Women of Distinction honoured

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This article was published 17/05/2024 (851 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was an evening of loud cheers, applause and stories of success and inspiration to celebrate 39 women from western Manitoba who were nominated for the 2024 Women of Distinction awards. The annual show, presented by YWCA Westman, was held at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium on Wednesday.

At the end of the night, 11 women carried home a glass figurine engraved with their name and category as this year’s winners. One of them was artist and educator Katy Martin, who won for arts, culture and design.

“The nomination was a total surprise made by a friend of mine,” Martin said. “And then when I read through the other women who were nominated, I was even more honoured and blown away just to be considered in their company.”

Martin is a visual artist, art teacher and published author living in Neepawa. In her book, “The Year After,” she shared the grief of losing a baby.

Last year, she and Métis artist Meaghan Peters — also from Neepawa — were commissioned to recreate a vintage photo of three Toronto Maple Leaf hockey players from the 1950s, which is on now on display at the Scotiabank Arena in that city.

The players — George Armstrong, Todd Sloane and Dick Duff — were nicknamed the “Bread and Butter Line,” and Armstrong was the first Indigenous Leafs player.

As Martin looked around the lobby of the WMCA during the awards ceremony intermission, she said the accolades from women to other women is something special.

“You can feel the strength of women right down to the floorboards,” Martin said. “To be in a room with so many powerful people and especially women doing incredible things for our community — it hits differently for sure.”

Brandon’s Tanya LaBuick received the award for her contributions to community leadership and social action.

LaBuick is a business owner and project manager, has had numerous leadership roles in non-profits and is past-president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

In between accepting congratulations from business colleagues and friends, LaBuick told the Sun that it’s up to each person to shape their own community.

“It’s part of our job — where we live and work — to contribute back to that community,” she said.

“And the power of one is only as good as the power of all, right? So, working towards that is important, and women for women is very good.”

The business leadership, entrepreneur category recognized women who are mentors to the next generation of business leaders and was won by Brandon’s Tracy Baker.

Baker has a financial planning business and decided to start a women’s networking group, meeting once a month to share stories about business, to “get together and really empower people,” she said.

“It started as a thought at the tail end of the pandemic as an outlet to get together,” Baker said. “And I thought, ‘OK, let’s give it a whirl.’ I had 10 people in the room to start with, and there are 150 people on the list now, which is fun.”

And as Baker held up her figurine, she added, “This is fantastic. It really is about the nomination because there is somebody who’s recognized us for something that we’ve done and that’s really special. So, this is just the icing on the cake.”

Kerri Malazdrewicz, a teacher at École secondaire Neelin High School, was nominated in the education, mentorship category, and said that the nomination was enough.

“There are so many amazing women in our community, and I absolutely love being a part of it,” Malazdrewicz said.

“I didn’t win, but that’s totally fine. I’m a nominee and I am so incredibly proud of everyone here and so happy to be part of it.”

The Women of Distinction awards is the major fundraising event for YWCA Westman, which organized the first ceremony in 1985.

The YWCA in Brandon provides shelter and safety for those who are experiencing domestic, family or intimate partner violence, and has operated in the city for more than 100 years.

It operates the Westman Women’s Shelter, where staff members work with survivors, helping them rebuild their lives through education and support services.

There are additional programs for boys and girls between 11 and 13 years old that promote positive body image and self-esteem, and bring awareness to the harmful effects of bullying.

Lois Ruston, YWCA Westman’s executive director, was hired in March of 2023. She received a Woman of Distinction award in 2014, but said this was the first time she has helped organize this event.

“Our board is a board of women, and they’re fantastic. I mean, if you want something done, ask a busy woman and it’ll get done. And it’s great to celebrate all these amazing women from so many different backgrounds, experiences and professions who are all doing amazing things in their own right,” Ruston said.

“I love it. It’s been so much fun.”

There were 10 categories for the 2024 Women of Distinction awards, with two winners in one of the categories.

The 11 Women of Distinction recipients are: Laura McDougald-Williams for agriculture; Martin for arts, culture and design; Baker and Angela Chambers, co-recipients for business leadership, entrepreneur; LaBuick for community leadership, social action; Catherine Arnold for healthy living, recreation and wellness; Susie McPherson Derendy for education, mentorship; Raya Turner for science, technology and trade; Jordan-Blayne Bjornsson for Young Trailblazer (17 and under); Madeline Johnson for Young Woman of Distinction (18 to 25); and Wendy Bulloch won the Lifetime Achievement award.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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