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鈥淵ou know, every time I end up joining a group around here, I鈥檓 shocked at how these people in this city are willing to take on big jobs. I originally come from a large city, and I have come to realize you don鈥檛 lose anything when you come to a smaller community. The quality of people we have here is superb.鈥�
- Tania Hlohovsky
You could label the event as a celebration of women, or a salute to women of distinction, or perhaps, Women of Today.
That鈥檚 the moniker used by the Estevan chapter of Quota International and the Estevan Oil Wives Club, the co-ordinators of the annual tribute to the local and regional women who are making a difference in southeast Saskatchewan.
The 17th annual Women of Today Awards luncheon saw well over 300 people pack into the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Hall on April 22, to acknowledge all 19 nominees whose names were put forward in four separate categories with the four of those nominees 小蓝视频 given a royal community salute along with the traditional bouquet of flowers and plaque of recognition.
Nicole Davis, Becky Conly, Tania Hlohovsky-Andrist and Halynne Lamontagne were the individual winners in the four categories, selected by an independent panel of judges.
Davis captured the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur, a category that attracted four nominees that included Jennifer Durr, Linda Gudmundson and Brady Johnson.
Conly captured the Legacy Oil and Gas Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace with the other two nominees 小蓝视频 Judy Sovdi and Britni Walilko.
The SaskTel Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award saw no fewer than six nominees with Hlohovsky-Andrist gaining the nod over Terrie Banks, Shelly Boyes, Eva Hagel, Melanie Tribiger and Lynn Trobert.
The Shirley Orsted Memorial Award for the Young Woman of Today category was claimed by Lamontagne with the other five nominees 小蓝视频 Lauren King, Anna Lawrence, Cassidy DeRosier, Macy Earl and Michelle Fergusson.
The gathering also heard words of advice from guest speaker Joanne Alexander, executive vice-president and general counsel for Encana, and a former Bienfait woman who was just recently acclaimed as one of Canada鈥檚 Most Powerful Women in a recent survey. (See related article.)
The afternoon鈥檚 program was directed by emcee Lorelei Lachambre who reminded the audience of the purpose of the event and the fundraising opportunity it gives for Quota and the Oil Wives with the proceeds 小蓝视频 dispersed within the community.
Lachambre also noted the behind-the-scenes work that is put into the event each year by chairwoman Valerie Hall.
Mayor Roy Ludwig brought greetings from City Hall. He pointed out the continued success of the event is due to the strong annual list of nominees and potential nominees.
Roni Sue Coulter, Estevan鈥檚 Quota president, outlined their work and annual contributions.
Susie Ross, Ida Petterson鈥檚 daughter, was assisted by her granddaughter Janelle in presenting the Petterson Memorial Award, noting that her mother was a woman who, 鈥渓ooked for possibilities, whether it was in business or politics and turned them into success.鈥� Besides 小蓝视频 an independent business operator, Petterson was also the first woman to be elected mayor of a Saskatchewan city when she was voted into that Estevan office in the early 1970s. She was also a charter member of the Estevan Quota Club.
Davis, the recipient of the award, owns and operates Daybreak Mill with four employees and a growing mandate to provide products from organic farm producers. She said after the awards 小蓝视频, the win came as a complete surprise, due to the quality of the other nominees. She said she expected to grow her business with an increased emphasis on website recognition with an online store.
Conly, the winner of the Legacy Oil and Gas Award for community contributions, was presented with that award by Dianne Dee-Herlick, who provided information about the company.
Conly said she, too, was surprised when her name was called. She paid tribute to her mentors at St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital Greg Hoffort and Mary-Ann Veroba. for providing incentives for her to raise the bar in the fundraising world where she serves as executive director for the hospital鈥檚 foundation that is instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly for badly needed equipment and materials for the hospital.
鈥淚鈥檓 just excited about the fact that these people are believing in me and believing in the strength of southeast Saskatchewan. I feel very fortunate to have a career I love,鈥� said Conly.
Hlohovsky-Andrist, who accepted the SaskTel Award from Armanda Piechotta, said she was 鈥渂lown away,鈥� when she heard her name 小蓝视频 announced. 鈥淚 imagine my work with the new nursing home project raised the profile a bit,鈥� she said.
Her main work outside the home, where she is a mother to four youngsters, is working with Envision Counselling and Support Centre, as well as putting in time with her husband Robert and their organic farming operations. She also contributes many additional hours as a volunteer with St. Paul鈥檚 United Church and Sacred Heart/Sacre Coeur School and the Estevan Sharks Water Polo Club and Golden Eels swim club.
鈥淵ou know, every time I end up joining a group around here, I鈥檓 shocked at how these people in this city are willing to take on big jobs. I originally come from a large city, and I have come to realize you don鈥檛 lose anything when you come to a smaller community. The quality of people we have here is superb,鈥� she said.
Lamontagne, a senior at Oxbow鈥檚 Prairie Horizon School, accepted the Orsted Memorial Award for young women, from Shirley Orsted鈥檚 granddaughter, Michelle Orsted. Shirley was a founder of Quota International of Estevan and was a respected educator, as well as co-operator of the Orsted Funeral Home. She served Quota as district governor and was a Canadian area director.
Lamontagne said she was honoured to have been selected and described herself as 小蓝视频 a person who 鈥渓oves 小蓝视频 busy. 鈥淚 cannot, not be busy,鈥� she said with a chuckle. Her ambitions, right now, include the pursuit of a biomedical engineering degree at the University of Ottawa. She carries a 97 per cent grade average into graduation. When she isn鈥檛 studying, she has been honing her skills as a ballet student before opening her own dance studio for youngsters. She is also an accomplished pianist, figure skater and actress, and she is president of the Oxbow school鈥檚 Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD) chapter.
