Bonnie Brayton

A recognized leader in both the feminist and disability movements, Bonnie Brayton has been the National Executive Director of the DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN) Canada since May 2007.  In this role, she has proven herself as a formidable advocate for women with disabilities here in Canada and internationally. During her tenure with DAWN Canada, Ms. Brayton has worked diligently to highlight key issues that impact the lives of women and girls with disabilities.

From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Brayton served as a member of Minister’s Advisory Council on Gender-Based Violence (WAGE) and was reappointed to a two year term.  Earlier in 2020, Bonnie was appointed by The Honourable Carla Qualtrough to Covid-19 Disability Advisory Group (CDAG) and will continue to serve as part of the DAG.

Ms. Brayton also presents regularly to Parliamentary and Senate Committees, public consultations and has represented women and girls with disabilities in both Canadian and International spheres.  Bonnie is well known in the disability and women’s communities equally as a coalition builder.

Bonnie is regularly sought after as a key note presenter, panelist and lecturer. Her blogs are published through Huff Post Canada and Rabble and Bonnie is considered a leading expert in Canada on Gender and Disability.  Bonnie has also contributed to several anthologies including A BOLD VISION and LIVING THE EDGES, a DisAbled Women’s Reader and the newest release from Inana publications STILL LIVING THE EDGES (release Fall 2020).

Ms. Brayton served as the Chair of Coup de Balai, an innovative social enterprise which provides home care services to people with disabilities and seniors in her Montreal community. Ms. Brayton is also a founding member of the Ending Violence Association of Canada  and served on the Steering Committee of La Maison Parent-Roback, a Quebec feminist collective in Montreal from 2008-15.  Ms. Brayton was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Jarislowsky Chair in Families and Work at Live Work Well Research Centre at the University of Guelph. She is also the Partner Liaison for a seven-year initiative based at the University of Guelph called “Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development” (EDID) funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Ms. Brayton lives in Montreal with her partner Delmar Medford. She has two adult daughters, Leah and Virginia.