2018 Women of Distinction winners recognized

YWCA Muskoka’s 2018 Women of Distinction Award recipients, from left: Kelli Ebbs, Kennedy Watson-Brown, Michele Meadows, Kathleen May, Nancy Osborne, Ashleigh Whipp, Janine Marson and Gundy Upans.

MUSKOKA — It was a full house with full hearts last night at the Mark O’Meara ballroom as eight women from Muskoka were presented with YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.

Recipients were selected from a group of 19 outstanding nominees who were nominated by their fellow community members.

2018 YWCA Muskoka Women of Distinction Award Recipients:

Janine Marson (Huntsville) – Arts, Culture and Creativity

Kennedy Watson-Brown (Port Sydney) – Young Woman of Distinction

Michele Meadows (Bracebridge) – Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Kathleen May (Huntsville) – Community Development and Social Activism

Kelli Ebbs (Huntsville) – Health, Sports and Wellness

Nancy Osborne (Huntsville) – Mentorship

Gundy Upans (Huntsville) – Lifetime Achievement

Ashleigh Whipp (Bracebridge) – Transformational Award

See bios below.

In addition to the award ceremony, a group of enthusiastic young women from the YWCA Girlz Unplugged program performed their own chant about the fate of the environment – “it’s our future” – and the vital role the younger generation will play in “taking it back.”

Local song-writer and musician Christina Hutt entertained guests with her unique and beautiful sound throughout dinner.

The key note address was delivered by Michelle Emson, an accomplished public speaker and human rights activist.

She spoke about receiving her Women of Distinction Award last year: “It gave me confidence and allowed me to commit to my community and do more than I ever imagined.”

She also spoke about the current situation for women and marginalized groups in Muskoka and the need for equity.

“All it takes is for one person to stand up for what matters to them…Muskoka, are we going to stand with them?”

Executive director of YWCA Muskoka Hannah Lin gave a heartfelt thank you to the event sponsors and volunteers.

Lin noted that YWCA Muskoka operates as a charity in the community without any core funding; it raises every dollar through donations, sponsorships and grants to keep their programs running – programs that focus primarily on violence prevention, economic resiliency and youth education and leadership.

If you would like to support YWCA Muskoka to ensure its programs continue, please visit www.ywcamuskoka.com to make a donation.

About YWCA Muskoka:

YWCA Muskoka is a community not-for-profit organization that champions positive change for women and girls through education, leadership and advocacy. Their programs and services focus primarily on violence prevention, economic resiliency and youth education and leadership. YWCA Muskoka is part of YWCA Canada – the country’s oldest and largest women’s multi-service organization with 32 members associations in Canada. www.ywcamuskoka.com

WOMEN OF DISTINCTION 2018 AWARD RECIPIENT BIOGRAPHIES

Kelli Ebbs – Health, Sports and Wellness

Kelli Ebbs’ belief in resilient communities is rooted in good, clean food. This comes from being from a family of Manitoban farmers and her array of experience in food and activism work. She literally fed her 3 boys by foraging, fishing and growing food to fill the pantry.

In 2014, Kelli helped conceptualize the non-for-profit Muskoka North Good Food Co-operative, which has since resulted in the development of a community kitchen and Cannery, the Uproot Community Café and an expanded Grocery Market, prioritizing regionally produced food. These expansions support local food producers, and provide a place for community members to cook, enjoy wholesome food, and expand their knowledge.

Kelli worked as an advisor for Breakfast Club of Canada’s Indigenous Student Nutrition programs focusing on procurement, nutrition and food literacy in northern fly-in communities.

Kathleen May – Community Development and Social Activism

Kathleen is a speaker, writer and activist. Stirred by feminist authors, Kathleen writes a popular feminist blog. She also writes beautiful travel pieces and has participated in The Novel Marathon, recently taking home the award for best adult novel.

As an activist, she often organizes rallies, strikes, marches and vigils. She was instrumental in starting the Women’s Movement/March in Muskoka.

Kathleen works for two women’s shelters in Muskoka and as a coordinator for the “I Got This – Unlocking your Instincts” women’s programs. She volunteers with Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services as a survivor mentor and crisis-line volunteer. She co-founded the Huntsville Women’s group, a welcoming and inclusive group for all women.

Currently, Kathleen works as a Community Connector for Women’s March Muskoka and is preparing for the second season of the YourTV show “Herstories”.

Janine Marson – Arts, Culture and Creativity

Janine Marson is a trained landscape artist whose commitment to fostering the artistic spirit in others has included teaching for the Haliburton School of Art and Design and sharing her passion with hundreds of students at her own studio.

Janine shared her art skills with Terri Howell, her “matchstick”, who inspired her to reach for higher goals. Janine is also grateful for the support the WIB program gave her to rediscover herself.

Her love of art extends to cooking which spurred her to organize cooking classes at All Saints’ Anglican Church. She designed and led “Stirred Up” and “Stirred Around” for youth and teens. The group provided the local food bank with fresh baked bread.

Janine volunteers with Muskoka Arts and Crafts and The Huntsville Art Society. She also shares her time and talent with Oxtongue Lake for Arts and Culture.

Michele Meadows – Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Michele’s vision is centered around connection, knitting a community together by sharing and bonding through the common elements of making something beautiful and tangible, and passing that skill on to the next generation.

Self-employed for twenty-five years, Michele runs the popular Muskoka Yarn Connection. She teaches classes, designs knitwear patterns for two major yarn companies and produces video tutorials. By teaching her skills to others, Michele encourages creativity to blossom. She mentors local women to help them start their own journey in business.

Michele’s goal-oriented mindset allowed her to self-publish her first sellout book and receive the Michael Foster Award for photography; her design was also featured in a national magazine. Michele’s background in fashion design instilled a passion for colour and texture, the constant spark which keeps her creative process burning bright.

Nancy Osborne – Mentorship

At 17, Nancy joined the Canadian Forces as a Private and one of the first women in a male only branch. She retired as a Senior Officer. She was a ground breaker who took a special interest in the women who followed, acting as a mentor, easing their way to their own successes.

Nancy was among the first women recruited by the UN to provide access negotiations for humanitarian operations in the world’s most dangerous countries. Nancy took the lead to develop training to empower UN women. The demand grew exponentially, and she trained 18 additional women­ facilitators before retiring again.

Over the past 25 years, Nancy remained involved in Muskoka: leading YWCA girls’ programs;  serving on various boards; speaking to schools/service groups; chaperoning students traveling and now providing not-for-profit empowerment workshops for women.

Gundy Upans – Lifetime Achievement

Having been brought up in very difficult circumstances, Gundy was not exposed to altruism. Life was a scramble to survive. But when Gundy became a parent of a severely disabled child, she realized volunteers could change lives.

As a 24/7 single parent caregiver, Gundy chooses volunteer activities where her son Michael can be included, like The Dwight Lions Club. Gundy also volunteers a significant amount of time at Rogers Cove Retirement Home and the Lake of Bays United Churches.  She was treasurer at Community Living Huntsville for six years and continues to advocate for this agency. Gundy received a Medal of Merit from Scouts Canada for her work with disabled youth.

Using her Chartered Financial Analyst Degree, Gundy gave volunteer business lectures through YWCA Muskoka and mentored youth at Huntsville High School.

Kennedy Watson-Brown – Young Woman of Distinction

Kennedy is a 13-year-old Huntsville High School student who leads by example as a community volunteer in Port Sydney.

During her years at V.K. Greer P.S, Kennedy was known as a kind and polite student, and a willing helper. She demonstrated responsibility and teamwork in school plays, band, Santa’s Bazaars, Spirit Days, and assemblies.

At age 3, Kennedy began canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society with her father. She has grown up lending a hand, at Knox United Church and events such as Canada Day, Turkey Dinner, and the Tree Lighting.

At age 11, Kennedy loomed and sold hats for her classmate’s medical-needs fundraiser, ‘Donate For Nate’, and became a hair donor for a cancer patient wig program.

Currently, Kennedy is knitting for a Prayer Shawl outreach and considering a career in Early Childhood Education.

Ashleigh Whipp – Transformational

Ashleigh is the Children’s Librarian at Bracebridge Public Library. At age 29, Ashleigh was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and started chemotherapy on her 30th Birthday. Ashleigh underwent 6 rounds of chemo and 15 rounds of radiation. This October marks her third year of being cancer-free.

After recovering from treatment, Ashleigh moved to Bracebridge to take the position of Children’s Librarian. Since joining their team, she has organized and implemented programs such as: Toasty Teens, a donation-based winter coats and mitts programs; Back to School Backpack Giveaway, families are provided new backpacks with back to school essentials; a teen mentoring program; a designated teen area; a teen book club and Dungeons and Dragons club night.

Ashleigh is also an active participant in the “Get Ready for Prom” initiative where teens can choose a free prom or graduation dress.