“I was so lucky. I grew up with an incredibly strong grandmother, mother and sister,” Virtue says. “All three, independent, fierce, clever women who were hard workers, had goals and visions for themselves, and were really ambitious.”

Standing beneath the Eiffel Tower, the Hope-based designer will watch as 15 of her handmade, couture-quality creations are showcased on the runway as part of Indigenous Fashion Week. It will be a proud moment that she will never forget.

The Leap Manifesto: A Call for Canada Based on Caring for the Earth and One Another was launched on September 15. So far, over 25,000 Canadians have added their names to the declaration.

Ashley Callingbull, left, poses for a selfie with David Suzuki while joining other actors, activists, and musicians in launching the Leap Manifesto.