Don’t miss Women’s Day speaker at Flato Academy Theatre

Lindsay Advocate-hosted event will see actor Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves take the stage

International Women’s Day has always been about spotlighting courage, creativity, and the women who reshape the world in ways both seen and unseen. This year, The Lindsay Advocate is marking the day with a speaker who embodies that spirit: Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves, a Canadian actor and writer.

Ayesha – speaking March 4 at the Flato Academy Theatre – has had a varied career, starring in CBC’s Sort Of and Saint Pierre, as well as The Copenhagen Test with Simu Liu. She was also in Designated Survivor, Star Trek: Discovery, and Kim’s Convenience.

The actor promises to give the audience more than just a talk. “The stage is my home and first love. It would be impossible for me to stand up there and resist the urge to do a little ‘song and dance.’ The beauty of live performance is the energetic exchange between audience and performer and I’m excited for all of us to have some fun together.”

She also hopes the night can promote a feeling of togetherness. “I do believe it’s what’s needed in our current global situation, so fraught with divisiveness and hate.”

Having moved here five years ago, Ayesha has enjoyed the strong sense of community she’s felt in Lindsay. “What better way to lean into that community spirit than attending an event put on by our local magazine, held at our iconic FLATO Academy Theatre, with treats from our very own Sweet Kitchen?”

Rebekah McCracken, executive editor of The Lindsay Advocate and Kawartha Lakes Weekly, says Ayesha was an easy pick for the Advocate’s annual Women’s Day event. “International Women’s Day is about amplifying voices that push us forward,” she says. “Ayesha brings honesty, vulnerability, and strength to every story she tells. We wanted our community to experience that up close.”

International Women’s Day can sometimes feel only symbolic, but events like this make it tangible. Advocate Publisher Roderick Benns sees the evening as part of a broader commitment to elevating local dialogue.

“Our annual Women’s Day edition of the Advocate is always tied in to a powerful guest speaker. When women lead, communities grow stronger. Ayesha’s work is a reminder that representation isn’t a trend — it’s a responsibility.”

Ayesha feels honoured to speak on the power women hold and the important role they’ve played in her life. “I am who I am today because of the women who’ve been by my side from the beginning.”

She hopes that sharing her own experience will resonate with the audience. “I hope that people have a laugh, a cry, and everything in between. That they walk away feeling seen, feeling heard, and experience a renewed understanding of their own humanity.”

Ayesha says, “Whatever differences we have on the surface, at the end of the day, we are far better together in all our multiplicity.”

She encourages everyone to attend the event to “show some love to the women in your life. I sincerely hope that when I look out at the audience, I see more than a few men’s faces.”

Tickets now on sale

To get tickets, visit here. Tickets are $25. 

The March 4 event is from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay. Dessert and coffee included. Cash bar available.