Fifteen women have been nominated within four categories for the 2016 edition of the Women of Today Awards event that will take place on April 20.
Two women, Lorrie Coumont and Amanda Minchin were nominated as the candidates for the Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award while a trio of nominees saw their names entered on the short list for the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship: Lisa Grimes of Exhale Massage Clinic and Day Spa; Kristen Harrison, Eat. Weigh. Love Nutrition Centre; and Daphne Lavina of Aces Connections Consultancy Inc.
Coumont is office manager at Canyon Technical Services Ltd. while Minchin is head golf professional at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course.
There were five high school student nominees for the Shirley Orsted Memorial Award for Young Women of Today. They are all Grade 11 or 12 students and include Hannah Battersby, Cassidy Clow, Kyla Hamilton, Kelsie Jackiw and Kelsey Potoma.
There were five nominees for the SaskTel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community: Bonnie Gibson, who has served as manager of Bienfait Housing and volunteered through the commmunity’s Community in Bloom project, plus Bienfait’s rink, fire department, library and Legion; Kathryn Gilliss, a lawyer at Trobert Law firm who provides pro bono work and has chaired several local volunteer committees; Wendy Godfrey, a Walmart and Golden West Radio employee who volunteers many hours through St. Giles Anglican Church groups, as well as Girl Guides, and is an active member of several other volunteer organizations; Colleen Jensen, director of hospitality for the Warm Welcome Shelter program and donates many hours to the United Way, parent support network, public library and Estevan Legion; and, Sara Pippus, the community education liaison for Hillcrest School, who leads student support teams, the breakfast program and the school’s Christmas store along with after-school clubs.
All the women were introduced at special media and community luncheon held in the Taylorton Room at Days Inn.
Valerie Hall, who has been involved in the event since it’s inception 18 years ago, welcomed the nominees and special guests, noting that although the event has lost one major partner (SaskPower) during the past year, Quota International of Estevan and the Oilwives Club of Estevan are continuing their major support of the program and proceeds realized from the event find their way back into the community.
Marie Hoffort introduced the nominees while co-chairwoman Judy Sovdi assisted with the luncheon details and the nominee process.
Hall said this year’s guest speaker for the awards luncheon which will be held at the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Hall, will be Gina Sebastian who provides mentoring services for high-achieving women.
Hall said that while the Women of Today event is at the 18-year mark, Estevan’s chapter of Quota International has been a part of the community for 40 years and there are still two active charter members, Susie Ross and Evelyn Johnson. She said they, and the nominees from the prior 17 years and now this year’s nominees, “speaks to the caliber of women we have here in our city and in our area.”
It was also announced that Lorlei Lachambre has once again agreed to serve as emcee for the luncheon.
In thanking those in attendance, Hall noted that a private, anonymous sponsor stepped up this year to provide financial assistance on the partnership file, which was greatly appreciated.
