Quote I Live By:
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. - from the Desiderata
For Angie Osachoff, the idea of service was never abstract. It was something she grew up witnessing in quiet, everyday ways.
Her parents arrived in Canada in 1972 as refugees after South Asians were expelled from Uganda under Idi Amin’s regime. Newly married and in their early twenties, they left behind family, familiarity, and everything they owned. Canada offered them a second chance. That story of displacement and rebuilding became the foundation of Angie’s worldview.
“My dad used to tell me from as young as I can remember, you’re a girl, and you can be anything you want,” she recalls. “Get a good education because nobody can take that away from you. And this country saved our lives, so it’s our responsibility to make it stronger.”
Born in Hamilton and raised in Ontario, Angie grew up watching her parents volunteer relentlessly in their community. They ran multicultural associations, organized cultural festivals, and supported local initiatives. Service was simply part of life.
By eleven, Angie had begun volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross. What started as youthful curiosity soon grew into a deep interest in international humanitarian law and human rights. As a teenager, she was already giving presentations to adults about international law and children in armed conflict. Along the way, a constellation of mentors, many of them women, helped shape her path.
Today, Angie is one of Canada’s most experienced practitioners in human rights education, anti-racism, and children’s rights, with more than three decades of work shaping communities and institutions across the country.
As Director of Canadian Programs at Equitas – the International Centre for Human Rights Education, she leads national initiatives that reach more than 100 communities. Her work focuses on strengthening systems, supporting youth leadership, and ensuring that people of all ages are meaningfully included in decisions that affect their lives.
Beyond her professional work, Angie has also helped shape cultural spaces in the community. As outgoing Chair of the Board of the Indian Summer Arts Society, she guided the organization through leadership transitions and the challenges of the pandemic, helping strengthen its foundation while ensuring South Asian voices and artists continue to be celebrated across the Lower Mainland.
Angie’s contributions have earned her the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, the Canadian Red Cross Prix d’Excellence, the Canadian Red Cross Youth Service Award, and the United Way Community Partner Award.
She also sees her identity as both a bridge and a strength. As the daughter of refugees, a South Asian woman, and a Canadian raised in multicultural communities, Angie has often been able to move between worlds. “My identity has been my superpower,” she says.
For Angie, the work remains deeply personal. It is about honoring the sacrifices of those who came before her and ensuring the next generation inherits a more just world.
“Everything I do,” she says, “is about leaving the world better than we found it.”
Q&A
Q- This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Give to Gain.’ What does that phrase mean to you personally?
A- Giving creates ripple effects. When we invest in others, communities grow stronger and we see the impact come back many times over.
Q- What’s one lesson you had to learn the hard way that shaped the woman you are today?
A- Protect the work and your integrity. Do good work for the right reasons and the outcomes will follow.
Q- Who is a woman you deeply admire, and what about her inspires you most?
A- My sister Amy. She lives with a chronic illness yet approaches life with resilience, joy, and grace.
Q- What’s one thing you hope more women give themselves permission to do?
A- To simply be themselves without feeling the need to shrink or code-switch to belong.
