2010 Women of Distinction Awards
510 – 25th Street East • Saskatoon, SK • S7K 4A7 • (306) 244.0944
MEDIA RELEASE
May 27, 2010 For Immediate Release
14 women become recipients at the 29th Annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards®.
Nearly 650 people attended the 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, YWCA Saskatoon’s single largest fundraising event of the year. ‘‘This event is a very special way to honour women. Everyone leaves the dinner touched by the achievements of women who have made, and are making, our community a better place,’’ says Barb Macpherson, Executive Director, YWCA Saskatoon.
Since its inception in 1981, the YWCA Saskatoon Women of Distinction Awards® has honoured the outstanding achievements of women in and around our city. Over 638 women have been nominated in its 28 year history for their achievements and accomplishments as mentors, volunteers, activists, teachers, leaders and researchers. Tonight, 14 women joined the 221 others who have come before them to receive the prestigious YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.
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This year’s recipients are:
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Art, Culture & Heritage
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Carrie Catherine Horachek
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Athletics
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Darcy Hryn
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Community Building
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Susan Barrett
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Education
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Laurel Chelsom
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Entrepreneurship
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Vickie Dyck,
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Health & Wellness
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Colleen Dyck and Jane Dyck-Friesen
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Leadership & Management
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Barbara Schultz-Hurlburt
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Science, Technology or Research
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Patricia Katz
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Youth
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Colleen Dell and Sharon Acoose
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Lifetime
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Tie: Lindsey Li, Ashley Smith
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Achievement
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Vera Pezer
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Each year, in the city of Saskatoon, thousands of women find themselves and their children facing these circumstances. When they reach critical turning points in their lives and need somewhere to turn, YWCA Saskatoon is that place. It is a shelter in times of crisis, an employment support in times of transition, a childcare provider for working mothers and a foundation in the pursuit of health and wellness. We believe in women and work tirelessly to give them, and their children, a better future.
YWCA Saskatoon: Working to eliminate poverty, violence and homelessness for women and their families.
To request further comment, please contact:
Genine Neufeld
Director of Development and Communications,
YWCA Saskatoon
Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132
E: gneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
Interntional Week without violence 2009
October 12-18, 2009 International Week without Violence
For Immediate Release
YWCA Saskatoon will spread a message of peace and non-violence, through local events
Nearly one in four women will experience violence or abuse in her lifetime. Violence against women is a pandemic that affects all rungs of society and is prevalent in every region of the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) calls it a ‘major health problem’. Violence against women not only affects women – but the whole society. This is why the YWCA Week Without Violence involves the whole community to find solutions to make the world a safer place for women and girls.
Be a part of the Week Without Violence. Help us eradicate violence from homes, schools, workplaces and our neighbourhoods. Join YWCA Saskatoon in our efforts to stop violence before it claims another victim.
During the Week Without Violence, October 12 to 18, 2009, we invite the community to address violence with us. In concert with YWCAs across the country and the world, YWCA Saskatoon will spread a message of peace and non-violence, through local events.
Please attend our events:
- Wednesday October 14 – Mindful Meditation (wear comfortable clothes)
- Thursday October 15 – Lunch & Learn: Effects of Children Witnessing Violence
- Friday October 16 – Self Defense Demonstration
All events will be held at YWCA Saskatoon in the Studio from noon – 1 pm.For more information about events or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Genine Neufeld
Director of Development and Communications YWCA Saskatoon
Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132
E: geneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
YWCA Saskatoon
510 25th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7k 4A7 306 244 0944 www.ywcasaskatoon.com
Crisis Shelter & Residence • Employment & Learning Centre • Child Development Centre • Fitness on 25th
13 recipients of the 2009 Annual Women of Distinction Awards®
MEDIA RELEASE
June 4, 2009 For Immediate Release
13 women become recipients at the 2009 Annual Women of Distinction Awards®.
Since its inception in 1981, the YWCA Saskatoon Women of Distinction Awards® has honoured the outstanding achievements of women in and around our city. Nearly 200 women from all walks of life have been recognized through the Women of Distinction Awards over the past 27 years – for their achievements and accomplishments as mentors, volunteers, activists, teachers, leaders and researchers – and last night 13 more women became recipients of these prestigious awards.
The 2009 Women of Distinction Awards went to:
| Art, Culture & Heritage |
Dianne Wilson |
| Athletics |
Lisa Thomaidis |
| Community Building |
Janie Funk |
| Education |
Diane Côté |
| Entrepreneurship |
Colleen Tait and Juanita Schindel – The Sandbox in the City |
| Health & Wellness |
Tie: Dr. Susan Shaw & Evelyn Reisner |
| Lifetime Achievement |
Tie: Sharon Fyke & Shirley Ryan |
| Leadership & Management |
Heather Kuttai |
| Science, Technology & Research |
Deborah Black |
| Youth |
Laura Beddome |
Nearly 600 people attended the Women of Distinction Awards, YWCA Saskatoon’s single largest fundraising event of the year. “YWCA Saskatoon is a pillar of our community, and this event is our largest fundraising event of the year. It enables us to continue providing the programming and services the community of Saskatoon has come to rely on,” says Barb Macpherson, Executive Director, YWCA Saskatoon.
YWCA Saskatoon is: A Shelter in times of Crisis; An Employment Support in times of Transition; A Childcare Provider for working Mothers; A Foundation in the pursuit of Health & Wellness.
Working to eliminate poverty, violence and homelessness for women and their families.
To request further comment, please contact:
Genine Neufeld
Director of Development and Communications, YWCA Saskatoon
Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132
E: gneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
Social good is changing lives in Saskatoon one party at a time
MEDIA RELEASE June 4, 2009 For Immediate Release
Social Good is changing lives in Saskatoon one party at a time.
Issues of poverty, homelessness and violence take a whole community to begin to overcome. And YWCA is launching a new movement aimed at giving every individual an opportunity to be part of the solution. The theme of Social Good is: Have a Party. Add a Purpose. Build a better Y. Now is the time to join the movement to make a difference by supporting the women and children who call upon the YWCA for support and shelter at turning points in their lives.
Over the past decade, individuals throughout the city have been part of a grassroots movement to eliminate poverty, homelessness and violence in our community. They have been hosting Christmas parties or Chef classes, organizing moms groups, writing letters to ask their friends to join the cause…and a few creative young girls have even gone Christmas caroling. These philanthropists have one thing in common – a desire to see women and children living free of violence, poverty and homelessness. Together, they have contributed money and items necessary to support the thousands of women and children who must use YWCA services each year. Together they are making real and positive changes in the health of our community as they empower women and their families to envision and discover a better future.
Social Good will be formally launched Tuesday December 1 at Travelodge Saskatoon, in partnership with Magic 98.3.
Media are invited to attend the launch event from 7:30-8:30 am on December 1.For more information about events, to receive more information on Social Good or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Genine Neufeld
Director of Development and Communications, YWCA Saskatoon
Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132
E: gneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
Employment Services for Parents Grand Opening
MEDIA RELEASE
January 22, 2009 For Immediate Release
Shortage of workers, child poverty, single-parent employment issues – being impacted by new program at YWCA Saskatoon.
YWCA Saskatoon works to eliminate poverty, homelessness and violence in our community. A key issue for individuals facing these issues is often the inability to secure employment due to a lack of job skills, job readiness and job search preparedness. To assist individuals in the employment process, YWCA offers support and readiness training though its Employment and Learning Centre (E&L) including: a Job Search Program, G.E.D. preparation courses, a computer lab with a variety of computer classes and LEAP, a unique partnership with the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre. And its newest program – the Employment Services for Parents – is seeking to address the unique job search issues faced by parents and to connect unemployed workers to the labour market by accelerating client transitions from dependence to independence – a win-win solution for both employees and employers.
Many unemployed, often single, parents struggle to secure employment only to repeatedly end up on social assistance. They face unique and significant barriers to employment including the inability to find reliable childcare and to secure affordable housing. “Saskatoon is facing a shortage of workers, but there are people who want to work. Our new Employment Services for Parents is designed to help parents learn to overcome some of these barriers and become employed, thereby benefiting themselves, their family and the community”, says Barb Macpherson, Executive Director YWCA Saskatoon.
Dawn Linnick, Team Leader of YWCA Saskatoon’s Employment and Learning Centre comments, “With Employment Services for Parents, we will help parents become successful in their search for employment which will not only benefit our community as more individuals join the workforce, but it will also benefit the children of these families”. According to the Report Card on Child Poverty in Saskatchewan 2006 prepared by the Social Policy Research Unit of the University of Regina, 57.3% of all Saskatchewan children in female lone-parent families live below the poverty line. Comments Barb Macpherson, “Unemployment often leads to child poverty. At the YWCA we seek to support and empower individuals to improve themselves and make changes that positively impact their families. By helping a parent overcome barriers to employment, we will help lift a family out of the cycle of poverty.”
GRAND OPENING EVENT
Please attend the Parents Supports Program Grand Opening Event at 10:00 am on Friday January 23, 2009, at YWCA Saskatoon, 510-25th Street East.
Barb Macpherson, Executive Director YWCA Saskatoon will be available for individual interviews.
Genine Neufeld, Director of Development and Communications YWCA Saskatoon Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132 E: geneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
YWCA Saskatoon 510 25th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7k 4A7 306 244 0944 www.ywcasaskatoon.com
Crisis Shelter & Residence • Employment & Learning Centre • Child Development Centre Fitness on 25th
YWCA 2008 Annual General Meeting
MEDIA RELEASE October 27, 2008
For Immediate Release
YWCA year end sees record numbers of homeless women turning to the Shelter for help.
YWCA Saskatoon recently held its AGM marking its 97th year serving the city of Saskatoon. The most significant number unveiled at the meeting was the over 50% increase in women and their families the YWCA was not able to accommodate in their Crisis Shelter due to a shortage of space.
The YWCA Saskatoon Crisis Shelter has 22 rooms, 38 beds and provides safe, 24/7 emergency sheltering to women, children and youth at risk. In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Shelter supported 499 women, 13 at-risk youth and 403 children. Unfortunately, the significant increase in those seeking help resulted in the Shelter turning away 1468 women and their families, helping them find alternate shelter opportunities.
“Homelessness has been growing in this city in recent years. And it has been further impacted by Saskatoon’s economic boom that saw last year’s rental increases reaching 13.7% over the previous year,” says Barb Macpherson, Executive Director of YWCA Saskatoon. A lack of affordable rental housing has resulted in a large ‘new homeless’ population as evidenced by YWCA Saskatoon’s shelter numbers. “The city is in urgent need of more social housing to provide emergency, transitional and long-term housing to its homeless population,” adds Kim Newransky, YWCA Saskatoon Housing Team Leader.
In addition to the Shelter, YWCA Saskatoon facilities also include a transitional residence, an Employment and Learning Centre, a Child Development Centre and a fitness facility, Fitness on 25th, offering a variety of services and programs that positively impact the lives of women, their families and the community. “We provide vital services that strengthen the social fabric of Saskatoon and we are committed to continue these services, with ongoing support from our partners, funders, donors and volunteers” comments Barb Macpherson.
For a copy of YWCA Saskatoon’s Annual Report 2007-2008, please contact:
Genine Neufeld
Director of Development and Communications, YWCA Saskatoon Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132 E: geneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
To request further comment or schedule an interview, contact:
Barb Macpherson
Executive Director, YWCA Saskatoon Ph: 244-7034 ext. 120 Genine Neufeld
Director of Development and Communications, YWCA Saskatoon Ph: 244-7034 ext. 132 E: geneufeld@ywcasaskatoon.com
YWCA Saskatoon 510 25th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7k 4A7 306 244 0944 www.ywcasaskatoon.com
Crisis Shelter & Residence • Employment & Learning Centre • Child Development Centre Fitness on 25th
