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Nominations sought out for Women of Excellence 2016 awards

Nominations sought out for Women of Excellence 2016 awards

Central Albertans are being encouraged to nominate influential women they know for the 2016 Women of Excellence awards.

Nomination packages are now being accepted at the Red Deer and District Community Foundation with the deadline being April 8, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.

There are 11 award categories including agriculture; arts, culture and heritage; athletics, recreation and fitness; business; community building; education and training; entrepreneurship; environment; health and wellness; human services and the young woman of excellence.

This is the ninth Annual Women of Excellence Awards and while eight of the categories receive many nomination packages, three of them tend to lack nominations.

These are the agriculture, environment and young woman of excellence categories said the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Kristine Bugayong.

“We really have to shake trees for these categories,” Bugayong said.

Nominating a woman is simple and worth it as it is meant to recognize the contribution of women to the community.

She said the awards program celebrates the accomplishments of women and recognizes different women and their accomplishments in the different sectors.

“Sharing their stories encourages women, men, young girls and boys and that’s the whole purpose of the award,” Bugayong said. “The more stories we can share about exceptional women the better.”

Nominations are accepted from Red Deer and the surrounding area. Last year there was a recipient from Rocky Mountain House and nominees from places such as Innisfail, Lacombe, Clive and Ponoka.

She said encouraging women to be nominated can be difficult as many are modest about their contributions.

“It really goes to show that there are a lot of givers in the community and they don’t realize that they are giving,” Bugayong said. “Some people would say I don’t need the recognition. I just do what I do because I love what I do’. But every year each of the stories are phenomenal because they are inspirational women, but to them that’s just who they are.”

Nomination forms and guides can be found at www.reddeeranddistrictcommunityfoundation.ca.

A short profile on the nominee’s achievements, community contributions, role modelling, and short biography on their accomplishments is required.

The nominee’s resume on their background, career and present work, activities, and volunteering is also required.

The nominee must give consent to the information submitted on their behalf, except the reference letters.

The deadline for submitting nomination forms is April 8, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.

The nomination form package must be complete and be mailed or handed in to the Red Deer and District Community Foundation at Suite 203, 4805 48th Street, Red Deer, AB, T4N 1S6, Attn: Ms. Lori Hamilton. Mark envelope as “Women of Excellence 2016.”

The annual awards gala will be held at the Sheraton in Red Deer on June 1st, 2016.

reporter@sylvanlakenews.com