Group of eight honoured at 41st Women of Distinction Awards

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This article was published 04/05/2017 (3108 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of “remarkable Manitoba women” was honoured at the 2017 YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Wednesday night at the RBC Convention Centre.

Awards were presented to eight recipients with 42 nominees recognized “for their talent, achievement and innovation, and for making a unique and exemplary contribution to the development of others and their community.”

“It was an honour to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of the nominees and recipients tonight. Hearing their stories of devotion, vision and transformative work was truly awe-inspiring,” said Susan Emerson, vice-president of operations and community programs for the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg.

Jo Wright, a United Way fundraiser and long-time supporter of women’s right and equality in the community, was the recipient of the Eira “Babs” Friesen Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wright, the former director of outreach at the YWCA, served over three decades as an employee at the United Way of Winnipeg and helped raise over $200 million for the community.

She is also known for assisting Oyate Tipi — a non-profit that helps women start over after leaving a dangerous or unhealthy environment — to purchase a building for $1 from the Bank of Montreal. She is also one of the founders of the Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre, which offers counselling and public education resources.

Wright, 83, continues to volunteer teaching classes in English as an additional language to adults program through the Winnipeg School Division a half day each week.

Abigail Olfert, a artist, musician and community activist, received the 2017 Prairie Award of Promise Scholarship at the 41st annual event. The student in the Hanover School District is a member of the district’s Superintendent Student Advisory Council to help enhance deeper learning and emotional involvement among students. She teaches art at This Little Light Artistry and, as a member of her school’s art committee, leads an initiative to share art from the school in the community.

Mirha Zohair was the winner of the 2017 Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise Scholarship. Zohair is her school’s Youth in Parliament chairwoman, the Peace of Mind chairwoman for her school’s mental-health group and is on the Manitoba Islamic Association Youth Council. She participates in charity work with We Take Action and Amnesty International and teaches Muslim children at the Waverley Mosque.

This year’s recipients

Eira “Babs” Friesen Lifetime Achievement Award: Jo Wright, retired United Way fundraiser

Arts, Culture & Heritage: Buffy Handel

Business, Professions & Trades: Trudy Lavallee

Community Champion: Sharon Redsky

Education, Training & Mentorship: Dr. Diane Clare

Science, Technology & Research: Dr. Joanne Embree

Young Woman of Distinction: Aly Raposo

2017 Prairie Award of Promise Scholarship: Abigail Olfert

2017 Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise Scholarship: Mirha Zohair