The YWCA of Thompson is again seeking nominees for its Women of Distinction Awards, which will be presented in April.
"We've restructured our categories," explained Regan Schroeder, chair of the YWCA women of distinction committee during the Jan. 5 lunch meeting of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce. "Some of them look a little different, and we've actually added a new one."
"This year there are going to be five categories: community-building and volunteerism, health and active living, arts, culture and heritage, young women of distinction, and our new category is going to be business and entrepreneurship," she continued.
2011 is the third year for the Women of Distinction awards in Thompson. The 2010 winners were Colleen Smook (community-building and volunteerism), Freda Lepine (health and active living), Jan Hall (arts, culture and heritage) and Stella Locker (the now-defunct category of non-profit and public sector).
2009's winners were Jodie Ellingson (young women of distinction), Chantelle Chornoby (young women of distinction), Kristin Donovan (health and active living), and Tammy Watson (non-profit and public sector).
"We had quite a few requests for a business and entrepreneurship category from a lot of people, and we were finding that a lot of the women who were getting nominated were business or entrepreneurial women, and we wanted to have a category just for those women," explained Schroeder. "We're hoping to get the word out that we have this new criteria and that we want all of the women in Thompson who fit it to be nominated."
The official description of the new category is as follows: "She is acknowledged in her field for her professional leadership and consistent commitment to excellence. She has taken an innovative approach to solving a problem, filling a need or breaking into a new market. She demonstrates respect for and engagement with her community, clients and colleagues."
Nominations for Thompson Women of Distinction can be made by anybody, female or not. Nomination packages are available through the YWCA office or through their website. The nomination deadline is Feb. 14, and the awards will be presented at an April 16 gala at Riverlodge Place.
