The nominations are now open for the 18th annual Women of the Year Awards, after a kickoff for the awards was held on February 6, hosted by Quota International of Weyburn at the Weyburn Credit Union’s Community Room. The nomination deadline for the awards is Friday, March 9, with four award categories available to residents. The nominees’ tea will be held on Sunday, March 25, at 2 p.m. in the Upper Grace Hall at Grace United Church.
The awards luncheon will be held on Monday, April 9 at McKenna Hall, with guest speaker Susan Minard, co-owner of Minard’s Leisure World.
The four categories include the Credit Union Workplace Excellence Award, the M. Isabelle Butters Quota International of Weyburn Community Service Award, the Access Communications Exceptional Entrepreneur Award, and the Hoffman, Michel and Associates Private Wealth Management Young Woman of Distinction Award.
The Workplace Excellence Award will be presented to a woman who supports the diverse needs of the workplace, and who is a role model in best workplace practices by implementing and influencing innovative initiatives, being progressive to employee needs, supporting the advancement and success of others and fostering professional development and mentorship. This award recipient also supports community initiatives and healthy lifestyles, and is committed to excellence, and creates and inspires a positive work environment.
The Community Service Award will be presented to a woman who, as an unpaid volunteer, mentors and inspires others through involvement in community programs and organizations. This recipient shows her dedication to enrich her community, educate and alleviate social inequities and strengthen volunteer participation by creating, participating in or adapting programs to meet community needs.
“I’m delighted my name is attached to the Quota award. It’s certainly my privilege to be a part of Quota, and to acknowledge the sponsorship and support of the Credit Union, and to have your involvement in the community,” said the award’s namesake, Isabelle Butters. “There are oodles of good women in this community. You take a look and see if there’s someone in your place of business to nominate.”
The Exceptional Entrepreneur Award will be presented to a woman who has successfully launched a business, product or service, and who remains active in the business with exceptional leadership, creativity and ingenuity.
The Young Woman of Distinction Award will be presented to a young woman between the ages of 18 and 30 who has made a significant contribution to the life of her community. She demonstrates outstanding leadership, has inspired her peers to follow her example, and has shown maturity, perseverance, innovation and compassion.
Nominees must reside in Weyburn or within a 50-km radius of the city and be 18 years of age or over. Those wishing to nominate someone should pick up a nomination package from Prairie Sky Co-op Expressions at the Metro Centre, and the completed nomination package should be delivered to Dr. Cheryl Roundy’s office or mailed to the Selection Committee, c/o Quota International of Weyburn, Box 651, Weyburn, S4H 2A5.
The speaker for the awards luncheon, Susan Minard, was raised on a farm near Weyburn where she learned about hard work, self-motivation and how to think for herself.
She ran a home-based clothing business, Balance Fashions, becoming their top salesperson in Saskatchewan and in all of Canada, before joining with her husband Gene to establish Minard’s Leisure World.
Starting with a staff of five, today they are one of the largest RV dealers in western Canada with 50 employees, selling from 17 different lines of RVs and expansion into additional businesses, including Minard’s Steadfast Homes. They support many organizations and charities, including the Family Place, Envision Counselling, the Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation, Nickle Lake Regional Park and many others.
