Thank you for joining us at Change Makers to celebrate the women who impact change and inspire action, locally and globally. You can read more about the 2021 Women of Distinction Winners here.
Alison Brewster – dedicated, resilient & generous
“When you hear the future is female is you think of Alison. Alison has had a lasting impact on the women and girls in the community by being a strong female role model. Alison is a successful and notable female business owner in a predominantly male-centric industry. She wholeheartedly believes and exemplifies that women are equal and fully capable. Alison has empowered the women in her life and the next generation of women to create a space for young women to realize their potential.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Carley Evans – dedicated, dependable & positive
“Carley inspires me by continuously learning and sharing her knowledge with those around her. Carley started a program called Performance Team at Canmore Illusions Gymnastics Club where girls (ages 9-15) who have outgrown the recreational program can still participate in gymnastics and perform their skills at local fun meets. Youth sport and recreation depends on strong leaders and coaches like Carley. She supports her athletes and their parents by giving freely of herself and her time to keep them engaged and enjoying sport.”
Nominated for: Young Women’s Leadership
Cindy Heisler – resolute, dedicated & resourceful
“Cindy runs the Bow Valley Home Finder. Beyond being a relatively sizeable social media asset and useful tool, she does a lot of one-on-one work with tenants having particularly hard times. In a housing market as hard as the one we have, it can be nice to feel like you at least have Cindy stumping for you.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Holly Wilkinson – dedicated, passionate & engaged
“Holly is a passionate and engaged volunteer, serving as treasurer and sharing her knowledge of financial assistance and taxes to Bow Valley organizations like Banff Minor Hockey and Banff Elementary School Council.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Jane Park – inclusive, influential leader & a trailblazer
“Jane’s work has had a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls by providing a source of inspiration. When women and members of the BIPOC community, see people like themselves such as Jane represented on Fire Crews within Parks Canada – it shows them that this is possibility for anyone including themselves.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Karen Antrobus – tenacious, diligent & innovative
“Karen is an institution builder and a passionate advocate for the environment, arts and creativity and community resilience. She is a partnership builder, and has unleashed her super powers on many community projects over her years as a Bow Valley resident.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Kimberley Cosman – dedicated, empathic & selfless
“Kim’s inspiring passion to facilitate opportunity for those facing barriers, is not just her job description, but her personal mission. Kim works tirelessly to facilitate opportunities for those with disabilities to experience joy in the place where they live. She has become a rock and an invaluable force in the lives of countless families and individuals in the community. She takes this on with what I can only describe as the dedication of a mother. Kim will take calls in the small hours of the night while on vacation on the other side of the world, to make sure even one person does not miss out on an opportunity to experience even a bit of joy in the outdoors for even a single day, because she knows it can change lives for the better.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Kristy Wolfe – passionate, community activator & relentless
“Only months after moving to the Bow Valley, Kristy dove in to the Front Steps Project, photographing families from a distance during the pandemic. In a time that felt bleak for many, she shone a light of positivity. Kristy exemplifies what it means to create partnerships and advocate for change.”
Nominated for: Community Champion, Innovation
Liz White – selfless, humble & tenacious
“Liz will always have a lasting impact on anyone she meets. She is the perfect example of what humble success looks like. She works hard, leads by example and her moral compass never strays from what she knows is the right thing to do. These qualities never fail to leave their mark, and I believe that this community has been made a better place thanks to Liz and the work that she does.”
Nominated for: Community Champion
Marie-Eve Marchand – innovative, community minded & environmentally conscious
“Marie-Eve is a creative visionary when it comes to project ideas and problem solving; some examples of this include her work in coordinating the movement to bring the plains bison back to Banff National Park, her work on the Buffalo Treaty among over thirty Indigenous communities in Alberta, BC, SK and four US states, and her initiative of bringing women from Treaty 6 & 7 into the backcountry to see these Bison, three years in a row now.”
Nominated for: Innovation
Meg Ohsada – passionate, driven & caring
“Meg is passionate, driven and caring. Whether on the ice or in the dance studio, I have never seen someone light up the way Meg does. Meg’s dedication to her sports has inspired other young women and girls to do the same. Meg has shown that through hard work and passion, anything can be achieved.”
Nominated for: Young Women’s Leadership
Nicole Fougère – creative, innovative & courageous
“Nicole leads by example. She is an incredible role model to the girls and young women in our community. When they see this strong, innovative, impactful, courageous woman, it opens their eyes to who they can be.
“Nicole’s commitment goes beyond her passion for the arts and what they bring to our community, she is also someone who actively weaves together the fabric of our community to create resilience.”
Nominated for: Innovation
Pam Traut – inspiring, revolutionary & a trailblazer
“Pam Traut is so much more than a local business owner. Her community involvement shows no bounds as she inspires and educates those around her to be the best they can be for both themselves and the planet.”
Nominated for: Community Champion, Innovation
Soulafa Al-Abbasi – inspirational, empowering & honest
“Soulafa is generous, thoughtful, operates with integrity, and infuses joy into all that she does. She amplifies our community with her humble and empowering way of being.”
“Soulafa has dedicated countless hours and infinite kindness and passion into multiple causes that have made a tremendous positive impact on our local community.”
Nominated for: Community Champion, Innovation
Stephanie O’Brien – fearless, entrepreneurial & a leader
“She is endlessly on the lookout for opportunities that could/ will support the needs and desires of the communities in which she lives and works. Her efforts through programs (in sport), as a coach, or onboards – allow her to help from the inside out. Her marketing agency allows her to help the community’s business owners thrive and survive from the outside in. And as a certified Business Coach, she teaches, challenges and motivates people to become the best versions of themselves for their companies, their employees, themselves, and ultimately the community as a whole.”
Nominated for: Innovation