News - Canada, Ottawa, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

On April 25, 2026, a gala evening was held in Ottawa to mark the International Women’s Day, organized by the non-governmental organization “Leading Ladies Canada.” The organization’s mission is to promote inclusion and empower women, children, and youth from diverse communities through programs that provide the tools and resources needed for personal and professional development. The event’s theme was “Empowered voices, inspiring change: celebrating the impact and leadership of women.” One of the gala’s sponsors was the Bulgarian Foundation under the Board of Directors of the National Capital Region Ottawa–Gatineau Bulgarian Community.

The event featured panel discussions with women leaders from various communities, female members of the Canadian Parliament, representatives of municipal authorities, and others, who shared their life stories and the challenging paths they have taken to achieve success.

An awards ceremony was also held to recognize distinguished women leaders in their respective communities. Among those honored for exceptional leadership and as an inspiration to the next generation of women leaders was Mrs. Olga Arnaudova. She has dedicated more than three decades to preserving and promoting the Bulgarian language and culture in Canada. Mrs. Arnaudova is a teacher at the Bulgarian School in Ottawa and currently leads the high-school credit course, inspiring young people to earn academic credit while strengthening their Bulgarian linguistic and cultural roots. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Ottawa and is the author of research on the Bulgarian language.

Mrs. Arnaudova has been a driving force in the local Bulgarian community and is one of the founders of the Bulgarian School in Ottawa. She also served as Ottawa's representative to the Bulgarian Arts Festival from 2013 to 2023.