There were 15 nominees in two categories and a total of six nominees in two other categories when the Women of Today nominee list was made known last Wednesday afternoon during a luncheon held in the small Legion Hall. The event was hosted by the Estevan chapter of Quota International, the co-ordinator of the program.
This 16th annual event received a cheque from SaskPower in the amount of $4,200, making them the lead sponsor of the program once again with the cheque being delivered by Judy May, vice-president of special projects for the corporation.
The SaskPower Award, one of four categories in the Women of Today program is for outstanding contributions to the workplace, and this year the category attracted no fewer than seven nominees including Sonja Colbow and Wendy Hersche of Cuts Unlimited, Lynn Little, deputy director at South East Cornerstone Public School Division; Misty Monco, manager of customer care at the Royal Bank; Sheena Onrait, manager of Estevan campus of the Southeast Regional College and Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute; Sheila Squires, financial planner with TD Waterhouse and Daryl Story, commercial account manager with Affinity Credit Union in Estevan.
The category dedicated to Young Women of Today, celebrating young females who excel in scholastic, athletic, musical and social circles, attracted eight nominees this year. The category is named in memory of Shirley Orsted. The nominees this year included Elusha Baird of Lampman, a school leader and young administrator; Molly Fogarty, an emerging musical artist; Caitlyn Friess, a school and community volunteer; Teagan Graham, an honour student and entrepreneur; AnnaRae Gustafson, who is involved in school and community volunteer efforts and social justice issues; Jacqueline Peeace, a musical, academic and spiritual leader; Landa Schlamp, a Grade 12 student leader and Tess Rensby, an athlete and school leader.
There were three nominees for the Ida Petterson Memorial Award which goes to an outstanding female entrepreneur, and those were Laurel Buck, owner/manager of A&A Jewellery; DeeDee Chomyk, owner/operator of Baba's Bistro; and Lynn Tedford, addictions counsellor and owner of South East Options Consulting.
The fourth category for contributions to the community, the SaskTel Award, also attracted three nominations, and they were Susan Colbow of the TD Canada Trust bank, where she is engaged in their Friends of the Environment program among other things; Christa Morhart who is involved in the community through her volunteer efforts with United Way, Girl Guides, minor football and St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation and the upcoming 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games that will be hosted by Estevan, and Brenda Noble, for her voluntary efforts with the Estevan Exhibition Association, Desk and Derrick Club, Oilwives and Souris Valley Trekkers and church-related activities.
Stacey Boyko, president of Quota International of Estevan and Valerie Hall, co-ordinator for the Women of Today program, reminded nominees, nominators and guests that the four award winners will be announced on April 23 during a noon-hour luncheon in the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Hall. The luncheon attendees will also hear a keynote presentation from Dr. Holly Pederson, a former Macoun resident who is now director of the deaf and hard-of-hearing educational program at Minot State University through their special education sector.
The afternoon luncheon program was emceed by Rebecca Howie of the Estevan and District Chamber of Commerce who provided background biographies of each of the 20 nominated women.
