TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019
And the 2019 YMCA Women of Excellence Honourees are...
The YMCA Women of Excellence 2019 Honourees:
Deb Harvey - Arts, Culture, Education & Training: Now in her nineteenth year as the Executive Director of the Grand Theatre, Deb has helped the Theatre evolve into the hub of London’s cultural sector and one of Canada’s foremost regional theatres. Deb is a huge champion of the arts and has secured significant increases in operating and capital funding for the Grand.
Heather Hiscox - Business & Professions: Heather, whose career began in London, is the host/anchor of CBC’s national morning news program, recognized nationally as an experienced broadcaster, and is sought after across Canada as an emcee, moderator, and keynote speaker
Kathy Longo - Community & Volunteerism: Kathy's community involvement goes back to 1980 where she started with the London Regional Art Gallery Junior Volunteers as a Committee member. As a strong role model, Kathy is the person that every community not only wants to have living in their city but also the person that every community needs.
Shantal Feltham - Entrepreneurs: The founder, President and CEO of Stiris Research and Stiris Research USA Inc. Shantal is a six-time recipient of the PROFIT W100 Top Female Entrepreneur Award, selected into the Ivey KPMG QuantumShift program for Canada’s Top 40 Entrepreneurs and awarded a full scholarship to the Tuck-WBENC Executive Program for women entrepreneurs.
Dr. Bertha Garcia - Health, Science & Technology: As an accomplished and well-published physician in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Dr. Garcia has attained international recognition for her research in organ transplantation and medical education, including 28 career awards. She is also consistently ranked by students as one of Schulich’s top professors.
Christine Stapleton - Sports, Fitness & Recreation: As the Director of Sports and Recreation at Western University, Christine Stapleton has helped set the table for National and Provincial Championships, and the hosting of major and community events. Christine has won three consecutive Conference Coach of the Year awards, was named the top Women’s Basketball Coach in the country in 1996, and the 3M Canadian High Performance Coach of the Year in 2001.
Serena Tejpar - Young Woman of Excellence: Despite barely surviving a severe motor vehicle collision, Serena Tejpar returned to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (honours with Distinction) degree from Western. She has been recognized with numerous awards such as a Top 50 Emerging Canadian Leader by Gen Y Inc., National ISTAR Student of the Year Finalist by the Ismaili Council of Canada, and recently named as a Young Director with G(irls)20, a nationwide initiative to recognize and promote female representation in leadership roles.
Janet Stewart - Outstanding Achievement Award: As a skilled professional and an inspiration and mentor of countless young lawyers, many of them female, Janet's contributions to philanthropy are legendary; she is a deeply caring individual and an inspiration for those invested in giving back to the community.
Join us for our 2019 YMCA Women of Excellence Awards Gala on Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 at the London Convention Centre. Emceed by Janice Zolf.
- 5:00 PM BMO Blue Lounge Reception with complimentary cocktails and music
- 6:00 PM Program and Dinner
The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Women of Excellence Gala is a unique event hosted every two years by the YMCA in London. All proceeds from this event support the YMCA Strong Kids Program, ensuring everyone has access to YMCA programs and services regardless of their ability to pay. It is one of the many ways the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario fulfills its goal of developing spirit, mind, and body in people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities in our community.