THUNDER BAY -- “There’s still a division, there’s still a divide, but we’re clearly making some amazing progress,” Sharon Bowes says.
That progress and excellence was on full display, at the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards were held Thursday at Victoria Inn.
“These women are not only making a huge difference in their communities, but they are paving the way for the business leaders and influential women of tomorrow,” said Bowes, the marketing manager of Northern Ontario Business.
The event, which is in its 20th year, recognizes influential women from across the region.
Among the winners were two local firefighters, Stephanie Drost and Ceilidh Boyd, honoured as the first female firefighters in the city of Thunder Bay.
For the pair, the male-dominated profession didn’t inhibit their ambitions.
“We just put that all aside,” Drost said. “The support we’ve gotten from the community, from each other, from our brothers, has been a huge part of being successful,” Boyd added.
It was Sandi Boucher’s story that brought most of the audience to tears.
The recipient of the Aboriginal Leadership award, she spoke about how her mother inspired her to become a motivational speaker.
“My mom was a beautiful, strong, amazing, Indigenous woman. But the reality was she had a Grade 4 education,” said Boucher.
“I knew in the eyes of the world she wasn’t seen as valuable. But I knew the value of her teachings, and how they empowered everyone she spoke to.”
After writing two award-winning novels, Boucher designed her first motivational speaking seminar eight years ago.
“All these men and women who still didn’t believe in themselves, they needed to hear her message,” Boucher added. “Now I travel across Canada and speak to Northern remote communities. It’s amazing.”
Other local winners included St.Igantius student Peyton Harris, winner of the influential woman essay scholarship; entrepreneur of the year Nadia LaRussa; and young entrepenuer of the year Sherri-Ann White.
Full list of winners:
- Executive: Joanne Berube, Executive Director Marathon Family Health Team
- Entrepenuer: Nadia La Russa, Owner of Signature Financial
- Young Entrepeneur: Sherri-Ann White, A Beautiful New You
- Business: Cloverbelt Local Food Co-operative (Dryden, ON)
- Aboriginal Leadership: Sandi Boucher, Aboriginal Speaker/Activist
- Tradeswoman: Stephanie Drost and Ceilidh Boyd, Thunder Bay Fire Service
- Influential Community Trailblazer: Marilyn Grudniski, CEO of Little Lions Waldorf Daycare (Kakabeak Falls, ON)
- Influential Woman Essay Scholarship: Peyton Harris
