In Part One of our conversation with former Assistant Deputy Minister Barb Simmons, we explore her decades of leadership within Ontario’s public service and her commitment to advancing women’s social and economic opportunity. Reflecting on her years as ADM of Ontario’s Office of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, Barb recollects her meaningful work championing inter-ministerial collaborations, improving access for women entrepreneurs, and strengthening responses to gender-based violence across the province. After retiring from a demanding career, she shares how travel, rest, creative writing, and playful diorama-making helped her rediscover herself beyond work. Grateful for her happy home, Barb also opens up about her family’s experiences with transition, emphasizing inclusion, resilience, and the importance of supportive communities.

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