Nadia Lappa
Community Pillars
Nadia Lappa is a distinguished Ottawa community leader whose work in cultural preservation, community engagement, and women’s heart health advocacy has had a significant and lasting impact locally and nationally. Her leadership is defined by resilience, service, and a sustained commitment to improving awareness, education, and support systems for others.
A proud member of Ottawa’s Italian-Canadian community, Nadia has long been a visible and trusted cultural ambassador. She served as a bilingual host and interviewer with Tele-30 community television, where she highlighted cultural initiatives, heritage stories, and community leaders. She dedicated a decade to the executive of the Emiliani Association of Ottawa and represented North America for eight years as Youth Representative to the Emilia-Romagna regional government in Italy, ensuring that the perspectives of second-generation youth were included in international cultural dialogue. She has also contributed to heritage preservation initiatives such as Alla Tavola della Nonna and A Journey of Faith, helping document and celebrate intergenerational cultural identity.
In 2016, at the age of 37 following the birth of her third child, Nadia experienced a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare and life-threatening form of heart attack that disproportionately affects women, particularly new mothers. Following emergency treatment at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, she underwent multiple procedures, including the placement of stents, and faced a prolonged recovery period that included heart failure and intensive rehabilitation. This life-altering experience became a catalyst for her advocacy.
Rather than withdrawing from public life, Nadia transformed her experience into action. She became a dedicated volunteer with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, sharing her story in public forums, patient education sessions, and medical training environments. Her testimony has helped increase awareness among healthcare professionals about the unique presentation of heart disease in women, particularly SCAD, contributing to more informed diagnosis and care.
Nadia’s advocacy has extended into educational development. She contributed to the creation of a women’s heart health educational module now integrated into Canadian medical training, as well as a complementary secondary school curriculum delivered across the country. She continues to personally deliver this program in Ottawa classrooms, educating youth on cardiovascular risk factors, prevention, and gender-specific health awareness. Through this work, she has helped bridge clinical research, public education, and lived experience in a meaningful and impactful way.
She remains actively engaged in community fundraising and awareness campaigns, including participation in Ottawa Race Weekend in support of the Heart Institute. She also volunteers within her parish community, supporting catechism programs and faith-based initiatives that strengthen community connection and intergenerational learning.
Nadia’s contributions have been recognized through her involvement in national SCAD research initiatives and ongoing collaboration with cardiovascular specialists and patient advocacy networks. Her voice continues to shape public understanding of women’s heart health in Canada.
Through cultural leadership, education, and health advocacy, Nadia Lappa exemplifies the values of service, courage, and community impact. Her work has strengthened awareness, inspired systemic change, and improved lives.
