Medusa Speaks

Natalie C. MacDonald is the Founder and Managing Partner of MacDonald & Associates and one of Canada's most recognized employment lawyers. With more than 24 years of experience, she has been repeatedly named among Canada's top employment lawyers and was recognized by Lexology Index as one of the country's highest-ranked practitioners for her deep expertise, advocacy, and negotiation skills. She has also been recognized internationally as one of the world's leading women in business. Throughout her career, Natalie has secured landmark legal victories that have helped shape Canadian employment law. Most notably, in Galea v. Walmart Canada Corp., she obtained the highest moral and punitive damages award in a Canadian employment law case. In 2023, she established new law on executive compensation through Maynard v. Johnson Controls Canada LP while securing a record-setting costs award at the Ontario Court of Appeal. Beyond the courtroom, Natalie is the author of the acclaimed book Extraordinary Damages in Canadian Employment Law, has testified before Parliament on gender equality issues, and is a respected educator through Osgoode Professional Development, with one class addressing domestic violence in the workplace. Under her leadership, MacDonald & Associates has built a reputation for legal excellence, social justice advocacy, and a willingness to take on complex, precedent-setting cases.

Christie Paschakis is a passionate advocate and the founder of SOAR Initiative Canada and Ontario Says NO MORE, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and child abuse through advocacy, public education, survivor support, and systems change. Since founding the organizations, she has led campaigns that challenge rape myths and harmful stereotypes, built coalitions with community and labour organizations across Canada, and advanced public conversations around accountability and survivor-centered policy. SOAR's #ChangeTheLanguage campaign was created to draw greater awareness to the impact of language and stigma surrounding gender-based violence. Most recently, she launched a national petition and open letter urging the NHL and NHLPA to adopt a comprehensive policy addressing sexual violence, domestic violence, and child abuse — receiving more than 1,500 signatures and endorsements from over 30 organizations. A proud library worker and librarian with more than 25 years of service at the Toronto Public Library, Christie was elected in 2025 as Vice-President of the Toronto Public Library Workers Union, CUPE Local 4948, representing more than 2,600 library workers. As a member of the 2025 bargaining committee, her advocacy was instrumental in securing a historic expansion of paid Sexual and Domestic Violence Leave, doubling the available leave for both part-time and full-time members.

Natasha Dixon is a non-profit founder, executive director, researcher, policy analyst and workshop facilitator. Over the past several years, she has garnered experience in conducting research to develop evidence-informed policies, programs and workshops that address physical contact and tech-enabled forms of sexual violence against women, girls, non-binary, trans, two-spirit and queer folks. Through obtaining her master's degree in public and international affairs, plus her honours bachelor's degree in political science, Natasha learned how to navigate bureaucratic systems while centring the voices and lived experiences of survivors during decision-making. At the DSVSC, Natasha refers to Black Feminist Participatory Action Research (BFPAR) methods, draws on her lived experience of online child sexual exploitation and TFSV as an adult, plus the practice of oral history, which she has learned from Caribbean and Indigenous women. Through these means, she works to oversee a collective of volunteers to cultivate engaging, collaborative and survivor-centred spaces for those who've faced harms at the intersections of physical and technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV), sex trafficking and online child sexual exploitation.

Callie Love is a survivor-expert, advocate, and the Founder of Phoenix Arise Foundation. Drawing from her lived experience as a crown ward and formerly homeless youth, she works at the intersection of sex trafficking, intimate partner violence, child sexual abuse, and systemic reform. Callie leads survivor-informed programs, policy advocacy, and public education, and actively engages with municipal, provincial, and federal governments to advance survivor-led legislation and accountability within institutions. She holds a Peer Support Worker certification from George Brown College and has completed 14 specialized training certifications related to trauma, crisis response, mental health, and human trafficking. Through her advocacy, workshops, and leadership, Callie is committed to dismantling systemic barriers and creating spaces where survivors are heard, believed, and empowered to lead.

Ashley-Lauren Elrod is an Emmy-nominated producer, trauma-informed intuitive healing professional, and survivor-advocacy leader dedicated to transforming pain into purpose through storytelling and prevention. As founder of Visionary Woman Productions, she leads creative campaigns across film, branded content, and experiential media — collaborating with brands including Dove, Delta Airlines, and Kia. A multi-assault and occult survivor, Ashley-Lauren has worked alongside International Justice Mission, Songs Against Slavery, the United Nations, the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, and the National Children's Alliance. She is the creator of Maya's Magic Word, an interactive child safety and empowerment platform, and is at work on her forthcoming book, The Diary of a Recovering Inner Child.

• @ashleylaurenofficial
• @mayasmagicword

Jae Day is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, mother of four, and trauma-informed birth and postpartum doula. As a survivor of sexual violence during her military service, she brings lived experience into her work supporting birthers through pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum spaces where past trauma can often resurface. Jae is a dedicated advocate for survivor-centred care, creating safe, empowering environments where families feel seen, heard, and supported. Through her work with The Baby Days & Co., she bridges advocacy and care, helping clients navigate birth with dignity, autonomy, and compassion.

Meet Sarah — an actor, dancer, and arts educator with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. From producing and performing in films, TV and commercials screened across Canada and the U.S., to mentoring young artists, her work is rooted in passion and purpose. A natural leader since childhood, Sarah began teaching in her teens and has been committed ever since to creating safe, inclusive spaces for youth. She believes in the power of the arts to help heal and transform lives. As a survivor of rape, she uses her voice to empower others and advocate for ending sexual violence.