2011 Women of Distinction Nominees

YWCA Metro Vancouver is pleased to announce 59 extraordinary nominees for its 28th annual Women of Distinction Awards.

This year’s nominees are:

Arts, Culture & Design        

Sponsored by TD Bank Group
           
Morna Edmundson – Artistic Director, Elektra Women’s Choir
Meghan Gardiner – Actor, Playwright, Activist
Cori Howard – Founder, The Momoir Project
Marg Meikle – Author and former CBC Radio Host; Member, Board of Trustees, Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute

Read about the nominees

Business & The Professions            

Sponsored by Envision Financial

Laura Ballance – President, Laura Ballance Media Group
Christine Day – CEO, Lululemon Athletica Inc.
Connie Fenyo – President, Dye and Durham Corporation
Kathy McGarrigle – COO, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union
Jane Russell – Senior Vice President, Business Banking, TD Bank Group
Nancy Shewfelt – Senior Vice President, Investment Advisor and Wealth Management Consultant, Wellington West Capital Inc., The Shewfelt McMillan Group
Tamara Vrooman – President and CEO, Vancity Credit Union

Read about the nominees

Community Building                    

Sponsored by Industrial Alliance Pacific 

Christina Anthony – Director, Odlum Brown Limited; Founder and Chair, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
Leila El-Khatib – Director and Middle East and Islamic Trainer, 6 Degree Seminars Inc.
Gladys Johnston – Founder and Volunteer Leader, Mount Seymour Thrift Shop
Judi Miller – Founder, Nite of Hope
Betty Murray – Registered Nurse and Counsellor
Linda Poole – Founder and Executive Director, Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
Catherine Van Alstine – Partner, Odgers Berndtson; Founder, United Way’s Women United in Philanthropy

Read about the nominees

Education, Training & Development                    

Sponsored by Port Metro Vancouver

Natacha V. Beim – Founder and CEO, Core Education & Fine Arts
Malgorzata Dubiel – Senior Lecturer of Mathematics, SFU
Barb Finley – Director, Project CHEF Education Society
Corey Zylstra – Executive Director, REACH Learning Centre

Read about the nominees

Entrepreneurship & Innovation                    

Sponsored by BC Hydro

Judy Brooks – Entrepreneur, Business Advisor and Mentor, Presenter
Irene Lee – President, Pure Nail Bar
Michelle Pockey – Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Beverley Pomeroy – Founder and CEO, Global Currents Enterprises
Andrea Scott – Co-owner, skoah inc.
Amelia Ufford – Co-founder and Director of Business Development, Debrand Services
Lisa von Sturmer – Director and Co-Founder, Growing City UrbanEco Enterprises Ltd.

Read about the nominees

Health & Active Living                    

Sponsored by Teck Resources Limited                    

Paige Larson – Proprietor, North Shore Sports Medicine
Verity Livingstone – Medical Director, Vancouver Breastfeeding Centre
Saleema Noon –  Principal, iGirl Empowerment Workshops
Pat Pawlett – Dragon Boat and Outrigger Canoeing Coach
Chelsey Walker – Executive Director, Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Society

Read about the nominees

Non-Profit & Public Service                    

Sponsored by BC Housing                    

Elaine Allan –  Executive Director, Shelter Net BC Society
Jan Bell-Irving –  President and CEO, Junior Achievement of British Columbia
Helen Burns –  President, Mercy Ministries Canada
Debbie Cameron –  Director, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Programs, BC Labour Relations Board
Moira Gookstetter – CEO, Gymnastics BC
Jodyne Keller – Constable and Homeless Outreach Coordinator, Vancouver Police Department
Linda Malcolm – Constable and Sex Industry Liaison Officer, Vancouver Police Department
Shawn Marsolais –  Founder, Blind Beginnings
Filomena Nalewajek – CEO, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Marcie Summers – Executive Director, Positive Women’s Network

Read about the nominees

Technology, Science & Industry                    

Sponsored by Goldcorp Inc.                    

Kelly Findlay – Vice President of Finance, Imperial Metals Corp.; Chief Visionary Officer, Kelly’s Clinic
Janet Wood – Executive Vice President, SAP

Read about the nominees

Young Women of Distinction

Sponsored by Vancouver Foundation

Sunpreet Bains-Dahia – Alumni, Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Student, UBC      
Sarah Betcher Rice – Coach, Kitsilano Demons’ Cheerleading
Alia Dharamsi – Former President and Founder, UBC Meal Exchange UBC
Alison Lee – Student, UBC
Kassandra Linklater – Student, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Diane Rizzardo – Volunteer; UBC Varsity Soccer Player
Brittany Segal – Volunteer, First United Church
Shazeen Suleman –  President, MusicBox Children’s Charity

Read about the nominees

Innovative Workplace

Sponsored by Vancity

McCarthy Tétrault LLP
NOW Communications
PwC
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
University of British Columbia

Read about the nominees