Out Standing: Why Women’s Leadership Still Demands Our Courage

Last week at the NAC, I had the privilege of attending the premiere of Out Standing—a powerful film based on the story of Sandra Perron, CD, MSc, the first female infantry officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.

I was surrounded by fierce, brilliant women and supportive men, and I left with a full heart and a renewed sense of purpose.

I was clearly too busy connecting to take many photos, but that wasn’t the important part. What mattered was the chance to connect and reconnect with so many incredible people I’ve had the honour of serving alongside. Those conversations, those moments of recognition and shared history—that’s what stayed with me.

Sandra’s grace and generosity in sharing her experience is nothing short of extraordinary. She continues to shine a light on the need for progress in military culture and leadership, not by dwelling on the past, but by forging forward with clarity and courage.

Through The Pepper Pod, she has built a community that welcomes, uplifts, and empowers hundreds upon hundreds of CAF and RCMP women veterans. It’s more than support—it’s transformation. It’s belonging. It’s a reminder that healing and leadership can coexist.

Out Standing is a sobering reminder of the tenacity and resilience required to be a trailblazer—to rewrite norms, challenge systems, and hold the line when it would be easier to step back. But it’s also a celebration of what becomes possible when women meet that calling with bravery.

Women leaders bring depth, emotional intelligence, and fierce resolve.

We need more of them.

We need to listen to them.

We need to stand beside them.

If Out Standing is playing near you—go. Bring a friend. Start a conversation. Let’s keep the momentum going.