YMCA of Three Rivers announces this year's Women of Distinction

NEWS RELEASE

YMCA OF THREE RIVERS

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February 3, 2022 – Guelph, ON Women of Distinction, a legacy Guelph community event hosted by the YMCA of Three Rivers, celebrates its 27th year on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. This year’s virtual event is joining with with International Women's Day for a night to celebrate the incredible impact this year's Honourees have had on the Guelph community.

Ten outstanding female role models in the Guelph community have been named, including: 

Dr. Amra Noor - Doctor of Geriatric Medicine

Julia Grady - Co-Founder and Executive Director of 10C Shared Space

Holly Gratto Mastrogiacomo - Owner, Smitten Apparel

Barbara Salsberg Matthews - Artist, Teacher, Volunteer

Kirtida Jagad - Owner, Kirtida's Kitchen

Cindi Conlon - Community advocate & volunteer

Theresa Daly - Coordinator, Parkinson's Support Group of Guelph

The One To Watch Award, introduced in 2021,  honours a female youth who is making a difference in the Guelph community. This year’s recipient is Kate Nixon who founded ‘Your Downtown Guelph Friends’ in 2019. Kate continues to run this outreach program, providing free meals, clothing, and hygiene products to some of Guelph's most vulnerable people.

The Turning Point Award honours an active participant of the Guelph Y’s Teenage Parents’ Program (TAPPs), one of the essential community programs that benefit from the fundraising efforts of the Women of Distinction event. This year's recipient is Emma Patchett, a mom of two daughters who graduated high school during the pandemic and attributes much of her success to the TAPPs program. "The TAPPs program meant a lot to not only me but my girls as well! The TAPPs program showed me how much life offers when you push to do your best. I couldn’t have made it without you guys. And I will forever be appreciative of this and the opportunities this program has given me," Emma shared.

Funds raised through this year's virtual event will continue to support the Y's Teenage Parents' Program, as well as other female focused programs - Safe Sisters and Encore.

This year's Lifetime Achievement Honouree is Pat Stuart, RPN and Executive Director of Hospice Wellington. With over 40 years of nursing experience, Pat facilitates palliative care courses and ongoing education to nurses who are building their competencies. She does this with passion and a desire to ensure palliative care knowledge continues to develop and sustains that excellence in care. Pat would consider this to be her legacy and we are thrilled to honour her in this way.

"We look forward to honouring these incredible women in a meaningful way," says Jodi Petitpas, Event Lead for Women of Distinction.  "Women of Distinction is synonymous with empowering women in our community, and we're excited for this partnership on International Women's Day.  Our goal is to exceed our funds raised through this event from 2021.  Most of all, we can't wait to hear all about our honourees."

Event tickets can be purchased now here and will include a swag bag from our sponsors as well as an individual charcuterie box to enjoy for the event, available for drive by pick up!  Join us from the comfort of your home as we honour these incredible women and their contributions.

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