CANADA’S TOP WOMEN HONOURED

Those of us of a certain age will remember the Virginia Slims commercial pronouncing “You’ve come a long way, baby.” The politically incorrect message-by today’s standards-was par for the course all those years ago. It is heartening that Justin Trudeau’s “Because it’s 2015” statement indicates the 21st century is all about inclusion and collaboration.

And collaboration was the resounding theme of the recent Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Leadership Summit and Awards Presentations held March 2 at The Westin.

Scores of guests gathered for the afternoon summit and evening awards ceremony that featured: Keynote addresses from Nicole Bourque-Bouchier (2015 Top 100 Award Winner and CEO of The Bouchier Group), Joanne Alexander (2014 Top 100 Award Winner and executive vice-president and general counsel of Encana) and Natalie Panek (2014 Top 100 Award Winner and mission systems engineer at MDA Space Missions); welcome and opening remarks from WXN founder Pamela Jeffery and CEO Sherri Stevens; an interview with ATB Financial president and CEO Dave Mowat; and a panel discussion featuring moderator Cynthia Hansen (2015 Top 100 Award Winner and senior vice-president of operations at Enbridge Liquid Pipelines) and guests Dr. Jodi Abbott (2015 Top 100 Award Winner and president and CEO of NorQuest College) and Terri Harris (2012 and 2014 Top 100 Award Winner and vice-president and partner of Harris Greenaway Communications).

Salutations to the other 14 Alberta and Prairie-based award winners including: Debby Carreau, CEO and founder of Inspired HR; Allison Grafton, president of Rockwood Custom Homes; Beth Hamilton-Keen, director of investment counselling at Mawer Investment Management; Gianna Manes, president and CEO of Enmax Corporation Group of Companies; Linda McCurdy, president and CEO of K-Bro Linen Systems; Margaret McKenzie, corporate director of Bonavista Energy Corporation; Kirsten Poon, CEO of KP Consulting; Geeta Sankappanavar, president and CEO of Grafton Asset Management; and Helene Weir, president and CEO of YMCA Calgary.

Others in attendance at the event are pictured here.

PHOTOS: BILL BROOKS Joining Mayor Naheed Nenshi at Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Calgary Leadership Summit and Awards held March 2 at The Westin are Women’s Executive Network (WXN) founder Pamela Jeffery, left, and WXN owner and CEO Sherri Stevens. Jeffery created...

From left: Honourees Beth Hamilton-Keen, director of investment counselling at Mawer Investment Management, and Cynthia Hansen, senior vice-president of operations at Enbridge Liquid Pipelines.

Calgary honouree Allison Grafton, president of Rockwood Custom Homes, takes in the summit and awards ceremony with her proud daughter Abby Taillefer, left.

Calgary honouree Dr. Jodi Abbott, president and CEO, NorQuest College and Caroline Johnson, Air Canada, manager, business development.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi brought salutations from the city to the summit and awards ceremony. Joining the mayor is Enmax president and CEO Gianna Manes.

Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk, from left, with Alexander Proudfoot executive vice-president Marti Nuth and IBM’s Nancy Taipale.

Women’s Executive Network’s Corie Kaftalovich, from left, with SureCall Contact Centers’ Marc and Desiree Bombenon.