ESTEVAN - The nominees for the 2025 edition of the Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Women of Distinction Awards were announced April 2 during a luncheon, sponsored by Lemon Wedge Marketing, at the Â鶹ÊÓƵeast College's Estevan campus. Twenty women are nominated between the five categories.
The largest category is the Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, presented by Steam Est. Industries, with seven nominees. Vying for the award are Rebecca Fedyk, Sydney Wanner, Maureen Ulrich, Debbie Wade, Crystal Ross, Brittany Brokenshire and Shannon Culy.
Candidates for the Innovative Leadership Award, presented by Â鶹ÊÓƵern Plains Co-op, are Cea Anna Kerr, Kamri Olfert and Elicia Krupka.
Prysm Gooding and Kerison Burnett are nominated for the Young Visionary Award presented by Impact Creative Digital Services.
The candidates for the Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award, presented by TS&M Supply, are Donna George, Selagh Eskra, Lianne Kenler, Angela Smeltzer, Brenda Mantei and Maribel Cabezudo.
Kari Lawrence and Desiree Da Silva are up for the Equity and Inclusion award (non-traditional overcoming barriers) presented by Saskatchewan Blue Cross.
The awards, organized by the Women for Women committee, will be handed out at a luncheon May 2 at the Power Dodge Curling Centre.
When the nominees in each category were introduced, the nominator was also revealed and called forward.
Awards and nominations committee chairwoman Tania Andrist said the nominations luncheon is her favourite part of the Women of Distinction process, because they get to recognize all of the women nominated and the nominees.
"We would not be sitting here without all of the people who took the time to make the nominations. If you're a nominee today and you've enjoyed this experience, please consider nominating someone next year. It's not that difficult but it does take time."
Andrist noted the nominations were slow to come in and they extended the deadline. Then a flood of nominations arrived. The number of candidates had to be shortlisted in a couple of categories, and the committee had to make a few phone calls and request some nominations be saved for next year.
Once the nominations close, Andrist said the committee compiles all of the packages and turns them into individual portfolios, which are turned over to the judges. The committee does not read the material and the people who decide the award recipients are from out of town.
"These people have no connection to the community, no connection to the nominees and we're very grateful for their unbiased adjudication. I know that the decisions are very difficult, particularly when we have large categories."
Click here for more information on this year's Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Women of Distinction Awards.
