Women of Distinction

Photo Gallery: 2018 Women of Distinction Event will appear here on the public site.

The 2018 Women of Distinction™ season focused on the theme of It Takes a Village. The goal this year was to make the event more inclusive and impactful than ever before. On Thursday, May 3, 2018 we celebrated and empowered 20 remarkable role models, pioneers, and outstanding achievers from the Guelph community. The honourees this year represented an impressive variety of talents, accomplishments, accolades and backgrounds. From overcoming significant obstacles and taking risks to women in our community making significant advances as pioneers and champions in their respective field of work. This year we were delighted to have CTV's Melissa Grelo host the night of celebration, alongside our Honorary Chair, Marissa Teeter.

The Women of Distinction™ fundraiser is just one of the many initiatives led by the Guelph Y that supports girls and women at all stages of life in Guelph and Wellington County. The Women of Distinction™ fundraiser specifically supports the following programs at the Guelph Y:

Power of Being A Girl - A one-day conference for girls that helps build self-esteem and raises awareness about healthy relationships
Teenage Parents Program (TAPPs) - A program that supports the personal growth and development of pregnant and parenting teens and their families and connects them with valuable resources
Encore - A holistic program for women with breast cancer to help them build their own physical strength, as well as feel the strength and support of a community

honouree videos

Click here to view the 2018 Women of Distinction Program to read about the 20 remarkable local women our community celebrated and empowered on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

Thank you to our 2018 Women of Distinction™ Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Giving Sponsor

Friend

Media

Donated Ticket Sponsors

Event Vendors

Women of Distinction™ in the news

News Releases

Guelph Y's Women of Distinction Honourees Give Back To Their Village with Guelph Soup Sisters

CTV’s Melissa Grelo will host the celebration of 20 remarkable local women at Guelph Y’s ‘Women of Distinction’ event themed “It Takes a Village”

Local business woman and community champion Marissa Teeter announced as 2018 Guelph Y Women of Distinction™ Honorary Chair

Nominations for the 2018 Women of Distinction "It Takes A Village" season are now open

Coverage

Guelph honours its Women of Distinction - Guelph Today

The Power of Being A Girl: building confidence and leadership skills - Guelph Today

Women of Distinction Honourees Named - Guelph Today

Women of Distinction Season - Wandering Wellington County

Past Women of Distinction™ Honourees

1996 Award Recipients

Dawn Reynolds (Arts and Culture)

Sally Wismer (Arts and Culture)

Barbara Fera (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Deborah Whale (Science & Research)

Dr. Ellen Schwantz (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Megan Harrison (Young Women of Distinction)

Anne Godfrey (Voluntary Community Services)

1997 Award Recipients

Nancy Coates (Arts and Culture)

Joanne Grodzinski (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Chris Margetson (Education and Training)

Ineke Booy (Science & Research)

Connie Shaw (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Andrea Anne Rowe (Young Women of Distinction)

Gayle Valeriote (Voluntary Community Services)

Rev. Constance Frances Williston (Lifetime Achievement)

1998 Award Recipients

Marsha Boulton (Arts and Culture)

Judi Zurbrigg (Business & Entrepreneurs)
Dr. Lila Engberg (Education and Training)

Dr. Mimi Arighi (Science & Research)

Judith Van Horsigh (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Kelly McPhee (Young Women of Distinction)

Ruby Latif (Young Women of Distinction)

Moira Cassidy (Voluntary Community Services)

Kay McKie (Lifetime Achievement)

1999 Award Recipients

Helen G. Brimmell (Arts and Culture)

Kate Quarrie (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Peggy Knapp (Education and Training)

Elizabeth Snell (Science & Research)

Carol Zamin (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Les Stubbs (Young Women of Distinction)

Jeanne Forsythe (Voluntary Community Services)

Dr. Janet Wardlaw (Lifetime Achievement)

2000 Award Recipients

Sue Richards (Arts and Culture)

Martha Jakowlew (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Dr. Gwen Revington (Education and Training)

Kimberly Ann Iezzi (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Manusha Janakiram (Young Women of Distinction)

Krista Adlington (Young Women of Distinction)

Barbara Topolsek (Voluntary Community Services)

Dr. Ruth Tathman (Lifetime Achievement)

2001 Award Recipients

Judith Nasby (Arts and Culture)

Adele Fogle (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Susan Wheeler (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Carol McMullen (Education and Training)

Dr. Janet Wood (Science & Research)

Dr. Donna Lero (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Emma Langdon (Young Women of Distinction)

Elizabeth Fisk (Voluntary Community Services)

Marilyn Robinson Murray (Lifetime Achievement)

2002 Award Recipients

Linda Beaupre (Arts and Culture)

Louise Engel (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Jean Becker (Education and Training)

Dr. E. Ann Clark (Science & Research)

Pat Richards (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Nicola Otter (Young Women of Distinction)

Marva Wisdom (Voluntary Community Services)

Lois Etherington Betteridge (Lifetime Achievement)

2003 Award Recipients

Tannis Slimmon (Arts and Culture)

Nancy Sullivan (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Dr. Isobel Heathcote (Education and Training)

Mary McNally (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Jing Xiang (Young Women of Distinction)

Donna McFarlane (Voluntary Community Services)

Dr. Parvathi Basrur (Lifetime Achievement)

2004 Award Recipients

Sandy Horne (Arts and Culture)

Lise Curran (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Dr. Valerie Davidson (Education and Training)

Dr. B. Anne Croy (Science & Research)

Francine Doré (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Tara Hedican (Young Women of Distinction)

Anne P. Dance (Voluntary Community Services)

Dr. Ann Oaks (Lifetime Achievement)

2005 Award Recipients

Marta McCarthy (Arts and Culture)

Dr. Karen Farbridge (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Janet Kaufman (Education and Training)

Dr. Kelly Anne Meckling (Science & Research)

Goldie Barth (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Jeanine Wallace (Young Women of Distinction)

Teresa Pitman (Voluntary Community Services)

Cate Welsh (Voluntary Community Services)

Dr. Mary Agnes Fernando (Lifetime Achievement)

2006 Award Recipients

Barb Minett (Arts and Culture)

Linda Hasenfratz (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Cathy MacMillan (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Philomena Bonis (Education and Training)

Andrea Martin (Public Sector)

Dr. Moira Ferguson (Science & Research)

Nadia Kaker (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Dana Burgess (Young Women of Distinction)

Cyndy McLean (Voluntary Community Services)

Sarah Jane Burton (Lifetime Achievement - Arts & Culture)

Virginia Gray (Lifetime Achievement - Education & Training)

Dr. Margo Mountjoy (Lifetime Achievement - Voluntary Community Service)

Dr. Anne-Marie Zadjlik (Lifetime Achievement - Health, Wellness & Recreation)

2007 Award Recipients

Adwoa Badoe (Arts and Culture)

Margaret Carter (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Jennifer Maddock (Education and Training)

Jan Craig (Public Sector)

Cathy Downer (Public Sector)

Dr. Brenda Coomber (Science & Research)

Heidi Smith (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Cathy Bazinet (Young Women of Distinction)

Sya Van Geest (Voluntary Community Services)

Patricia Patrick (Lifetime Achievement - Arts & Culture)

Dr. Constance Rooke (Lifetime Achievement - Education & Training)

Matilda Prophet (Turning Point)

2008 Award Recipients

Catrin von Radecki (Arts and Culture)

Marina Howlett (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Bonnie Evans (Education and Training)

Konnie Peet (Public Sector)

Dr. Belinda Leach (Science & Research)

Judith Rosenberg (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Ekaterina Smolina (Young Women of Distinction)

Mitra Salarvand (Voluntary Community Services)

Mary McEwen (Lifetime Achievement)

Krystal Lillicorp (Turning Point)

2009 Award Recipients

Dorothy Fisher (Arts and Culture)

Anita Stewart (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Julie Prendergast (Education and Training)

Suzanne Bone (Public Sector)

Dr. Cate Dewey (Science & Research)

Lynda Davenport (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Momina Mir (Young Women of Distinction)

Susan Ratcliffe (Voluntary Community Services)

Mary DuQuesnay ( Lifetime Achievement - Public Service)

Dr. Mary Beverley-Burton ( Lifetime Achievement - Science & Technology)

Judith Thompson ( Lifetime Achievement - Arts & Culture)

Stefanie Elsey (Turning Point)

2010 Award Recipients

Joanne Shuttleworth (Arts and Culture)

Jasmin Urisk (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Dr. Maureen Mancuso (Education and Training)

Sly Castaldi (Public Sector)

Dr. Michele Oliver (Science & Research)

Margaret R. Hedley (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Marina Brinkhurst (Young Women of Distinction, Post- Secondary)

Leanne Wright (Young Women of Distinction, Secondary)

Pat de Vries (Voluntary Community Services)

Betty Lou Clark (Lifetime Achievement - Voluntary Community Service)

Susan Dafoe-Abbey (Lifetime Achievement - Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Julia Niimi (Turning Point)

2011 Award Recipients

Candance Sepulis (Arts and Culture)

Ramona Ostrander (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Lois Giles (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Julia Christensen Hughes (Education and Training)

Denise Watson (Public Sector)

Patricia E. Shewen (Science & Research)

Martha Gay-Scroggins (Science & Research)

Mary E. Hanlon (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Yvonne Su (Young Women of Distinction)

Jane Hudson (Voluntary Community Services)

Lorie Jocius (Lifetime Achievement - Business, Labour, The Professions & Entrepreneurs)

Patricia E. Shewen (Lifetime Achievement - Science & Technology)

2012 Award Recipients

Elizabeth Dent (Arts and Culture)

Roxanne Foreman (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Patsy Marshall (Education and Training)

Rosslyn Bentley (Public Sector)

Claudia Wagner-Riddle (Science & Research)

Kate Vsetula (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Gracen Johnson (Young Women of Distinction)

Jessie McConnell (Voluntary Community Services)

Dr. Martha Rogers (Lifetime Achievement - Education & Training)

Dr. Elizabeth Stone (Lifetime Achievement - Education & Training)

Dr. Joan Budd (Lifetime Achievement - Science, Technology & Research)

2013 Award Recipients

Sue Smith (Arts and Culture)

Diana Degan (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Eileen Clinton (Education and Training)

Teresa Simpson (Public Sector)

Linda Hawkins (Science & Research)

April Gates (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Shawna Smith (Young Women of Distinction)

Lynda Slater (Voluntary Community Services)

Jennifer Green (Trades and Labour)

Gayleen Gray (Information Technology)

Dr. Julie Yager (Lifetime Achievement)

Kaitlyn Guthro (Turning Point)

2014 Award Recipients

Janet Wilson (Arts and Culture)

Jean Prichard (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Jacqueline Murray (Education and Training)

Debbie Bentley Lauzon (Public Sector)

Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe (Science & Research)

Elizabeth Kent (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Jolene Labbe (Young Women of Distinction)

Tymika Klotz (Young Women of Distinction)

Ann Boyle Croft (Voluntary Community Services)

Margaret Wells (Trades and Labour)

Brenda Sherry (Information and Technology)

Dr. Jane Hosdil (Lifetime Achievement - Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Anne Chidwick (Lifetime Achievement - Voluntary Community Service)

Tymika Klotz (Turning Point)

2015 Award Recipients

Rosemary Walton (Arts and Culture)

Jennifer Haines (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Cara Wehkamp (Education and Training)

Jennifer Waterston (Public Sector)

Kathryn Preuss (Science & Research)

Janet Graham (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Katie Kirkconnell (Young Women of Distinction)

Naythrah Thevathasan (Young Women of Distinction)

Susan Brown (Voluntary Community Services)

Lisa Winer (Trades and Labour)

Teresa Crease (Lifetime Achievement - Science & Research)

Mary Carlin (Lifetime Achievement - Voluntary Community Service)

2016 Award Recipients

Judith Yan (Arts and Culture)

Tania Framst (Business & Entrepreneurs)

Karen Landman (Education and Training)

Rosemarie Coombs (Public Sector)

Dr. Robin R. Milhausen (Science & Research)

Helen Fishburn (Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Mariah Olczak (Young Women of Distinction)

Julia Romagnoli (Young Women of Distinction)

Kimberley Rogers (Voluntary Community Services)

Sascha Bossee (Trades and Labour)

Sharon Bennett (Information Technology)

Marianne Walker (Lifetime Achievement - Health, Wellness & Recreation)

Jessica Steinhäuser (Lifetime Achievement - Trades & Labour)

Megan Johnston (Turning Point)

2017 Honourees

Karen Bellamy - Volunteer Dedicated To Church And Community

Kayla Billings - Volunteer, Fundraiser, Champion Of Those In Need

Isobel Boyle - Accomplished Nurse, Dedicated Volunteer, And Community Champion

Dr. Andrea Buchholz - Associate Professor Of Applied Human Nutrition, U Of G

Ann Caine -- Founder, Former Executive Director And Continued Supporter Of Sunrise Therapeutic Riding And Learning Centre

Dr. Gerarda Darlington - Professor Of Math And Statistics And Mentor To Women In The Stem Fields

Patricia Eton-Neufeld - Accountant And Professional Volunteer

Misty Gagne - President, Cupe Local 241

Kelly Gee - Fitness Guru And Champion Of Health, Wellness And Fitness Programs For Seniors

Gail Hoekstra - Director, Welcome In Drop In Centre

Shirley Hunt - Community Development Worker, Co-Founder Of Focus On Nature And Up And Running

Dr. Nina Jones - Associate Professor And Canada Research Chair, Dept. Of Molecular And Cellular Biology, University Of Guelph

Laura Keller - Volunteer With Girl Guides Of Canada And St. George's Anglican Church

Alina Kislenko - Champion For People With Adhd, Aspergers And Neurodiversity

Jordynn Klein - Fourth-Year U Of G Student And Passionate Volunteer On And Off Campus

Briana Lynch - Founder Of The Guelph Academy Of Dance

Tracey Mcgrath - Financial Advisor And Vice President Of Bracelet Of Hope

Dr. Lucy Mutharia - Associate Professor Of Biology At The University Of Guelph

Dr. Éva Nagy - Scientist, Researcher, Trailblazer, And Inspiration To Hundreds Of Young Female Scientists

Karly Richardson - Mother, Student And Resilient Role Mode

Leah Robinson - Paralympic Athlete

Lynne Skilton-Hayes -- Fitness Program Supervisor At The University Of Guelph, Local And International Fitness Advocate

Sophie Skoufis - Six-Time World Karate Champion And Owner Of Guelph Family Martial Arts

Margaret Stinson - Lifetime Volunteer Committed To Tourism, Beautification And Environmental Projects

Lana Tarrant - Owner, Appetizingly Yours Events And Catering

Marissa Teeter - Director Of Corporate Communications For The Skyline Group Of Companies

Dr. Jocelyn Wessels - Scientist, Community Volunteer, And Role Model To Young Women Scientists

Gina Woods - Teacher, Mother, And Volunteer Who Led The Charge In Sponsoring A Syrian Refugee Family

Joanne Young-Evans - Executive Director Of Family Counselling And Support Services Guelph-Wellington

Kellie Angerilli - Principal And Mentor At St. John Bosco School

Special Awards

The Lifetime Achievement Award - Isobel Boyle, accomplished nurse, dedicated volunteer, and Community Champion

The Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr. Éva Nagy, scientist, researcher, trailblazer, and inspiration to hundreds of young female scientists

The Turning Point Award - Karly Richardson, mother, student and resilient role model