About the 2008 Women of Distinction Recipients

Arts, Culture & Design

Jane Durante
As one of the premier women landscape architects in Canada, Jane Durante has created some of BC's most rewarding public spaces, including Andy Livingston Park, Bayshore Gardens and Yaletown Park. She is currently president of Durante Kreuk Ltd., a company she took over from her mentor, Don Vaughan, and sits on the board of the BC Provincial Capital Commission. Under her leadership and determination, Jane has advanced the acceptance of women in the design, development and construction industry. She is a role model for aspiring young landscape architects and continues to raise the standard of landscape architecture in the public realm.

Business & The Professions

Pat Jacobsen
Pat's direction has led Translink from financial disarray and labour strife to a thriving transit system with over 290 million users and a reputation for delivering on time and budget. Since 2001, she has sharply reduced emissions, grown the fleet by 30%, introduced the U-Pass for university students and also negotiated an agreement with VANOC to position Translink as a partner in the Olympic Games. A strong advocate for partnerships between the public and private sector, Pat has developed major infrastructure projects like the Canada Line and the Golden Ears Bridge. She has also given her time to the BC Cancer Foundation and actively promoted competitive horse riding.

Community Building

Susan Burgess
As a professor, physician and humanitarian, Susan Burgess has advocated to end the spread of HIV/AIDs in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for almost a decade. Her dedication to assisting some of the most marginalized people in our society makes her a role model for many aspiring physicians, health care workers and women. Currently working with the Home Hospice Program and part of the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Susan is also a strong believer in volunteerism. She currently sits on the Board of A Loving Spoonful, the advisory committee for Oaktree at BC Women's Hospital and advisory committee for St. James Society.

Education, Training & Development

Joanne Stone-Campbell (Iy'imelwit)
Joanne has transformed the culture of BCIT through her leadership and creativity, making learning opportunities available for all and finding innovative ways to welcome Aboriginal students to BCIT. She has broken down barriers and changed the way people think about Aboriginal Culture by being proud of who she is, and promoting cultural ceremonies on campus which is open to all BCIT's staff/students. She volunteers as a coach for Choices International and past at Vancouver Police Department Native Liaison Society and Northwest Indian Child Welfare Planning Committee. Lately has been doing workshops in Education and Personal Wellness.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Gerry Clayford-Beckie & Janie Robinson
With a combined total of over 50 years of nursing experience, Gerry and Janie pooled their efforts in 2003 to create SimpeQ, a business with a vision to enrich the lives of seniors throughout BC. SimpeQ is a pioneering new service that provides exceptional care to seniors living in long-term and assisted living homes in Metro Vancouver and BC's interior. Gerry and Janie's passion to help seniors while creating a supportive workplace for employees has resulted in an established reputation in the industry that sets them apart from the competition.

Health & Active Living

Susan Harris
Currently the department head of Family Practice at Children and Women's Health Centre of BC, Dr. Susan Harris has been devoted to the practice of traditional family medicine for over 31 years. Under her leadership, teamwork between different professional medical groups has improved to ensure the best possible care for patients and their families. Susan's dedication to collaborative patient- centered maternity care has lead to the creation of The Collaboration for Maternal and Newborn Health, and the South Community Birth Program. She is a champion for hospital medical leadership, innovative practice, and community based projects related to pregnancy and childbirth, and is a great mentor for family practitioners.

Non-profit & Public Service

Susan Keeping
A leading edge thinker and innovator, Susan continues to break down barriers for women and those who are most vulnerable through the Newton Advocacy Group, a non-profit agency she founded that assists the less fortunate in Surrey. Her determination and strong sense of social justice led her to create Project Comeback, a pilot project designed to break the cycle of homelessness for day labourers unable to obtain steady housing. She is a tireless fundraiser and volunteer, giving her time to numerous community initiatives including Vibrant Surrey, Surrey Homelessness and Housing Task Force, Save Our Daughters Coalition and the United Way.

Technology, Science & Industry

Rabab Ward
Rabab, a visionary engineer and researcher, is a pioneer and role model for women in engineering. As the first female engineering professor at the University of British Columbia, she turned the Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems into a world-class research facility. She is a world leader in the application of signal processing theory to cable and high-definition TV, breast cancer detection and medical and voice signals .Her research has been adopted by industry. Rabab also devotes time to advocating intercultural peace and mutual respect between peoples and is a previous president of the Arabic Educational Society.

Young Woman of Distinction

Amanda Reaume
As founder of Antigone Magazine, a national semi-annual magazine about women and politics, and Executive Director of the Antigone Foundation, which encourages women's involvement in politics, Amanda is a force of nature whose passion, creativity and dedication is only matched by her belief in the power of women's leadership. Responsible for the magazine's editorial content, daily blog, fund development and expansion, Amanda is a role model whose recent accomplishments include being a delegate in New York at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Also an active volunteer, Amanda created the St. Anne's Community Service Council and has been involved in YouthCo, Unicef UBC, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the BC Cancer Foundation.

Innovative Workplace

Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University offers its employees a supportive work culture in addition to outstanding opportunities for education, training and development, challenging and rewarding job functions, and competitive salaries and benefits. Retirees remain actively connected to the University through the Retirees Association. The University is committed to an open and inclusive environment, to excellence in teaching and research, to community outreach, to the development of global citizens and to preparing the next generation of scholars and leaders.