Nominations Open for 30th Anniversary Women of Distinction Awards

Jan 23, 2024 | Blog, Women of Distinction

Nominations have officially opened for the prestigious YWCA Cambridge Women of Distinction Awards.

This year marks the event’s 30th anniversary of celebrating inspiring local women and changemakers.

As with last year, YWCA Cambridge has changed the awards criteria in effort to be more inclusive of the many ways – big and small – women and gender diverse individuals are advancing positive change. Rather than individual award categories, all nominations will be entered into the same pool and will be adjudicated by an external nominations committee who will select four recipients. There will be three special categories in addition to the four Women of Distinction awards: Young Trailblazer, Lifetime achievement, and a third category, the President’s Award, which will be selected by YWCA Cambridge board and staff members from the entire nomination pool.

The Women of Distinction awards recognize individuals for their strengths, achievements and contributions to the broader community. Any woman or young trailblazer who has contributed positively to Cambridge and North Dumfries, who meets the award criteria and is not a previous award winner is eligible for nomination.  Nominees could be role models, agents for change, volunteers, mentors, teachers or innovators. A full list of eligibility requirements and a nomination form can be found here. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2024.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Whistle Bear Golf Club on June 12, 2024.  Ticket sales will open early Spring.

Funds raised through ticket sales and sponsorship support community outreach, gender-based violence prevention programming, employment services and advocacy to end gender inequity and gender-based violence.

For more information: Nataleigh Ballantyne, N.Ballantyne@ywcacambridge.ca.

2023 Women of Distinction Award recipients

The 2023 Women of Distinction Awards recipients gather for a photo on the lawn at Langdon Hall Country House & Spa. Left to right: Joe-Ann McComb (Lifetime Achievement), Maria Empringham (WOD), Stephanie Pearsall (WOD), Rebecca Dickinson (WOD), Rana Mohammad (President’s Award), Elli Hook (WOD), Olivia Bluhm (Young Trailblazer). Absent: Shupi Mapuranga (WOD). Photo by Die Una Photography