Annual Women of Distinction Awards
"2008 Woman of the Year Award Gala"

				Michele Blais '07 WOY
DATE: TIME: LOCATION: MORE INFO:		Thursday, May 22, 2008 6:00 pm Best Western Vernon Lodge View WOY Poster View Nominee Poster
2008 Nomination Deadline: April 4, 2008				More WOY photos...
For Woman of the Year Ticket Purchases Online: Visit our Payment Page

The Woman of the Year Award is presented annually by Vernon Women in Business and is open to all women in our community whether working in the home, serving as a volunteer, working for an employer, or operating her own business. The selection of the Woman of the Year will be based on the nominees professional, business, and community accomplishments. Nominations are being accepted now for our 2008 Woman of the Year Award.

NOMINEES for Woman of the Year 2008 (In alphabetical order by last name)
Sandi Dixon
	Sandi Dixon  has managed the Science Center since 2003. The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce awarded the Science Center "Best Tourist Attraction" for 2007. Sandi recently formed two non-for-profit organizations: The Food Action Society and the Okanagan College Science Society Lecture Series. Sandi, and her husband Don, have two sons: Cory and Devon.
Deb Leroux
	Deb Leroux is the Owner of Harris Flowers, the mother of two young adult women, and a politician. Deb was elected as a Lumby Councillor in 2002. She is now serving her second term. Deb is Chair of the North Okanagan Air Quality Stakeholder’s Committee, Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Director, Union of British Columbia Municipalities Director (Southern Interior Local Government Association) and Director with the Okanagan Film Commission. While Deb is proud of the many committees she sits on, she is proudest of her daughters.
Jane Long
	Jane Long  completed her four year degree in just two and a half years. Jane is a single mother and works as an articling student/Accountant for Meyers Norris Penny. She hopes to obtain her CA designation by 2010. After that, her goal is to obtain her Law Degree and her Certified Fraud Examiner Designation. In April of 2007, Jane Long was the VP Operations and Finance on a four person team that set a new standard when they competed at the 43 rd annual International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition in San Diego.
Catherine Lord
	Catherine Lord is the Manager of Financial Administration for the District of Coldstream. Prior to her work in Municipal Government, Catherine was a Chartered Accountant. For over 12 years, Catherine served on the Board of Directors of Transition House and was President during the campaign and construction phase for the new residence in 1993. She received the Community Service Award for her work in spearheading the fundraising of Transition House. Other organizations she has volunteered for include the Treehouse Project, the United Way, Vernon Boys and Girls Club and the O’Keefe Ranch.
April Sanders
	Dr. April Sanders was in private Family Practice for over 20 years with a special interest in women’s health issues. From 1997 to 2001, she served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Okanagan-Vernon in the positions of Education and Mental Health critic. April is the founder and driving force of the "DO IT FOR DAD" Run to fund prostate cancer testing, now in its ninth year. Her commitment to this event has advanced the possibility for men of all ages to be tested free of charge for prostate cancer. April is a wife and mother.
Carol Wutzke
	Carol Wutzke -  In 1989, together with an ESL teacher, Carol formed the Vernon and District Immigrant Services Society. Almost 20 years later, Carol’s leadership and insight as Executive Director helps newcomers find support for language acquisition, employment assistance, computer services and training, affirmative action regarding internationally trained professional’s credentialing process and connections to other community organizations and services. She has volunteered as Director for ten years on the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan, as a volunteer ESL teacher for two years and nineteen years as a Vernon and District Immigrant Services volunteer. Carol is married and has three adult children and two grandchildren.
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Woman of the Year 2008 Nomination Package

View the Nomination Package | Printable Version

All nominee packages should be returned to Linda Ceperkovic by April 4, 2008 at Kal-Mor Mortgages 3304-30th Avenue, Vernon, BC V1T 2C8.

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