a two-week centrepiece of

the Canadian Pavilion showcasing Canadian Marine

Technology, I was busy making sure my international

network of business contacts came onboard to see what

Canada had to offer. They did, and the event was a

success.

Troubleshooting for the prime minister

in four languages on a ship in a foreign

land and moving in these circles didn't

always come easily for me. I was born

into a "man's world," one where women

were not expected to step forward with

visionary ideas.

When I was 12 my family had upped

and moved from South Africa to

Portugal, another man’s world in those

days. I was soon accepted into the

Royal Ballet School and shuffled off to

England. After a year, and with a

broken heart, I returned to Portugal too

tall to continue my childhood passion.

But all those hours of discipline and

preparation were not to be in vain.

In May of 1964 I saw a business opportunity and decided to

open a model agency: the first in Portugal. It was a

struggle. I was seventeen and the banks would have

nothing to do with me unless my father would co-sign. He

refused and said I was crazy. Crazy or not I was

determined.

I approached dozens of people with my vision and was

turned down time and again. Then suddenly one day a

friend of my mother’s told my parents, “Wendy’s not a crazy

girl: she’s a talented woman.” She told them my idea was a

fine one and I could count on her for support. Her name

was June and her support and encouragement meant the

world to me.

We went into business together and called the agency

“Juno.” It was more than just a model agency. It was

somewhere women could come and learn how to make the

most of themselves with courage and confidence.

Unfortunately it was not to last. I sensed the political tides

were turning and sold the business six months before the

revolution of April 25th, 1974. After surviving an armed

robbery I left Portugal and made my way to London with my

two children. I was now 25.

Rolling up my sleeves I set

about building a new life. It

turned out to be a life full of

surprises. Within a year I was

heading export missions for the

British Government. Two years

after that I moved to Canada

and married the man of my

mothers nightmares! Today, 38

years later we live on a farm

near the shores of Lake Ontario

and proudly boast 5 grown-up

children, 5 grandchildren, two

thriving businesses and this

website.

I’m grateful for what June did for me and have always tried

to pay it forward, Over the years I’ve sat on a number of

non-profit boards for the performing and visual arts, social

services, economic development, environmental issues and

served an 8-year term as governor of a Canadian

University. I’m proud of my commendation by the Senate of

Canada for “setting high standards in all her endeavours,

having the deserved reputation for following through and

achieving whatever she undertakes.”

We all need a “June” in our lives at sometime or other.

Someone who can see beyond the naysayers and the

cynics. Just one person we can trust to tell us we’re okay

and we can do it. That’s why thirty years later I founded this

website with a mandate to give working women all over the

world access to mentors, to each other, and to on-line

services that will help them evolve with confidence and be

truly talented women.

Wendy’s Story