2023 NOMINEES

Arts & Culture

Angela Onuora
Brie Pointer
Coral Andrews
Hannah Marie
Jacquie Renaud
Jessie T (Treneer)
Katie Billo
Sandra Henein
Sara Geidlinger
Sarah Willett Recarte

Full Category Description

For enriching the culture of our community through creation or promotion of the arts on a volunteer or professional basis.

This award recognizes a woman who has contributed significantly to arts & culture in Waterloo Region, helping to create a vibrant and diverse community. The category encompasses visual, music, dance, film, theatre, written word, culinary, parades, festivals, community events, design and much more.

Previous nominees in this category have included journalists, vocal and instrumental musicians, arts educators, library advocates, stage performers, novelists, painters, producers, museum curators, and general arts advocates, among others.

Sponsored by:

Community Service

Cloe Nielsen
Duaa Al-Aghar
Jenn Tate
Jennifer Brown
Joanna Thiessen
Julia Gizzel Castillo
Krysanne McLean
Laura Galbraith
Linda Drouin
Lori Payne
Monica Himmelman
Sheena Merling
Sherryl Petricevic
Tessa Hoffman

Full Category Description

For generously volunteering her time to programs and services that make our community a better place.

This award honours a woman who makes volunteerism and community service a way of life, demonstrating compassion and dedication to their chosen cause(s). Often working behind the scenes, their contributions help to connect citizens and solve community problems.

Nominees in this category have been advocates and fundraisers for a variety of charities and organizations throughout Waterloo Region. Everything from health research, social justice initiatives, refugee support, children’s programs, environmental campaigns, community service clubs and many more have benefitted from the support of these women.

Sponsored by:

Entrepreneur (under 40*)

Afra Fatima
Amelia Grant
Atinuke Olajide
Cheryl Goetz
Danielle Rose
Georgia McNab
Kyley Paul
Liz Foley
Loyda Rodriguez
Patrice Whiffen
Rachel Bartholomew
Shelby Plaskett
Stephanie Melo-Garant

Full Category Description

For initiating and/or administering an enterprise or business.

The Entrepreneur Award is presented to a woman who has started and/or successfully managed a new business venture, contributing to the innovation and growth of the local economy. Determination to succeed, innovative ideas, vision, collaboration and leadership are all characteristics associated with the women who fit into this category.

Past nominees in this category have included women who have begun businesses ranging from photography to lifestyle coaching, home staging to law firms, new technology start-ups to clothing boutiques, and everything in between.

Sponsored by:

Entrepreneur (over 40)

Jolene MacDonald
Kim Jackson
Lee-Anne Reuber
Megan Goodchild
Monica Jutzi
Sandra Reimer
Sandra Sousa
Sue Lanktree

Full Category Description

For initiating and/or administering an enterprise or business.

Sponsored by:

Group Achievement

100+ Women Who Care - Waterloo Region
Bennies Prom Committee
Community Support Connections’ Exercise Team
Mamas for Mamas KW

Full Category Description

For achievements by a group of women that impact and/or improve our community or our society.

The Group Achievement Award is similar to the Community Service Award, but instead of an individual it honours a group of two or more women who have worked together on community service initiatives. These women have combined their impressive talents and dedication to create organizations that benefit a variety of causes.

For achievements by a group of women that impact and/or improve our community or our society.

Sponsored by:

Health & Wellness

Andrea Mondoux
Delia Simu
Desta Leavine
Jennifer Jones
Jessica Lunshof
Laura Kaster
Lo (Lauren) Koehler
Marian Best
Nadine Rubie
Taylor Dirstein
Taylore Pennell

Full Category Description

For promoting and helping others achieve and promote mental, physical or spiritual wellbeing in her career or community involvement.

This award recognizes women who have demonstrated continuous dedication to improvements in areas related to fitness, nutrition, general health, spiritual wellness, and mental health and wellbeing. Their contributions to the field include everything from creating health & wellness based businesses, being advocates for mental health awareness, researching new medical technologies and treatments, and supporting the elderly, among others.

Nominees in the Health & Wellness category have included women who are leaders at long term care facilities, personal trainers, life coaches, child and family therapists, clinical nutritionists, volunteers with health/medical-based organizations (eg. Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Society, hospital boards, etc.), chaplains and pastors, nurses and doctors, and many more.

Sponsored by:

Lifetime Achievement

Coral Andrews
Desta Leavine
Diane (Dee) Fortier
Doris Medeiros
Jacquie Renaud
Jennifer Brown
Joanna Thiessen
Kim Jackson
Lori Payne
Marian Best
Monica Himmelman
Nadine Rubie
Sandra Henein
Sandra Sousa
Sara Geidlinger
Sherryl Petricevic
Stephanie Machado
Sue Lanktree
Tina Roberts
Tracelyn Cornelius
Tracy Valko

Full Category Description

For over 25 years, has been a role model, mentor and/or advocate for positive social change or has excelled in her profession.

This award encompasses a broad range of nominees. Women who qualify for this category could be an outstanding professional, academic, community activist or artist – any woman who has made an exceptional contribution to the development and future of Waterloo Region over the course of 25+ years.

Previous nominees have included long-standing community volunteers, successful businesswomen, career performers and health care professionals, among others.

Sponsored by:

Professional (under 40)

Amy Cyr
Lindsay Trites
Robyn Hobbs
Sarrah Lal

Full Category Description

For dedicating herself to the pursuit of excellence in her chosen career.

The Professional Award is presented to a woman whose achievement in her vocational field has brought distinction to herself, her employer and the community. This award reflects a high level of commitment to professional growth and personal pride in the nominee’s employment.

Nominees in this category have come from a broad range of career backgrounds including special events, health care, education, business services, communications, not-for-profit organizations, manufacturing and technology industries, and emergency services, and many others.

Sponsored by:

Professional (over 40)

Clarice Ward
Diane (Dee) Fortier
Doris Medeiros
Jacqueline LeBeau
Jennifer Hutton
Lori Prospero
Maple Anne Cameron
Marie Schaefer
Stephanie Machado
Tina Roberts
Tracelyn Cornelius
Tracy Valko

Full Category Description

For dedicating herself to the pursuit of excellence in her chosen career.

Sponsored by:

STEM

Alison Carden
Anita Layton
Ashley Mehlenbacher
Dinah Davis

Full Category Description

For outstanding contributions to the scientific and technological community.

The STEM award identifies and applauds a woman who has excelled in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math.

This woman could be an entrepreneur/innovator in the technology industry, an educator at one of Waterloo Region’s post-secondary institutions, a researcher at one of the area hospitals, a contributor to the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics – the Region is overflowing with intelligent, inventive and inspirational women in this field.

Sponsored by:

Young Adult (14-23)

Alivia Chanyi
Amina Ismail
Andrea Chakma
Ann Gordon
Breanna DeFreitas
Claire Strong
Katie Traynor
Kaylie (Wing Nam) Tsang
Kenzy Soror
Leah Herrfort
Rachel Almaw
Sara Terier
Sarah Wilson
Shreya Rao
Sylvia Masse
Tia VanDerGulik

Full Category Description

For leading by example and being a role model to her peers.

This award recognizes a young woman between the ages of 14 and 23, who is actively involved in the community in a constructive and positive way – whether through volunteering, fundraising, extra-curricular school activities, or social activism. Nominees in this category must be registered for continuing full-time studies at the time of the award presentation.

Past nominees in the Young Adult category have been young women who have excelled in their extra-curricular pursuits such as drama, music or sports, young women who have founded clubs to support children with learning disabilities, advocates for individuals with special needs, young women involved in post-secondary student councils, and organizers of fundraising events or awareness campaigns.

The winner of the Young Adult Award is presented with the Jennifer Campbell Youth Scholarship.

2023 NOMINEES

Arts & Culture

Full Category Description

Community Service

Full Category Description

Entrepreneur (under 40*)

Full Category Description

Entrepreneur (over 40)

Full Category Description

Group Achievement

Full Category Description

Health & Wellness

Full Category Description

Lifetime Achievement

Full Category Description

Professional (under 40)

Full Category Description

Professional (over 40)

Full Category Description

STEM

Full Category Description

Young Adult (14-23)

Full Category Description

Thank you to our 2026 BMO Financial Group Women of the Year Sponsors!

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