Community celebration of leadership and impact set for June 3 at Whistle Bear Golf Club; Early Bird tickets now available.
CAMBRIDGE, ON | April 30, 2026 – YWCA Cambridge is proud to officially announce the nominees for the 32nd annual Women of Distinction Awards. This year, 21 extraordinary women and gender-diverse individuals have been recognized by their peers for their unwavering commitment to community, innovation, and social change.
Since its inception in 1994, the Women of Distinction Awards have served as the region’s premier recognition of women’s leadership and resilience, often shining a light on the diverse and unsung ways women and gender-diverse individuals impact their communities.
“These nominees represent the very best of us,” said Kim Decker, CEO of YWCA Cambridge. “They are the trailblazers who don’t wait for permission to make a difference. By celebrating their stories, we are looking back at their achievements while also providing a blueprint for the next generation of leaders from which to take inspiration.”
The 2026 Women of Distinction Nominees are:
Brenda Walsh
Chantelle Moore
Crystal Laforest
Elia Loschnig
Farah Lahens
Faune Lang
Jasjit Kaur
Jess Dixon
Jillian Lawrie
Kathryn Gilezan
Kay Crawford
Lorraine Harris
Mary Jane LaBlanc
Michelle Walker
Mikaela Faustini
Robyn Schwarz
Sara Alvarado
Sharon Boyd
Sheeba Khan
Sidney MacDonald
Sumaira Tazeen
YWCA Cambridge will honour four recipients with Women of Distinction Awards, alongside three special distinctions designed to highlight specific milestones of leadership:
- Young Trailblazer Award: Recognizing leaders aged 30 and under.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Honouring the enduring legacy of leaders aged 55 and plus.
- President’s Award: A prestigious recognition for exceptional service and vision.
The nominees will be celebrated and award recipients will be announced at the Women of Distinction Awards Gala on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Whistle Bear Golf Club. The gala is YWCA Cambridge’s largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds from the event directly support essential community programs, including Cambridge’s first and only women’s emergency homeless shelter, gender-based violence prevention programming for youth, and pre-employment and life skills programming for women and gender-diverse individuals.
Tickets & Event Information:
Tickets are now officially on sale. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available for those looking to secure their spot at this often sold-out event.
- When: June 3, 2026 | Doors open at 5:30 PM
- Where: Whistle Bear Golf Club, 1316 Dickie Settlement Rd, Cambridge, ON
Join YWCA Cambridge, 2026 nominees and their biggest supporters, for an evening of inspiration, networking, and celebration to honour the people who are shaping the future of Cambridge and North Dumfries.
About YWCA Cambridge:
Since 1948, YWCA Cambridge has been a leader in providing responsive programming and services that meet the changing needs of women, girls and gender-diverse individuals. As a member association of YWCA Canada, YWCA Cambridge is part of a national movement known as the country’s oldest and largest women’s multi-service organization, the largest national provider of shelter, literacy, life skills, employment and counselling programs, and is the second largest provider of child care services in Canada.
For more information: Roz Gunn, Director of Communications and Advocacy, at r.gunn@ywcacambridge.ca
