Celebrating Sudbury's women of distinction

YWCA Sudbury executive director Marlene Gorman said she's never surprised with the calibre of women nominated every year for the YWCA Sudbury Women of Distinction Awards.

“We have so many great women in our community,” she said, speaking at a March 18 press conference where the 2015 award winners were announced.

The ninth annual Women of Distinction awards, set to be handed out this year at a May 1 gala at the Radisson Hotel, honour local women who are making a difference for other women and girls.

Proceeds from the gala go towards the YWCA's Power of Being a Girl conference, an October workshop for girls that focuses on issues such as healthy relationships, media and body image.

One of this year's winners are the 60 local members of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE), a women's service organization.

The $40,000 the group raises each year through home tours, among other fundraisers, goes to bursaries for studies and other donations, including providing clothing and supplies for mothers, a freezer for the food bank and park benches.

Between the three local chapters (two of them recently merged to form the City of Lakes chapter), the IODE has a combined 212 years of community service in Greater Sudbury.

Shirley O'Neil, vice-president of the City of Lakes chapter, said IODE members work behind the scenes to make a difference.

“The women of the IODE have reached into probably every little nook and cranny of this city in some way over the years to help and support people,” she said.

Another award winner is 18-year-old Mélanie-Rose Frappier.

The Grade 12 École secondaire du Sacré-Cœur student volunteers with several different organizations, including the Aboriginal Advisory Education Committee, and created the “It's cool to be healthy” education campaign.

“I find it's such a great honour to be represented as a woman of distinction,” Frappier said. “I'm so honoured to have had an impact on my community with other youth my age.”

Other award recipients are:

-Lynzy Boeswald-Lalande – Program intervention worker at Voices for Women Sudbury Sexual Assault Centre, who has expanded an art project to help women heal and brought the “I Am Enough” program to four high schools.

-Dr. Jo-Anne Clarke – Geriatrician and the first medical director of the North East Specialized Geriatric Services, who has worked diligently to serve patients in the Sudbury region and across Northeastern Ontario.

-Christina Visser – An entrepreneurial systems design engineer who has worked to open doors for women in science, technology, engineering and math careers.

-Irene Costantini – A pillar of the Italian community who has been instrumental in the success of the Youth Entertaining Sudbury (YES) Theatre.

-Kelly Lee Assinewe – Co-ordinator of the N'Swakamok Alternative School who encourages her students to finish their education.

Tickets to the Women of Distinction gala, which cost $75 each, are available by phone at 705-673-4754, ext. 310.