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Women of Distinction
2007 Nominees : (back row, left to right) Wendy Gray, Anne McTaggart,
Judi Brouse, Sue Kirwin-Campbell, Jean Polak, Rebecca Krawczyk,
Jacki Hart, (front row, left to right) Catherine Cole, Louise Kent,
Nicole Binsted, Dianne Smith, Coray Schroeder.
Our
2007 Recipients
Young Woman of
Distinction - Louise Kent - Bracebridge
When Louise registered for sciences in University, her parents and
teachers were mystified. Her report cards clearly showed her
interests lay elsewhere. Her father advised her to be passionate and
“do the things you were born to do.” She changed direction towards
general arts and eventually International Development and
Environmental Studies. Her first visit to Africa was in her 5th
semester, travelling in the Masai with no schools for children,
Turkana with no water, and the Pokot of the central areas with local
habitat destruction. She witnessed abject poverty, gross inequality,
the lack of necessities of life and the seemingly happy faces. In
this experience, she could not shake from her soul that she had the
power to create change in this world. Louise joined Leaders Today
and Free The Children in April of 2004, an organization committed to
bringing education to children in 3rd world countries. As
the Leadership Coordinator, she has inspired young people throughout
North America to embrace active citizenship and become proactive in
their communities. A gifted facilitator and passionate speaker,
Louise is also a talented musician. Her reflective song writing and
expressive voice embody her philosophy of reaching out to others.
Louise Kent has the courage to dream, the passion to believe and the
intensity to act. She has influenced thousands of youth around the
world, and she will continue this work in South America this coming
year. Ken Black and Dianne Turnbull nominated Louise Kent for the
Young Women of Distinction Award.
Entrepreneurship - Sue
Kirwin-Campbell - Huntsville
Dancer; Teacher; Choreographer; Performer; Argo’s Cheerleader;
Model; Professional Dancer; Business Woman; Role Model; Mentor;
Community Volunteer. These are a few labels one can attribute to Sue
Kirwin-Campbell, owner and operator of Muskoka Dance Academy in
Huntsville, in business for 25 years. You can also add hard working
and determined, and very, very focussed. Dancer to Entrepreneur was
a journey of passion. At the age of 14, Sue’s parents agreed to
take her to the Brian Foley School of Dance. Their teaching,
talent, artistry and accomplishments in the professional world of
dance gave her everything she wanted to aim for as a person, and
unbeknownst to her then, the skills to become an entrepreneur. At 19
Sue decided to pursue a full time career as a dancer, all the while
also pursuing post-secondary education at McMaster University. In
1991, Sue purchased the Huntsville Dance Academy and as a business
woman and instructor, she has positively impacted her community and
shaped countless lives through the medium of dance and performance.
As an instructor (and she admits to being demanding!) she has
experienced that great things will come from children if they are
provided with great teaching. When asked about her achievements,
however, Sue will talk about her students being the measure of her
own success. Annie Bliss and Pat Spray nominated Sue Kirwin-Campbell
for the Entrepreneurship Award.
Champion of the
Environment - Anne McTaggart - Windermere
Anne McTaggart is an environmentalist, artist and educator who
transcends boundaries with her keen appreciation of our earth and
environment. What makes her unique is the steps she has taken to
share this love, and create a ripple affect through art and
education, globally and locally. In 1988, inspired by the idea of
Dieter Heinrich, Anne sought and secured from NASA a negative of one
of the early photos of earth as seen from space on flight Apollo 17.
Her idea was simple: Use the photo of earth to raise awareness that
we all live on this beautifully exquisite planet. She mailed 80,000
posters to schools, prisons, homes and churches around the world
with newsletters to accompany the posters with activities, stories
and poetry. From space there are no borders and the image has no
words. The message was universal. Whether in a school in Tbilisi,
Georgia or Oakville, Ontario, the response was universal: awe,
respect, amazement, and commitment. Anne took eleven trips to the
Soviet Union, coordinating exchanges, helping students and teachers
understand that we all share one planet. As an artist, Anne fostered
connections to the earth through her workshops at “Refugio” in
Toronto. She was one of twenty-five artists to bring the Earth, Air,
Fire and Water installation across Canada. She is a bookbinder,
creating handmade books and cards which carry her love and passion
for the environment. In 2005, when the blue-green algae alert was
issued on Three Mile Lake, Anne was instrumental in coordinating an
educational dock to dock program geared specifically to the
community. Anne has the wisdom to recognize that our best hope for
the future is to inspire others. Gault McTaggart and Cindy Watson
nominated Anne McTaggart for the Champion of the Environment Award.
Exceptional Achievement -
Coray Schroeder - Bracebridge
When Coray Schroeder was 12 years old growing up in Winnipeg, she
was chosen to attend a CGIT Camp in Kenora. By the end of day 2, she
was chosen as chief camper among 300 girls in attendance. When she
was 18, she was chosen to direct a choir of 300 girls from across
Winnipeg when the United Church was celebrating its 25th
Anniversary. A theme was emerging: Infectious enthusiasm, natural
leadership, and a passion for the arts. Bracebridge became home in
1960, where Coray and her husband raised four children.
Professionally, Coray was a teacher. While teaching, she sat on a
committee that wrote arts curriculum for the Muskoka Board of
Education. After school, she went beyond the call of classroom
teaching staging an annual musical for grade 7 students. One of her
greatest strengths is her ability to involve others. Coray is a
woman of boundless energy. She initiated a book club after returning
from a 2 year teaching stint in Australia for young mothers, and as
grandmothers this group is still meeting today. She sings, and was
an original Cellar Singer. She is a potter and a painter and she
shares these gifts with her friends and her community. For the past
three years Coray has been a committed member of the team who
brought the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre to Bracebridge. What
Coray will tell you keeps her going is this: Appreciation. She
would like to encourage everyone to write a short note when you have
been impressed by an act, a deed or a performance. Pass it on.
Bev
Kirkpatrick and Joan Lee have nominated Coray Schroeder for the
award of Exceptional Achievement in honour of her lifetime
commitment to the arts.
Our 2007 Nominees
(pdf)
Nicole Binsted – Entrepreneurship – Port Carling
Nominators:
Lorna McCoy and Sarah Attwood
Branch Manager, Firstbrook Anderson & Cassie Ltd.; Rotarian;
Teacher; Volunteer. Nicole is recognized for her 29 year career in
insurance, mentoring women in a male dominated field, her superior
knowledge, her distinguished professionalism and for giving back to
her community through countless volunteer initiatives.
Judi Brouse – Champion of the Environment - Bracebridge
Nominators:
Donna Ried and Cathy Kuntz
Director of Watershed Programs, Muskoka Watershed Council, District
of Muskoka. Involved both professionally and personally in
environmental planning, education and activism for over 24 years in
Muskoka, Judi is recognized for her passion to protect and enhance
our environment, her capacity to mobilize others to take on the
cause, and for walking the talk on a deeply personal level.
Catherine Cole – Entrepreneurship - Huntsville
Nominators:
Suzanne Riverin and Kareen Burns
Proprietor of The Great Vine health food store; Homeopathist;
Founder and inspiration behind Huntsville Actors Repertory Theatre;
Drama instructor to children; Catherine is recognized for
outstanding customer service, her capacity to share knowledge
through her business, and her many random acts of kindness and joy.
Wendy Gray – Exceptional Achievement - Bracebridge
Nominators:
John Wright and Sondra Aubin
Corporate News Director and Operations Manager for the Haliburton
Broadcasting Group; Our wake-up news broadcaster here in Muskoka;
Girl Guide leader; Advisory Board Member, Radio Broadcast program,
Loyalist College; Wendy is being recognized for unselfishly and
personally assisting others in their time of need.
Jacki Hart – Entrepreneurship - Bala
Nominators:
Madeleine Dudley and Linda Brouillette
Proprietor of Water’s Edge Landscaping in Muskoka; Certified
Landscape Professional, the third women in Canada to obtain this
designation in a male dominated field; Faculty member of Landscape
Ontario; Friend; Jacki is being recognized for her talent,
dedication, business savvy, professional business ethic, and for her
gifts back to her community.
Sue Kirwin-Campbell - Huntsville
Nominators:
Annie Bliss and Pat Spray
Dancer; Teacher; Choreographer; Performer; Business Woman; Role
Model; Mentor; Owner and Operator of Muskoka Dance Academy in
Huntsville, in business for 25 years; Sue is being recognized for
positively impacting her community and shaping countless lives
through the medium of dance and performance.
Louise Kent – Young Woman of Distinction - Bracebridge
Nominators:
Ken Black and Dianne Turnbull
Gifted Facilitator; Passionate Speaker; Talented Musician; Director
of Youth Outreach for Free the Children and Leaders Today, bringing
education to children in developing countries. Louise is recognized
as a citizen of the world, living her principles in goodness,
compassion, and selflessness on an international stage, and as a
role model to young and not so young.
Rebecca Krawczyk – Champion of the Environment – Lake of Bays
Nominators:
Dale Peacock and Kelly Holinshead
Environmental horticulturist; Proprietor, BarK Nursery; Writer;
Educator; Rebecca is being recognized for her commitment to treading
lightly on this earth, working and living in harmony with the
environment, for inspiring others through education, and as a role
model for young women.
Anne McTaggart – Champion of the Environment - Windermere
Nominators:
Gault McTaggart and Cindy Watson
Educator; Artist; Visionary; Bookbinder; International Citizen; Anne
is an educator who brought an image from Apollo Flight 17 of our
planet without borders to children around the globe. Anne is
recognized as a unique and inspiring individual who changes lives by
increasing our appreciation for our planet earth and living our
lives upon it.
Jean Polak – Exceptional Achievement - Bracebridge
Nominators:
Ruth Bell-Towns and Henrike Clement
Lawyer; Entrepreneur; Rotarian; Business and Professional Women’s
Club member; Political Activist; Leader; Actor; Jean is recognized
as a well respected hard working fun loving woman who gets things
done. She is a driving force at work or play, and tirelessly gives,
with wit and humour, generously to her community.
Coray Schroeder – Exceptional Achievement - Bracebridge
Nominators:
Bev Kirkpatrick and Joan Lee
Retired public school teacher; Potter; Fundraiser; Writer; Director;
Set Designer; Cancer Survivor; Director, Bracebridge Arts Council;
Volunteer, Manna Food Bank, Meals on Wheels. Coray is being
recognized for her infectious enthusiasm, and in particular, for her
outstanding leadership in the building of the Rene M. Caisse
Memorial Theatre.
Dianne Smith – Exceptional Achievement – Huntsville
Nominators:
Mandy Dart and Roger Bird
Midwife; Entrepreneur; Business Owner; Compassionate professional;
Dianne is being recognized for her role in building a midwifery
practice in Muskoka, ensuring these services are available to women,
and in so doing, enabling women to become more empowered,
independent and proactive in their childbirth experience.
Click here to read Mary Storey's presentation about the History of Women in
Muskoka!
Our
2006 Recipients
Open Category |
Education | Young WoD |
Entrepreneur | Mentorship
Cynthia Watson | Carla Veitch |
Kim Knight | Kelly Holinshead |
Jeanne Pettit
OPEN CATEGORY:
Cynthia Watson - Utterson
 Coming
from modest beginnings, today you will find Cynthia at the helm of
her own law firm specializing in Labour Law with offices in
downtown Bracebridge and Toronto: Watson Labour Lawyers. She owns
and operates her own cottage rental business. She owns and leases
retail space in Bracebridge to interesting women-owned businesses.
You will also find her resurrecting the Three Mile Lake
Association in the wake of the blue algae bloom, chairing the Watt
School Advisory Council, fundraising for the school, all the while
encouraging and supporting some women in their own businesses and
others in entrepreneurial pursuits. Diversified, community minded,
and not afraid to blaze her own trail, Cynthia is an exceptional
candidate for Women of Distinction. Husband Don Wilton and
colleague Anna Chamberlain nominated Cynthia Watson for our
consideration in the Open, Entrepreneurship or Mentorship
Category. We selected Open. It takes determination, persistence,
and personal belief to overcome many obstacles in pursuit of your
dreams. Cynthia personifies these traits, and in fact, embraces
them in the face of adversity.
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EDUCATION:
Carla Veitch – Gravenhurst
 Carla
Veitch and her friend Beth carefully select children’s books, and
then head off to prison. With the Chaplain who strums a guitar to
indicate that a page should be turned, inmates record an
introduction and then read to their children. At the end, they say
“Good Night. I love you.” Then Carla takes the books and the
recording and mails them to the inmate’s children. The
significance of this program is that it not only supports literacy
development at the prison, but bridges important relationships for
children of inmates, who are now encouraged to read more
themselves. The extraordinary thing about Carla is that she
organized and raised the money (and she can still use more) to
bring this program to our inmates. Outside of the prison, Carla is
a valued education assistant treasured by her colleagues and
students. She also is actively involved in her church and this
year coordinated 30 volunteers in serving over 500 turkey dinners
including 60 shut-ins at Thanksgiving. Her colleagues, teacher
Dave Synnott and principal Pat Sheppard, nominated Carla for
Distinction in Education
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YOUNG WOMAN
Kim Knight – Bracebridge
OF DISTINCTION:
 Kim
Knight was raised in Muskoka. She was an honour role student for
four years at Bracebridge & Muskoka Lakes Secondary School, and
then attended Durham College for Graphic Design. After graduation,
she found herself working for a print company where there was no
room for expansion or promotion, and her level of learning had
reached a peak. At this time, Kim registered for the YWCA Women in
Business program, and she may be our youngest graduate to date.
Shortly after she began the program, and following a life skills
session about following your dreams, she quit her job and
committed herself to developing her business plan and opening her
own business. But the development was not without bumps in the
road. With the support of friends and family, she persevered
through a marriage break-up, and today she has a thriving
business. Kim is also a mountain biker and hockey player who
played in the Pond Hockey tournament at Deerhurst last year. Marie
Hammond and Linda McElroy have nominated Kim for facing her fears
and taking a risk, her brave foray into business, her ability to
overcome obstacles, and her exceptional success.
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ENTREPRENEUR:
Kelly Holinshead – Huntsville
 Kelly
is a fourth generation Muskokan whose great-grandparents settled
in Huntsville before Confederation. Kelly studied film and still
photography at Ryerson, and then returned to Muskoka. She is the
proud owner of Shutter Bug Gallery, which is not only an art
gallery, but also home to Kelly’s photography business. Kelly’s
nominees tell us that she built her dream on tips. At times,
Kelly herself wondered if she was an artist, a waitress or a
businesswoman. She has, in fact, integrated all three on shoots
with Global Television’s “Who’s Coming for Dinner” program. The
Shutter Bug Gallery features her own work, but also showcases a
variety of other media, all created by local artists. This busy
woman also works with the photography teacher at Huntsville High
School and this month is featuring work of students in her
Gallery. She volunteers in many community projects, including
photography for the now infamous calendars featuring men and women
of Muskoka raising money for the Huntsville Hospital Mammography
unit. Kelly has been nominated by Dale Peacock and Beverly Wood
for the Entrepreneur Award for her humble and hard-working journey
toward owning her own gallery, her incredible talent and for
sharing her gifts with her community for worthy causes.
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MENTORSHIP:
Jeanne Pettit – Windermere
 Jeanne
Pettit is the mother of 5, grandmother to 21 and then ‘Granma’ to
another 100 or so guests of the Paquana Cottage Resort that she
runs with her husband, Jim. She is a carpenter, painter, varnisher,
‘go for’, designer, and general all round house builder. She and
Jim have built four of the resort cottages themselves. She manages
their resort, personally washing and hanging 70 sheets to dry on
the line each week on turnover day to save the environment. She
has worked to address contamination in the bay. She has swum from
Windermere to Port Carling to raise money. She’s an excellent
golfer. She has a float in the Windermere Family Fun Day parade
each year. She taught Girl Guides, was a 4-H Leader, organized
minor hockey and volunteered with the Windermere Women’s
Institute. Jeanne Pettit walked the Terry Fox run in 2002 a few
months after a hip replacement. She had $600 in sponsors, and she
featured their signatures on an old white shirt that she wore
while walking. This year, wearing another old men’s white shirt
with all the names of her sponsors, she raised $8,500, making her
5 year total $27,000. What made this year even more remarkable was
that she walked 9 out of the 10 kilometres fully in need of a
second hip replacement, bound and determined to wear this one out
for a good cause. Her appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow.
For giving herself fully to every project she undertakes, she has
been nominated for the Mentorship Award by her friends Nancy Hill
and Connie Cain
Open
Category | Education |
Young WoD | Entrepreneur |
Mentorship
Cynthia Watson | Carla Veitch
| Kim Knight | Kelly
Holinshead | Jeanne Pettit |
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