Four years ago, I sat in conversation with Elder Paul Guimond, one of the Elders-in-Residence at Red River College Polytechnic, talking about - of all things - willows. During the year that I spent embedded at the College to build their strategic plan, I spent time with Elder Paul almost every week, gathering his input on the plan, but also learning from his teachings as I began to deepen my own personal path of reconciliation. Little did I know that our conversation would generate a name for a community that would take four years to find its roots.

During this particular conversation, Elder Paul was sharing a teaching about willows - trees that represent both medicine and strength in his culture. Willow bark, of course, is the source of aspirin, a natural pain reliever. But willows do more than heal; they can bend deeply under the weight of snow and wind - but they never break. Their branches can be woven together into something greater than themselves. And most importantly, their roots bind the land together, holding the edges of rivers and swamps in place, stabilizing landscapes, and keeping precious gifts from washing away.

That same afternoon, I went for a walk through the forest near my home. As I sat on a fallen log in a circle of old-growth black poplars, a vision came to me in my mind's eye: a willow branch, its buds glowing with light. That was when I first held the name Blazing Willows. At the time, I was unsure what it represented. But I went home and immediately reserved the URL and Instagram handle, knowing that one day, it would find its place.

That image has stayed with me ever since, not just because of its beauty but because of what it represents. In so many ways, this is what women and gender-divers folks do in our society - we hold things together, weaving relationships, supporting communities, and creating resilience. And by doing so, we blaze trails for others to follow. Blazing Willows.

It has found its home. 

Why we’re changing the name

When I first announced the Old Girls Club, the name was meant to be a bit of a wink - a pushback against the idea that networking and influence should be hoarded in back rooms by the same people who’ve always held power. But in talking to the people who it was designed for, it became clear that while the name was catchy, it wasn’t quite right.

It was built on a reference to something we actively don’t want to emulate - an Old Boys Club, where power protects power, no matter the cost.

We all know what that looks like in practice. Right now, we’re seeing it play out in the U.S. government, where the entire Republican Party is blindly following Donald Trump simply because he holds power. It’s a model that rewards loyalty over ethics, punishes dissent, and shields its own at any cost.

That is not the world we are building here.

Blazing Willows is about something entirely different. We don’t exist to protect each other despite red flags. We exist to help each other thrive. That means showing up for one another with integrity, reciprocity, and real support - not just riding the tailcoats of those in power.

This name is not just about rejecting what we don’t want - it’s about fully stepping into what we are building: a community that is strong and interconnected. A place where we hold space for each other, without bending to the forces that would break us apart.

What you want

This shift isn’t just about a name change - it’s about making sure what we create reflects what women and gender-diverse folks actually want and need.

Almost 100 people shared your thoughts in our survey, and you told us loud and clear that you wanted a community that is:

• Inclusive - a space where you don’t have to prove you belong, and one that includes everyone who has been historically excluded from those back-room conversations.
• A place for real connection - not just networking for the sake of networking.
• Free from constant pitching - where you can get to know people as humans.without the worry that they're going to try to sell you something

As one of you put it: “The most valuable thing is meeting others who genuinely want to support each other - not just network for the sake of networking.” Someone else shared: “It’s rare to find a professional community that actually feels welcoming. I want a space where I don’t have to prove I belong.”

Blazing Willows is a space where relationships matter more than transactions, where we create opportunities together instead of waiting for permission, and where we grow strong - because we are connected.

Join us in an exclusive space on LinkedIn

In reading your survey feedback, I realized that this entire community cannot depend on me as its gatekeeper. You shouldn't have to depend on me sending you emails for information. And this defintely shouldn't be a one-way exchange of me talking at you. Since if the point is to nurture a community, it can't be confined to only those who can attend our in-person events. Instead, there should be a place where we can all connect in meaningful ways, directly with one another. 

So to support that, we have opened up a private LinkedIn group for the Blazing Willows community. This will be a space to connect, collaborate, and help shape what comes next. You'll get the link as soon as you subscribe for updates.

This dream of a community has always been about creating something different - something strong, connected, and built to last. I can’t wait to see where we go next.