THUNDER BAY - Donna Gilhooly has devoted her life to helping make the city and region more beautiful, more active, and more accessible through tireless work and advocacy and she has paved a path for other influential women to follow.
For that work, Gilhooly was honoured with the Influential Community Trailblazer Award during the 21st Northern Ontario Business Influential Women of Northern Ontario ceremony on Thursday.
“I’m full of gratitude,” Gilhooly said. “I feel like I’m a very lucky woman.”
Gilhooly was one of 12 recipients during this year’s awards that includes six categories. Each year, six women from Northeastern Ontario and six women from Northwestern Ontario are honoured in categories that include executive, entrepreneur, young entrepreneur, Aboriginal leadership, tradeswoman, and influential community trailblazer.
Abbas Homayed, vice president and publisher of Northern Ontario Business, said the awards were created to honour women in the north and their contributions through professional work, economic development, job creation, and creating better communities.
“When we started, we did not know what to expect, but based on the quality and the quantity of nominations it was the right thing to do,” he said. “It is really a tough job for the judges because we have so many great women out there and it’s great to be able to honour them.”
According to Homayed, each year they receive more than 100 nominations. He said this year all the winners represent exceptional women who continue to work to improve their respective communities.
“They make time to empower other women, they make time for the communities, they volunteer, they lead very busy lives,” he said.
Gilhooly, who has worked for the city of Thunder Bay in the area of culture, recreation, and older adult services, has also served on several provincial boards, the city’s waterfront development committee, and recently helped secure funding for the restoration of the Chippewa Park Carousel.
“I think it’s important for women to share their achievements, to recognize it with one another, and to encourage one another,” she said. “In an event like this, you form stronger networks and partnerships as well.”
During her more than 50 years serving the community, Gilhooly said she has seen many more opportunities become available for women and she hopes that will continue so more women can help create positive influence across the region.
“In the last number of years, there’s been institutional change where policies have changed around gender and diversity,” she said. “There have also been changes in the law to protect diversity and gender. I think generally speaking, institutions and organizations are more sensitive.”
“I think it’s important that it comes from this business model and that men and women are here celebrating together,” Gilhooly added.
Northwestern Ontario winners include:
Executive: Colleen Kjellman (Brass Bell Family Resource Centre)
Entrepreneur: Anne Marie Calonego (Prime Gelato)
Young Entrepreneur: Kaija Saarinen (Green and Gone Pest Solutions)
Aboriginal Leadership: Rosie Mosquito (Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute).
Tradeswoman: Susan Temple (Union Gas)
Influential Community Trailblazer: Donna Gilhooly
