The YWCA in Thompson is gearing up to celebrate with its second Women of Distinction award ceremony happening on March 20 at the Juniper Centre.
The event looks to honour women whose activities and successes have led to the well-being of the community. There are five different categories that women can be nominated for, including the community building and volunteerism category, where a woman has identified a community need or issue and has helped to create change; the health and active living category, where a woman is recognized for her commitment to building healthy communities through physical, mental or spiritual well-being; the non-profit and public service category, in which a woman can be recognized for strengthening the community and advancing important issues within it; and the young women of distinction category which focuses on women aged 25 or under who demonstrate leadership, maturity and compassion. This year the YWCA is accepting nominations in a new category - that of arts, culture and heritage. To be nominated in that category, a woman must make the community a better place through the advancement of artistic, cultural and heritage practices via visual, literary, media or performing arts.
Last year, at the awards ceremony held at the Juniper Centre on March 21, five women walked away with awards in four separate categories. Both Jodie Ellingson, who owns and operates Jodie's Salon, and Chantelle Chornoby, the founder of the Chantelle's Promise campaign and who works extensively with the Canadian Blood Service's OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, were given the young women of distinction award. Kristin Donovan won the award in the health and active living category for her work coaching volleyball and basketball at R. D. Parker Collegiate, and Tammy Watson, who is now volunteering in Afghanistan, won in the nonprofit and public sector for her work with the Canadian Mental Health Association and her volunteerism with Men Are Part of the Solution, Girl Guides and more. In the community building and volunteerism category Louise Hodder, who owns and operates the Curves fitness centre in Thompson, won.
Any woman who lives and works in the Burntwood or Churchill regions can be nominated, so long as they consent in writing to their nomination and the publication of their name, photo and information in connection with the awards and are available to attend the awards dinner. Nominations can be submitted by an individual, business or organization, but current YWCA staff members and board of directors of the nominee aren't eligible to nominate anyone.
This year, an application fee of $20 will apply to all nominations to cover the cost of awards dinner tickets for the nominee. Nomination packages must be in by Feb. 1, and can be picked up at the YWCA or by logging on to www.ywcathompson.ca.
