Monsef honours women who’ve made a difference
Awards ceremony held at Showplace
Showplace was packed Saturday night as MP Maryam Monsef honoured local women who've made a difference in the community.
The Peterborough-Kawartha Women's Leadership Awards event was held to showcase the women, nominated by members of the community. The evening also included a gathering with young people who met with the nominees, Monsef and Mayorelect Diane Therrien.
The nominees, from across Peterborough city and county, were business owners, politicians, arts leaders, activists, educators and more. They included Reem Ali, Joanne Anderson, Sofie Andreou, Ileen Armstrong, Eunice Blakeley, Kate Brioux, Holly Butler, Janet Clarkson, Emily Coombes, Sheila Crook, Kathi Curtin-Williams, Julie Davis, Aileen Dean, Su Ditta, Cathy Dueck, Caroline Elder, Ann Farquharson, Carol Fisher, Michelle Gallant, Rosemary Ganley, Lynn Gehl, Mary Gordon (mother of Examiner
managing editor Kennedy Gordon), Stephanie Hayes, Kristy Hiltz, Hajni Hos, Debbie Jenkins, Tina Johnston, Rhonda Keenan, Jennifer Kloosterman, Pat Learmonth, Shelby Leonard Watt, Stacey Love-Jolicoeur, Janet Mann, Erin Marshall, Judy McWhirter, Linda Mitchelson, Kristen Mommertz, Tegan Moss, Kim Muskratt, Trish O'Connor, Pat Peeling, Lori Richey, Mary Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Julie Stoneberg, Sara Susnar, Jeannine Taylor, Rose Terry, Diane Therrien, Audrey van Bogen, Emily Warren, Marie Windover, Tammy Yakely and Kim Zippel.
Some of the the women weren't present, but their names were read out and their photos displayed on a big screen. The others were welcomed by Monsef, who said they set examples for younger generations to follow.
“This award is one of the many ways our community says to women, we value your leadership. We value your work. We value you,” Monsef told the audience. “I also hope it will connect powerful leaders with one another and showcase role models for younger generations.”
The evening wrapped built up to Monsef giving a lifetime achievement award to Sister Ruth Hennessey, who manages the Casa Maria homes in Peterborough that provide safe haven for refugee newcomers.
Hennessey, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada, retired from teaching in 1997 and devoted herself full-time to working with refugees.
She formed Casa Maria Refugee Homes in Peterborough. The non-profit volunteer organization, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, assists refugees with safe temporary homes. Casa Maria operates three local houses and has helped more than 200 people, including the MP - Monsef told the crowd how Hennessey had helped her, her mother and sisters when they arrived in Peterborough from Afghanistan in the 1990s.
The ceremony began with words from Curve Lake Chief Phyllis Williams after live music from Missy Knott and a performance by the Red Path Singers, and wrapped up with a reception in the Nexicom Studio.