Jennifer Armstrong was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She attended Wilfrid Laurier University, where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science.

After graduation, she joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as a Foreign Service Officer, working in the South East Asia Division and then the Commonwealth Division. Jennifer was a member of Canada's delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2002, and then was posted to the Canadian Mission to the United Nations in New York from 2002-2003, during the debates over the Iraq War. Upon moving to Barrie in 2003, Jennifer began working with non-profit organizations and small businesses, including Hospice Simcoe and Gilda’s Club of Simcoe Muskoka. For the Canadian Landmines Foundation, she represented the organization at national meetings, organized fundraisers, and administered a national essay writing contest on the meaning of peacekeeping.

In the past decade, Jennifer has taught both university and college courses in Canadian government, human rights and international relations. Jennifer is a regular guest speaker on women's participation in politics; the United Nations; the Landmine Treaty and the current situation in Syria. She has recently founded the non-partisan group “Politics for Women” aimed at encouraging more women to become involved in politics at all levels.

Jennifer has volunteered for a variety of community organizations, including We Are The Villagers, OnStage Performance Group, Redwood Park Communities, Easter Seals Barrie, the Maclaren Art Centre, Hospice Simcoe, Gilda's Club, and the Women and Children's Shelter of Barrie. She particularly enjoys participating in unique fundraisers for local organizations, and has taken part in theatre productions, dragon boat racing, ballroom dancing competitions and “celebrity” boxing matches. She is also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Barrie, chairing the Service Committee and coordinating their annual scholarship program.

In recognition of her commitment to her community, Jennifer received a “Leading Women Building Communities Award” from the Province of Ontario; the “Newcomer Recognition Community Champion Award” from the County of Simcoe and was the first honorary member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Barrie.

Jennifer Armstrong currently lives in Barrie and works as an instructor at Georgian College.

Born in London, Ontario, Maureen Wellwood started her military career at the age of 18. After attending military college, she completed infantry officer training in 1995 and joined the Royal 22e Régiment.

Maureen deployed to ex-Yugoslavia (96-97), Bosnia (99-00), and Kandahar, Afghanistan (09-10). She also participated in two domestic operations, including the 1998 ice storm in the Montreal area and the flooding near Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in 2011. She commanded at platoon and company level within the infantry battalions of the Royal 22e Régiment, and at unit level in the 2 Canadian Division Training Centre. She has been recognized by the CDS, Comd Canada COM and Comd CA with commendations for her excellent performance in various roles. She is currently the Deputy Commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden and Military Personnel Generation Training Group.

Promoted to her current rank in January 2016, she is the first woman in the Canadian Infantry to attain the rank of Lieutenant-colonel. In April 2018, she was recognized as one of the Top 20 Women in Defence in Esprit de corps’ “Breaking Down the Barricades” and has since been recognized as one of the 2018 Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women.

Maureen is a Bachelor of Military and Strategic Studies from Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, a Master of Defense Studies from Royal Military College, and a Master of Leadership in Education from Yorkville University.

She lives with her spouse Naran Leseigneur and their two sons Aidan and Félix.

Chief Petty Officer Wilcox was born in Edmonton, AB. He enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in October 1994 as an Armoured Crewman. Upon graduating basic training in St-Jean and completing QL3 and Battle School in Gagetown he was posted to the Lord Strathcona's Horse in Calgary. In 1996 he deployed to Bosnia under SFOR with the LDSH Recce Squadron. With the closure of CFB Calgary he was moved with the regiment to Edmonton.

In 2000, CPO1 Wilcox remustered and changed to the Navy uniform and became a Hull Technician. As a young technician he sailed aboard HMCS Regina, HMCS Winnipeg, and HMCS Protecteur on the west coast. While on the west coast he completed his QL5 and was subsequently promoted to Master Seaman and posted to the Canadian Forces Damage Control School Galiano as a fire fighting instructor. After teaching at the damage control school, he applied for selection to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) and was selected to be a Boat Coxn’, CPO1 Wilcox deployed to Afghanistan several times with CANSOF.

In 2008, upon returning to the fleet CPO1 Wilcox was promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class and worked for the standards division at the Canadian Forces Fleet School Pacific (Engineering) developing training and lesson plans. That job was short lived and within a year PO2 Wilcox was posted back to HMCS Calgary as the Hull Systems manager overseeing all structural and hotel services maintenance.

CPO1 Wilcox remained aboard HMCS Calgary until his posting to the Canadian Forces Recruit and Leadership School, he was immediately promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class and was a Platoon Commander for 4 years and spent the last year as the school Standards Warrant Officer. CPO1 Wilcox returned to Esquimalt as the Senior Hull Tech aboard HMCS Regina where he removed the ship from her FELEX docking period and set the vessel to sea.

CPO1 Wilcox was promoted to Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class and posted to Director General Marine Engineer and Project Management in Ottawa, he was the Electromagnetic and Underwater Signature Management Chief, and he was responsible for the refit of 12 vessels modernizing their underwater signatures and anti-mine warfare systems.

CPO1 Wilcox was then posted to Directorate of Professional Military Conduct- Operation HONOUR, he was assigned to manage the CAF’s monitoring program on all Sexual Misconduct cases and ensured that the Director General and Vice Chief of Defence Staff remained aware of what was happening within the Canadian Air Force (CAF).

CPO1 Wilcox holds a Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology from Concordia University and a Masters of Arts in International and Geo-Political Leadership from Royal Roads University, he is currently a PhD candidate in the field of NeuroPsychology. He was awarded the Royal Roads Founders award for his advanced work in the field of gender integration and leadership.

CPO1 Wilcox was sponsored by the government of Ecuador to develop a National Action Plan to integrate women into their military and government organizations, and has since developed and implemented a gender specific mentorship program for the women of the Canadian Armed Forces. He continues to work closely with the CAF Champion for Women to ensure his program is available across the CAF.

CPO1 Wilcox along with his exceptionally supportive daughter continues to enjoy all that military life has to offer.

Shilo is a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Air Force. She has been serving for 19+ years and has worked most of her career as a Combat Photographer (Imagery Technician). She has had the opportunity to sail with the Royal Canadian Navy off the coast of Africa, soar the skies with the Royal Canadian Air Force on many combat and domestic operations and walk side-by-side with the Canadian Army in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. Shilo continues to be presented with new and exciting opportunities to learn and grow as a soldier, a leader, and as a women. Capturing Canada’s Sailors, Soldiers and Air persons in uniform has been her absolute pleasure and enriched her life.

Currently Sgt Adamson is employed as the Diversity Advisor 2nd In Command (2IC), at the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group Headquarters, Borden Ontario. She has been working for 5+ years towards increasing diversity in the Canadian Armed Forces. She is passionate about breaking down barriers for people from all backgrounds, adding diversity to our ranks and bringing a new perspective to the table.

At home, Shilo leads a full life surrounded by amazing people,
most importantly her very charming common-law spouse, Cosimo,
who supports her in everything she does and has showed her just
how much one can accomplish when you have the right support in
your life.

Always learning and growing, having penitence and understanding
for people from all walks of life, embracing challenges, and
surrounding herself with truly caring people are some of the
things Shilo values most in life.