Twenty women in the Peterborough area who have made a difference in the community will be honoured at the first annual Women of Impact Awards ceremony and celebration on May 30.
Women United Peterborough and the United Way Peterborough & District announced the list of honourees on Friday (May 3).
In alphabetical order, the honorees are Cassandra Babcock, Dr. Debbie Boyce, Cheyenne Buck, Patti Clancy, Wendy Couper, Susan Dunkley, Hillary Flood, Jennifer Garland, Dr. Jennifer Ingram, Carlotta James, Kristal Jones, Ann MacLeod, Laura Montague, Rosemary Powers, Denise Sayles-Morton, Peggy Shaughnessy, Lisa Trefzger, Lois Tuffin, Carmela Valles, and Jill Wickins.
Nominations for the inaugural Women of Impact Awards, which recognize women and individuals who identify as women in the city and county of Peterborough who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate remarkable contributions in the community, opened on March 8 — International Women’s Day.
“We were so pleased with the response from the community for this first annual event,” says the United Way’s director of philanthropy Anne Ondercin in a media release. “In total 37 nominations were received, all for very deserving women. I want to thank the members of the Women United Committee who independently reviewed and rated every nomination.”
“I would also like to recognize TD Bank as our presenting sponsor, kawarthaNOW as our media sponsor, and add special thanks to Trent University, and 2032 Dentistry – For Life for their support as well.”
Launched in 2002, Women United is an international initiative of United Ways across the globe and, regionally, representing a collective of women, inclusive of those who identify as women and allies. Across North America, Women United has 70,000 women involved in 165 communities.
Former Peterborough-Kawartha MP and Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef — who herself honoured 50 local women with the Peterborough-Kawartha Women’s Leadership Awards in 2018 — is the founding chair of Women United Peterborough, a network of women philanthropists and allies who donate $1,200 or more annually to United Way Peterborough & District.
“Here in Peterborough City and County, our goal is to elevate the Women United movement and shine a spotlight on the incredible local women who are driving positive change,” Monsef says. “With support from the United Way team and the Women United committee, we are raising funds to support vital programs and initiatives that empower and uplift women and those who identify as women in our community.”
According to the media release, the Women of Impact Awards “is a celebration of women who embody leadership, inspire others, and leave an indelible mark on our community.”
“At the heart of the Women of Impact Awards event lies a powerful testament to the significant influence women have in shaping our community. These awards not only celebrate the achievements of remarkable individuals but also serve as a reminder of the countless ways in which women contribute to the fabric of our society.”
The award ceremony and celebration will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 30th at the Farmhill Weddings venue in Keene. Along with the recognition of the 20 honourees, the event will include musical performances by Peterborough violinist Victoria Yeh and the Peterborough Pop Ensemble. Tickets are available now, with early bird pricing of $30 until May 8 and $40 afterwards, and can be purchased online at www.uwpeterborough.ca/women-of-impact/.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be the media sponsor of the inaugural Women of Impact Awards.
