Wendy McDonald

Recipient, 1988 – Management and the Professions

As Chairman of the BC Bearing Group for over 60 years, Wendy McDonald has led the company from a fledgling business into a successful multi-million dollar operation with locations throughout Canada, the U.S., Chile and Peru.

When Wendy received her Women of Distinction Award in 1988, she was recognized not only for her expertise in the bearing and transmission field, but also for her active role in the community.

“I was quite amazed to be nominated,” says Wendy. “It was fabulous, to meet all the other women that were nominated.”

Wendy’s long, impressive list of accomplishments include being named Businesswoman of the Year by BC Business Magazine in 1988, being the first woman elected Chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade in 1990, and appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1997 and the Order of British Columbia in 2006. She has honorary degrees from BCIT and SFU. She’s also travelled to France to receive the Veuve Clicquot Award of Distinction as Canadian Businesswoman of Year in 1982 and to London in 1998 to receive recognition as a Leading Women Entrepreneur of the World.

Wendy has seen an enormous change in the number of women in business over the past 50 years. While she had very few female colleagues in the 50s, Wendy now doesn’t lack female company in her field.

At age 85, Wendy still goes to the office every day and has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“I enjoy what I’m doing and that’s the main thing,” she says. “If you enjoy what you’re doing, why stop?”