LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Award
For over 25 years, has been a role model, mentor and/or advocate for positive social change.
Award Presented By: Gillian Alexander, Schlegel Villages
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT NOMINEES
Marcella Habermehl
Marcella is 76 year young and has dedicated over 40 years to coaching youth bowling, inspiring generations of young athletes with her fiery passion and expertise. Her unwavering commitment to the sport has not only helped players refine their skills but also instilled confidence, sportsmanship, and a lifelong love for the game. Through her guidance, countless kids have grown both on and off the lanes, making her a cherished mentor and role model in our community. She is now coaching the children of the children that she once coached.
Lucia Harrison
Lucia Harrison is a long-serving leader at the KW Multicultural Centre who has dedicated 36 years to community service advancing immigrant inclusion, settlement, and community belonging in Waterloo Region. Through her leadership, she has helped tens of thousands of newcomers successfully integrate, while building strong cross-sector partnerships that strengthen social cohesion, support the development of grassroots organizations and celebration of cultures. Lucia’s work has shaped local approaches to community and health services, multiculturalism, equity, and inclusion, leaving a legacy that will continue to influence how Waterloo Region welcomes, supports and celebrates diverse communities well into the future.
Judy Nairn
A lifelong resident of Waterloo Region, Judy Nairn has over 35 years experience in the non-profit and business sectors. Since 2012, she has served as Executive Director of Hospice Waterloo Region. Prior to this, she held the position of Director of Business at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services. Her earlier experience includes Owner of the Canadian Automotive & Trucking Institute and IT specialist. Judy also has served on several volunteer boards, including 16 years on the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, 9 years on the board of the United Way of Cambridge & North Dumfries and 6 years on the Board of Governors of St Jerome's University. She is also a longtime member of the Kitchener Westmount Rotary Club.
Sherryl Petricevic
We are proud to nominate Sherryl Petricevic for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Over more than three decades, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Waterloo Region’s technology ecosystem and strengthening its community connections. Her career spans leadership roles across industry, government, education, and the nonprofit sector, including positions at Communitech, the Ontario Ministry of Education, Waterloo EDC, ESCRYPT Canada, and the start-up Profound Impact. A co-founder of the Waterloo Region chapter of Women in Communications and Technology, Sherryl has been a consistent champion for mentorship, collaboration, and advancing women’s presence in the region’s innovation community.
Weihua Zhuang
Weihua Zhuang is a Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and a former Tier I Canada Research Chair in Wireless Communication Networks (2010-2024). Her research focuses on developing fundamental theories and innovative techniques to increase data transmission speed, accuracy and efficiency, while ensuring reliable connectivity in mobile communication networks. She holds nine patents, has co-authored 15 books and over 500 technical publications, earning 15 Best Paper Awards and 30,000 citations. She has supervised 33 PhD and 32 MASc students, and 27 postdoctoral fellows, as well as more than 100 undergraduate co-op students and research assistants. In 2021, she was recognized by the University of Waterloo for exceptional scholarly achievement and international preeminence with the designation of “University Professor.” She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.