Nominations for 11th annual Women of the Year Awards may have started out slow, but that was all but forgotten when four deserving women were honoured for their contribution to the community and business-world on April 12.
Eight women were nominated in four categories. Sarah Church received the SaskPower Workplace Excellence Award, Helen Szwetz earned the Quota International of Weyburn Community Service Award, Laurie LaBatte was presented the Access Communications Exceptional Entrepreneur Award, and Brandee Calder captured the Investors Group Young Woman of Distinction Award.
Quota International of Weyburn, along with SaskPower, presented the awards during a luncheon at McKenna Hall. Each woman received an engraved crystal vase.
Church was honoured for her ability to take charge and motivate her staff and clients. As a manager and co-owner of Olympia Fitness, Church has used her position to support many worthwhile events.
"I've always been 100 percent behind our community and being a manager and owner of Olympia Fitness has given me the opportunity to do that," said Church.
A strong supporter of youth fitness education, Church offers free instruction and youth fitness classes for Weyburn and area children through her workplace. She has helped raise $11,000 for local charities during her time with Olympia.
Church is always on the lookout for new programs and services to offer the community and said that communication with her clients is the key to offering them what they want.
Church was nominated by Lindsee Michel.
LaBatte was awarded for being a long-time business owner in Weyburn. She owned and operated the King George Hotel and Fitzgerald's Bar and Grill for 21 years - 1989 to 2010. She currently operates the local Tim Hortons, opening the franchise in 2005, and employs 35 to 40 people.
LaBatte said that when she opened her first business, she felt some resistance from people who didn't think she could "carry the ball" as a woman business owner but feels that those times have passed and that female entrepreneurs only need one thing to succeed. "I have one word to say and that's called passion - follow it. Whatever your heart dreams you can do it if you have passion and follow it."
She said that she couldn't have succeeded without her employees.
LaBatte was nominated by The Family Place.
Szwetz was honoured for her tireless volunteering efforts. She has helped countless organizations in Weyburn, including the Weyburn Red Wings, The Family Place, the Multicultural Council and the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Szwetz has a passion for helping immigrants and over the past five years has worked directly with seven to 12 immigrants at any given time. She assists immigrants by attending appointments with them to provide translation, helping them fill out forms and documents, introducing them to community resources, and even teaching them to drive.
Szwetz said she was very humbled and appreciative of the award she received and hopes to encourage others to serve the community.
"Anybody who can, go out and help," said Szwetz. "It helps so much and does so much for your esteem."
Szwetz was nominated by The Family Place.
Calder said she never expected to receive an award for doing what her parents Arlen and Corinne taught her - a strong work ethic, genuinely caring for others, and a sense of social responsibility.
Calder graduated from the Weyburn Comprehensive School four years ago and is currently working to become a Special Education Teacher. She discovered her niche while attending the high school and volunteering with the special-needs students of the Functional Integrated Program (FIP). She has also worked with high-risk toddlers at The Family Place.
"I felt like I got the most out of volunteering in the FIP room at the high school," said Calder. "Just because of the students that I met and the difference it seemed like I was making - it was really rewarding."
Calder was nominated by Linda Rudachyk.
Guest speaker for the luncheon was Joanne Thomson, vice-principal of Assiniboia Park Elementary School and Learning Support Teacher. She spoke about the importance of having Sound Field Systems (SFS) in the classroom for both teachers and students. She thanked Quota of Weyburn for their donation of nine SFSs to local schools over the years, at a cost of about $14,000.
Judges for the Women of the Year were Leslie Richards, Helen Millar and Ian MacLennan.
