WOMEN’S Y FOUNDATION
Women of Distinction Gala
Who is a Woman of Distinction?
She is a woman who by her daily actions, her strength of character and her professional path, enriches the community and contributes to the advancement of women. She is an exceptional woman who serves as a role model for young people, inspiring others to excel.
In 1994, the YWCA Montreal joined with the national YWCA movement to honour these women by organizing its first Women of Distinction Gala.
This annual event, held in September in Montreal, publicly recognizes and honours eleven exceptional women in different sectors of activity. The popularity of the Women of Distinction Gala makes this event one of the principal sources of fundraising for the Women’s Y Foundation. The money raised at this event will help finance programs offered to the 36,000 Montreal Women who use the services of the YWCA Montreal each year.
Edition 2008 : 15th anniversary
On September 24, 2008, the YWCA Montreal will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Women of Distinction Gala at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
The theme of this gala evening is DARE
TO DARE, one must dream,
to attain one’s dreams,
one must uncover paths that are at times overrun with thorns
and open the doors to accomplishment.
Finalists and Sponsors 2008
The YWCA is pleased to present the finalists and sponsors of the 2008 Women of Distinction Gala.
Advancement of Women, sponsored by
- Marie Bernard-Meunier, former Canadian Ambassador and public service organization Board member
- Nicolle Forget, c.r., Company Director
- Dorothy Reitman, C.M., Community Volunteer and Activist
Business and Professions, sponsored by
- Diane Giard, Senior Vice-President, Québec and Eastern Ontario Region, Scotiabank
- Louiselle Paquin, FCMA, Senior Vice-President, Finance, SITQ
- Karen Radford, Executive Vice-President and President, TELUS Québec and TELUS Partner Solutions
Arts and Culture, sponsored by
- Jennifer Bell, Saxophonist and Co-Director of the Altsys Jazz Orchestra and Streetnix
- Torill Kove, Animator, Writer and Director, The National Film Board of Canada
- Marina Orsini, Actress and Host of Tout l’monde debout, Radio RockDétente
Communications, sponsored by
- Janet Bagnall, Editorial Writer, Columnist, The Gazette
- Huguette Guilhaumon arp, Executive Associate, Sciencetech Communications
- Dominique Poirier, Journalist and Television Host
Education, sponsored by
- Florence Junca Adenot, President of Forum Urba 2015 and Professor of Urban Studies and Tourism, ESG UQAM
- Sylvia Piggott, Global Information Solutions Group
- Marjorie Villefranche, Program Director, la Maison d'Haïti
Entrepreneurship, sponsored by
- Lina De Cesare, Co-founder and President, Tour Operators, Transat A.T. Inc.
- Mariouche Gagné, Designer and Founder, Harricana
- Michaelee Lazore, Founder of Sequoia Native Arts
Young Woman of Distinction, sponsored by
- Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, Film Writer and Director
- Catherine Goyer, Student in Economics at Université de Montréal
- Florence K, Singer
Health and Science, sponsored by
- Isabelle Brabant, Midwife, Maison bleue
- Perle Feldman MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, McGill University
- Mimi Israël, MA, MD, FRCPC, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the Douglas Institute
Community Service, sponsored by Hydro-Québec
- Wanda Bédard, President of 60 Million Girls
- Nicole Marcil-Gratton, Board Chair and Michèle Viau-Chagnon, Executive Director of Le Phare enfants et familles
- Laure Waridell, Co-founder of Équiterre
Sports and Wellness, sponsored by Scotia Bank
- Céline Darveau, Vice-President and Director, Jukado Inc.
- Annick Robinson, Founder, Annickarts
- Mélanie Turgeon, former member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and Public Speaker
The YWCA Montreal must also thank RBC Royal Bank,
a faithful partner of the Women of Distinction Gala for 14 years.
France Poulin, Chair
Communications Officer
Abbott Canada
Simon Ayotte, Technical Director
President
Amalgame
Isabelle Baril
Director
Women’s Y Foundation
France Collard, Logistics
President
Agence Box
Claudette Demers-Godley
Executive Director
YWCA
Thomas Pintal, Artistic Director
President
Simersion
Sonia Wong Pow Fa
Philanthropy Assistant
Women’s Y Foundation
Vicky Robert, Chair
Program Director
Career Women Interaction
geneviève bich
Vice-President, Office of the CEO
Bell Canada
Carmela Ciccia, CA
Chief Risk Officer
Société générale de financement du Québec
Caroline Codsi
National Vice-President, Business Development
KWA Group Inc.
Dominique Décarie
Associate
Korn Ferry International
Judy Gallo
Consultant
Wanda Kaluzny
Conductor
Montreal Chamber Orchestra
Josée Noiseux
Lawyer
Ogilvy Renault
Suzanne Vachon
Interior Designer
Lynn Verge
Executive Director
Atwater Library and Computer Center
Lorraine Freeman, Chair
Senior Manager, Affinity Market Group
TD Insurance Meloche Monnex
Fanny D’Ambroise
Manager
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Judy Gallo
Consultant
Julie Grand’Maison
Manager
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Diane Phaneuf
Consultant
Catherine Sévigny
Associate Councillor for Culture and Downtown Area
City Councillor Peter McGill District
Ville Marie Bourough
Ville de Montréal
Frances Eliot Tobin
Political Volunteer
Isabelle Tremblay
Media Relations
Société de transport de Montréal
Nathalie Benoit, Chair
Marketing Communication Director
Université du Québec à Montréal
Marie-Christine Dufour
Executive Vice-President, Distribution and Pre-sales
Image In Media
Pascale Grignon
Group Director – Fusion
Cossette
Corinne Landry
Communications Coordinator
YWCA
Stephan Morency
Executive Vice-President
Agence Amuse
Louise Macdonald, Chair
Consultant
Lili de Grandpré
President
CenCEO Conseil
Monette Malewski
President
Agence d'assurance M. Bacal inc
Robert Nadeau
Associate and Consultant
SpencerStuart
Louise Patry
Associate
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg
Madeleine Poulin
Journalist
Honor Robertson
Melissa Sonberg
Vice-President Corporate Services
Aéroplan
Categories in Honour
Highest distinction - Advancement of Women
This award recognizes the significant contribution of a woman who has distinguished herself by her personal achievements, her social commitment and her contributions to the advancement of women.
Business and Professions
This award recognizes the significant contribution of a business woman, a manager or a professional.
Arts and Culture
This award recognizes the contribution of a woman in the field of architecture, literature or visual, audiovisual, applied or performing arts.
Communications, presented in 2008 by Bell Canada
This award recognizes the significant contributions of a woman in the field of journalism, advertising, public relations, media or communications.
Education
This award recognizes the significant contributions of a woman in the field of teaching, professional training and development, community education or alternative teaching.
Entrepreneurship
This award recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of a woman entrepreneur who owns or manages a business.
Young Woman of Distinction, presented in 2008 by Jacob
This award recognizes the significant contributions and achievement of a young woman (18 to 30 years old) in her studies, work or community activities.
Health and Science, presented in 2008 by Sun Life Financial
This award recognizes significant contributions to a science-related field, including pure and applied sciences, social sciences, engineering, life or environmental sciences, or to technological advancement in the field of health.
Community Service
This award recognizes significant contributions of w woman involved in a social cause, for a non-profit organization or a volunteer group.
Sports & Wellness, presented in 2008 by Scotia Bank
This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a woman in the field of sports, physical fitness, recreation or general fitness.
During this benefit event, the Foundation also presents the Pioneer Award. This award pays tribute to an extraordinary woman who, by her personal and professional journey, has paved the way for all women following in her footsteps.
The Selection Committee members keep a strategic watch throughout the year in order to identify exceptional women as potential finalists for the Women of Distinction Awards.
It is also possible to submit a nomination by sending a biography specifying the candidate’s contribution to the advancement of women.
Starting in January, the members of the Selection Committee begin meeting to share information about the exceptional women candidates gathered throughout the year. A preliminary selection of about 30 candidates per category is made. Then, if necessary, the Selection Committee members may seek additional information on the candidates. When they have completed their research on the candidates, the Selection Committee members choose 3 finalists from a short list of 10 in each category. They inform the finalists of their decision and invite them to complete the nomination form.
The information given by the finalists is sent to the Jury Committee which meets in the fall to choose the award recipient in each category.
Women of Distinction Gala
Winners 2007
Pioneer
Ms. Laurette
Champigny-Robillard
Business and Professions
Ms. Andrea Martin
President and CEO, Reader’s Digest
Communications
Ms. Pascale Navarro
Journalist, SRC, and Writer
Entrepreneurship
Ms. Andrea Courey
President, Grandma Emily’s Granola
Health and Science
Ms. Bilkis Vissandjée
Full Professor, Faculté des sciences infirmières,
Université de Montréal
Sports and Wellness
Ms. Sylvie Fréchette
Olympic Champion, Synchronized Swimming
Highest Distinction of Women
Ms. Diane Matte
Ex-Coordinator, International Secretariate,
World March of Women
Arts and Culture
Ms. Lorraine Pintal
Executive and Artistic Director,
Théâtre du Nouveau Monde
Education
Ms. Mireille Mathieu
President and Exective Director,
Centre de liaison sur l’intervention
Young Woman of Distinction
Ms. Ariane Moffatt
Author, songwriter and singer
Community Service
Ms. Evelyn Brook
Volunteer
Photos: Women of Distinction Gala 2007
Ms. Laurette Champigny-Robillard, Pionneer and
Ms. Martine Quintal, Ernst & Young
Ms. Andrea Martin, Business and Professions and
Ms. Andrée Lafortune, Desjardins
Ms. Lorraine Pintal, Arts and Culture and Ms. Louise Dostie, Loto Quebec
Ms. Pascale Navarro, Communications
Ms. Mireille Mathieu, Education and
Ms. Lynn Jeanniot National Bank of Canada
Ms. Andrea Courey, Entrepreneurship and
Ms. Nancy Hammond, TD Canada Trust
Ms. Ariane Moffatt, Young Woman of Distinction and
Ms. Jessica Gallant, JACOB
Ms. Bilkis Vissandjéé, Health and Sciences
Ms. Evelyn Brook, Community Service
Ms. Diane Matte, Highest Distinction-Advancement of Women
Women of Distinction since 1994
The YWCA is proud to present the Women of Distinction honoured since 1994.
| 1994 | |
| Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | Lise Thibault |
| Arts and culture | Maryvonne Kendergi |
| Arts and culture | Mercedes Palomino |
| Education | Margaret Gillet |
| Health | Catherine Hankins |
| Science and Technology | Donna Mergler |
| Science and Technology | Karen Messing |
| Community and Public Service | Célyne Muloin |
| Sports and Fitness | Judith Gill |
| 1995 | |
| Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | Sylvaine Borenstein |
| Arts and culture | Lorraine Vaillancourt |
| Advancement of Women | Johanne Totta |
| Communications | Lise Bissonnette |
| Education | Corinne Mount Pleasent-Jetté |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Anne-Louise Crago |
| Health | Louise Lambert-Lagacé |
| Science and Technology | Madeleine Barrette |
| Science and Technology | Renée-Paule Caron |
| Science and Technology | Hélène Kayler |
| Science and Technology | Louise Lafortune |
| Science and Technology | Claudie Solar |
| Community and Public Service | Heidi Rathjen |
| Sports and Wellness | Diane Vandy |
| 1996 | |
| Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | Johanne Berry |
| Arts and culture | Louisette Dussault |
| Advancement of Women | Nancy J. Adler |
| Communications | Denise Bombardier |
| Education | Ratna Ghosh |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Lisa Grushcow |
| Health | Yvette Bonny |
| Science and Technology | Maryse Lassonde |
| Community and Public Service | Sophia Demetelin |
| Sports and Fitness | Susan Ballmer |
| 1997 | |
| Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | Sonia D. Raikes |
| Arts and culture | Claudine Bertrand |
| Advancement of Women | Maîr Verthuy |
| Communications | Lily Tasso |
| Education | Lynn Butler-Kisber |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Erin Duchesneau |
| Health | Nicole Saint-Jean |
| Science and Technology | Margaret A. Somerville |
| Community and Public Service | Gemma Raeburn-Baynes |
| Sports and Fitness | Chantal Petitclerc |
| 1998 | |
| Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | Agathe Plamondon |
| Arts and culture | Yvette Pauzé |
| Advancement of Women | Shree Mulay |
| Communications | Michaëlle Jean |
| Education | Dina Lavoie |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Joya Balfour |
| Health | Hélène Denoncourt |
| Science and Technology | Abby Lippman |
| Community and Public Service | Aoura Bizzarri |
| Sports and Fitness | Nathalie Lambert |
| 1999 | |
| Business and Professions | Johanne Daly |
| Arts and culture | Wanda Kaluzny |
| Advancement of Women | Louise Fleishmann |
| Communications | Kate Williams |
| Education | Lynn McAlpine |
| Entrepreneurship | Louise Guay |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Mochéda Alexandre |
| Health | Huguette Bélanger |
| Science and Technology | Martha Crago |
| Community and Public Service | Denise Caron |
| Sports and Wellness | Robin Marlene Hornstein |
| 2000 | |
| Business and Professions | Louise Maihot |
| Arts and culture | Micheline Lachance |
| Advancement of Women | Jeanne Maranda |
| Communications | Thérèse Paquet-Sévigny |
| Education | Marie Bernard |
| Entrepreneurship | Louise Daoust |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Astrid Christoffersen-Deb |
| Pioneer | Madeleine Parent |
| Pioneer | Léa Roback |
| Health | Gloria Shaffer Tannenbaum |
| Science and Technology | Julie Payette |
| Community and Public Service | Aoua Bocar Ly-Tall |
| Sports and Wellness | Danièle Sauvageau |
| 2001 | |
| Business and Professions | Nicole Beaudoin |
| Arts and culture | Michèle Fortin |
| Advancement of Women | Françoise David |
| Communications | Gertrude Joch Robinson |
| Education | Nadia Fahmy-Eid |
| Entrepreneurship | Marie-Anne Raulet |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Sarah-Jeanne Salvy |
| Health | Edith Duterville |
| Science and Technology | Brenda Milner |
| Community and Public Service | Maria Trudel-Day |
| Sports and Wellness | Sabrina Pettinicchi |
| 2002 | |
| Business and Professions | Carol A. Fitzwilliam |
| Arts and culture | Ginette Noiseux |
| Advancement of Women | Anne-Marie Trahan, j.c.s. |
| Communications | Marie-France Bazzo |
| Education | Francine Descarries |
| Entrepreneurship | Sara McKenna |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Naomi Lear |
| Pioneer | Claire Kirkland |
| Health | Vania Jimenez |
| Science and Technology | Annnmarie Adams |
| Community Service | Catherine Hooper C.M. |
| Public Services | Jennifer Stoddart |
| Sports and Wellness | Guylaine Bernier |
| 2003 | |
| Business and Professions | Lili de Grandpré |
| Arts and culture | Ranee Lee |
| Advancement of Women | Alanis Obomsawin |
| Communications | Marie-José Turcotte |
| Education | Lorna Roth |
| Entrepreneurship | Ruth Flicker |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Claudine M. Desjardins |
| Pioneer | Jeannette Bertrand |
| Pioneer | L’honorable Lucie Pépin |
| Health | Louise Lévesque |
| Science and Technology | Rhoda Blostein |
| Community Service | Marion Lowe-Mclean |
| Public Service | Isabelle Narayana |
| Sports and Wellness | Geraldine Dubrule |
| 2004 | |
| Business and Professions | Francine Décary |
| Arts and culture | Paule Baillargeon |
| Advancement of Women | Anne Leahy |
| Communications | Céline Galipeau |
| Education | Mariella Pandolfi |
| Entrepreneurship | Hazel Mah> |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Anila Madiraju |
| Pioneer | Léa Cousineau |
| Health | Diane M. Provencher |
| Science and Technology | Mona Nemer |
| Community Service | Michèle Audette |
| Public Service | Peta Tancred |
| Sports and Wellness | Jocelyne Bourassa |
| 2005 | |
| Business and Professions | Monette Malewski |
| Arts and culture | Lorraine Desmarais |
| Advancement of Women | Denise Filiatrault |
| Communications | Sophie Thibault |
| Education | Danielle Morin |
| Entrepreneurship | Elisabeth Koczi |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Aleksandra Leligdowicz |
| Pioneer | Aline Desjardins |
| Science and Health | Margaret R. Becklake |
| Community Service | Claudette Carbonneau |
| Sports and Wellness | Penny Vilagos |
| Sports and Wellness | Vicky Vilagos |
| 2006 | |
| Business and Professions | Jacynthe Côté |
| Arts and culture | Léa Pool |
| Advancement of Women | Louise Roy |
| Communications | Anne-Marie Dussault |
| Education | Susan Campbell |
| Education | Sharon Hudson |
| Entrepreneurship | Marie Saint Pierre |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Karine Vanasse |
| Pioneer | Gretta Chambers |
| Science and Health | Janine O'Leary Cobb |
| Community Service | Pearl Eliadis |
| Sports and Wellness | Sarah Ali-Khan |
| 2007 | |
| Business and Professions | Andrea Martin |
| Arts and culture | Lorraine Pintal |
| Advancement of Women | Diane Matte |
| Communications | Pascale Navarro |
| Education | Mireille Mathieu |
| Entrepreneurship | Andrea Courey |
| Young Woman of Distinction | Ariane Moffatt |
| Pioneer | Laurette Champigny-Robillard |
| Science and Health | Bilkis Vissandjée |
| Community Service | Evelyne Beker-Brook |
| Sports and Wellness | Sylvie Fréchette |
Contacts
WOMEN’S Y FOUNDATION
Tel.: 514.866.9944
fondation@ydesfemmesmtl.org