We are Women’s offers the WCH community a chance to get to know each other and share our stories. This month, we’re celebrating Asian Heritage Month by highlighting our Asian Canadian team members!
Name: Falguni Debnath
Pronouns: She/Her
Title & Department: Experience Advisor, Volunteer
On the WCH team for: 2 years
1. What excites you the most about working with WCH?
I am delighted to volunteer at WCH because I believe in its mandate and approach. We are fortunate to have a hospital in our city that is a world leader in women’s health and equitable care. WCH provides innovative care that is solidly based on academic research as well as on community engagement.
2. Tell us something(s) you want us to know about your Asian Heritage.
I was born and raised in Bangladesh. Following the partition of India in 1947, the region became East Pakistan. Following a civil war in 1971, East Pakistan became Bangladesh. It is a country with an ancient and rich culture. My grandfather was a well-known writer, and our home was filled with writers and artists. The landscape is lush, green, and fertile. The Bengali language is musical and has a deep literary tradition.
3. What does Asian Heritage Month mean to you and to your work?
I was forced to leave my country of birth. However, in Canada, I found a country with exquisite natural beauty, with endless lakes, mountains, and prairie. I also found a country with a big heart, one that welcomes strangers, and strives to provide a life worth living for all Canadians. I am a lawyer and am immensely proud of Canada’s legal system. Each segment of the justice system constantly strives to create a more just society, despite many challenges. I see this when I read a statutory scheme that benefits a segment of society, when I read a judgment that seeks to arrive at a just decision, or when people do extraordinary work every day to deliver justice services to Canadians.
Asian Heritage Month is one example of how Canada celebrates its rich and diverse culture.
4. What is something interesting that people would be surprised to learn about you?
I can paddle a canoe!
Learn more about Asian Heritage Month on our Web Hub.