YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2014

Sherry Tryssenaar, Ten Peaks Coffee Co. CFO; The Honourable Dr. Kellie Leitch, minister of status of women and minister of labour; Janet Austin, YWCA Metro Vancouver CEO; and B.C. MP Wai Young.Sherry Tryssenaar, Ten Peaks Coffee Co. CFO; The Honourable Dr. Kellie Leitch, Ministr of Status of Women and Minister...

Sherry Tryssenaar, Ten Peaks Coffee Co. CFO; The Honourable Dr. Kellie Leitch, minister of status of women and minister of labour; Janet Austin, YWCA Metro Vancouver CEO; and B.C. MP Wai Young.

YWCA supporters Marianne Haebler, June Williams and Rosemarie Lear.

Mila Cotic, Science World at Telus World of Science manager of community engagement; Jo-Ann Coggan, Science World manager of community outreach; Sandy Eix, Science World science learning lead; and Anne Callaghan, U.S. consul general.

Joanna Rannelli, YWCA rep; Susan Burton, YWCA member; and Eileen Sentla, YWCA member.

John Sandrelli, Dentons LLP partner; Jordan Schultz, Dentons LLP associate; David Grey, chartered accountant; and Kevin Brennan, Ernst & Young partner.

Chantelle Krish, YWCA manager of advocacy and PR; Hufsa Iqbal, YWCA supporter; Kelly Santiago, YWCA supporter; and Scott Alpen, YWCA supporter.

Jen Tani; and Chris Lewis, Squamish Nation spokesperson.

Mike Harcourt, True Leaf Medicine Inc. chair and former B.C. premier; and Janet Austin, YWCA Metro Vancouver CEO.

Sandy Garossino, Intellex Legal Project Management Inc. CEO; and Chris Fallon, EMC2 account director.

Nicole Steffenelli, Urban Impact Recycling CEO; and Wally Opal, Thompson Rivers University chancellor and former B.C. Liberal MLA.

Kacey Krenn, Harris & Co. LLP associate; Amanda Ward, BC Hydro legal counsel; Mark Colavecchia, Harris & Co. associate; and Joe Shaw, Harris & Co. partner.

Aaron Nakama, talent acquisition manager; Lana Bradshaw, Hollowy Schulz & Partners managing director; Tricia Gilliss, Si Systems managing director: Catherine Roscoe Barr, The Life Delicious founder; and Greg Bell Medeo CTO.

YWCA Metro Vancouver Women of Distinction Awards
The Westin Bayshore Hotel
June 3, 2014


More than 1,000 guests packed the Westin Bayshore Hotel ballroom for the 31st annual YWCA Metro Vancouver Women of Distinction Awards. The gala honoured those women whose achievements contribute to the well-being and future of their communities. Guests gathered for a reception and silent auction prior to the main gala in the ballroom.
 
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards is recognized nationally as one of Canada’s most prestigious awards for women and is the organization’s premier fundraising event.

2014 YWCA Women of Distinction Award Recipients

Arts, Culture & Design  Shaira (SD) Holman, co-founder/artistic director, Vancouver Queer Arts Festival

Business & the Professions?  Lisa Vogt, partner and chief diversity and engagement officer, McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Community Building  Shashi Assanand, founder and executive director, Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural

Education, Training & Development?  Janis Sarra, professor, UBC Faculty of Law; and director, Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies

Entrepreneurship?  Shannon Rogers, president and general counsel, Global Relay

Environmental Sustainability?  Lyda Salatian, founder and program director, The Lower Mainland Green Team

Health & Wellness  Victoria Bernstein, director, Post-Operative Cardiac Surgical Unit, Vancouver General Hospital

Non-Profit & Public Service?  Darlene Marzari, former MLA and Vancouver city councillor

Technology, Science & Research  Jennifer Gardy, senior scientist, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control

Young Woman of Distinction?  Isabel Chen, co-founder and executive eirector, Keep Safe Initiative

Innovative Workplace  Pacific Blue Cross

Connecting the Community Award  Kristi Blakeway, high school administrator and leadership teacher