Teresa Woo-Paw

Ms. Teresa Woo-Paw is a tireless advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and civic participation. Over a span of 45 years, she has founded and built eight non-profit organizations to serve and advocate for the marginalized communities. She has served on the boards of over two dozen public and non-profit organizations, always trying to raise awareness, increase capacity and effect systemic changes towards a more equitable and inclusive society.

She is a tenacious leader, advocate and champion for diversity throughout her career. She was part of United Way of Canada’s Multicultural Anti-Racism Organizational Change initiative in 1990s. In her capacity as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and Cabinet Minister in 2010s, she introduced a private member’s motion urging the Government of

Alberta to address diversity, and three times led the fight to keep the Alberta Human Rights Code intact. She has helped to institute inclusive policies and practices in multiple sectors including governments, education, healthcare, police and social services. She regularly speaks on the issues of access, equity and inclusion at conferences and educational events for public, business and community organizations.

Since being appointed Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation in 2018, Teresa has been instrumental in transforming the organization from practically irrelevant to nationally influential in addressing systemic racism and supporting community initiatives. As founder of the ACCT Foundation, she created the Chinese Canadian Leaders’ Summit and a culture and identity focused leadership training program to address systemic leadership underrepresentation. She is the driver behind the National Remembrance Event of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the designation of the Exclusion of Chinese Immigrants as an event of national historic significance. Her life-long commitment and contributions to the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism are significant and irreplaceable.

Teresa is the first Canadian woman of Asian descent elected to the Calgary Board of Education and the Alberta Legislature, and appointed to the Cabinet. She has received numerous awards, including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award – Multiculturalism & Community Services, the Women Making History in Alberta Award in 2022, the Alberta Centennial Medal & Medallion in 2005, and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 1998.