Hamilton YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards recognizing COVID “Courage”

There is a much different look and feel to the YWCA Hamilton's annual Women of Distinction awards this year, which is just another way of saying, yes, we're in the midst of a pandemic, but this is special.

Women are affected disproportionately. As Hamilton YWCA CEO Denise Christopherson points out, 56 per cent of women hold jobs in professions which are among the most vulnerable, viz-a-viz COVID-19 - caring; cashiering; catering, cleaning and clerical.

Women, including racialized and Indigenous women, tend to be overrepresented among those affected by COVID, especially those at the front lines of care and contact, either as PSWs, nurses or simply caregivers at home.

So, the Women of Distinction Award categories for this year have been reimagined" in order to reflect the very specific theme of this year's awards - The Courage of COVID.

Instead of the more traditional WoD Award categories, the YWCA Hamilton will honour the women who showed exceptional courage in the face of the pandemic with awards in the categories of: frontline workers; innovators; advocates; change-makers; young trailblazers; and everyday heroes. There will also be a lifetime achievement award.

The timing of the annual awards program, of course, could scarcely be any more significant because it arrives almost exactly at the moment when, a year ago, everything changed. In fact, as Denise mentions, last year's YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction Awards was one of the very last large gathering in the city before things shut down.

We had a thousand people in the convention centre the first week in March," she says. Of course, just a week later, the ides of March, so to speak, the world changed. Especially, she says, for women.

What is it (the awards program) going to look like, we asked ourselves. The first thing we thought of, upon reading the statistics, is how COVID has affected so many women in so many ways. It's powerful to hear what women are doing and going through in so many sectors."

She says that Covid has hit women especially hard, along with Black, Indigenous, and Racialized communities, those with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. We are so happy to recognize the achievements of these extraordinary women during COVID-19, but we also need to recognize that any recovery effort needs to specifically focus on meeting the needs of these marginalized groups."

The response has been astounding, with 97 nominees this year, covering a great variety of ages, backgrounds, profiles and experiences.

The YWCA has not only reimagined the categories but it has expanded the catchment area of the awards to Halton this year, for the first time - and, of course, it is going to be held online, on March 4, starting at 7 p.m.

Nonetheless, there's still going to be a dinner. How you ask? With the ticket prices comes a dinner to be ordered for pickup from one of several eateries which have signed on. There are several other distinctive features to the evening.

Participants will also have the opportunity to build unique viewing and dining experiences to celebrate the awards. For instance, they can get together with friends virtually for a virtual viewing party room with 10 guests. Ticket holders can watch with family for the price of one ticket, with the option of adding dinner for family members for $40 each. For out-of-towners tickets are $62 as that doesn't include the meal.

Tickets are $125 per person. Viewing Party Rooms for 10 are $1,250, with the option of adding others beyond 10 for the price of $125 per person.

There will also be Empower(her) Hours on March 10 (Halton, with host Julie Cole) and March 11 (Hamilton, with Laura Babcock) from 7 to 8 p.m. each evening, at which ticket holders will enjoy an intimate evening of in-depth discussion with the 2021 Women of Distinction award winners, on Zoom for $10 a ticket.

For more information, visit ywcahamilton.org where you can also find a Ticket Page to order yours.

Here are the nominees:

• Frontline Workers (Hamilton) - Amanda Nagy, Angela Jaspan, Danielle Pinto, Diana Abdulrahman, Elizabeth Cronk, Jacqueline Haynes, Naomi Henderson, Natalie Teal, Olivia Mancini, Riana Kruger, Sandee Green, Victoria Young,

• Frontline Workers (Halton) - Christina Mulder, Maha Tawadrous, Michelle Collins

• Health Care Hero (Hamilton) - Amanda Weatherston, Dr. Cheryl Van Der Mark, Dawn Martin, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Dr. Erica Roebbelen, Heather Harvey, Jessie Mason, Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar, Kathleen Leach, Dr. Sarah Khan, Vanessa Jarusauskas

• Health Care Hero (Halton) - Andrea Pohl, Anna Policelli, Madison Brydges

• Pandemic Innovator (Hamilton) - Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud, Andriana Lukich, Diana Wetherly, Doris Ciardullo, Erin Mitchell, Dr. Frances Lasowski, Dr. Karen Mossman, Leanne Sneddon, Marla Robinson, Dr. Rosa da Silva, Tracey Taylor-O'Reilly, Vicki Gruber

• Pandemic Innovator (Halton) - Elise Naccarato, Hayley Harlock, Lisa Lunski, Renee France Boudreau, Stephanie VanderLingen

• Community Champion (Hamilton) - Alexis Wenzowski, Amanda DiFalco, Andrea Pohlmann, Anna Di Carlo, Ashleigh Montague, Brenda Duke, Camy Hand, Dallas Lombardi, Gina Robinson, Jeannie Howe, Julie Freeman, Karol De Stefano, Kathryn Clewley, Kofo Owolabi, Lisa Nussey, Lohifa Pogoson-Acker, Melanee McAuley, Meltem Fidan, Paula Laing, Peri Eid, Rachel Braithwaite, Robin Lacambra, Sabrina Jaspers, Samantha Mercanti, Sandra Jenkins, Serena Bufalino, Dr. Soumeya Abed, Theresa Horak, Whitney McMeekin

• Community Champion (Halton) - Amber Rushton, Honorable Anita Anand, Gabriela Covaci, Jacqui Cronin, Julia Hanna, Maria Locker, Nancy Romic, Shannon Tobin

• Young Trailblazer (Hamilton) - Adrianna (Abygail) Montague, Blerina Ago, Jessica Anderson, Joelle Kabisoso, Madison Ladd, Negar Balouchestani-Asli, Nicole Crimi, Oyinloluwa Aderibigbe, Sarah Bayliss, Susanne Nyaga

• Young Trailblazer (Halton) - Ashwini Selvakumaran, Gabrielle Monique Warren, Rachel Shadid

• Lifetime Achievement (Hamilton) - Sandee Green, Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar, Kathleen Leach, Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud, Marla Robinson, Brenda Duke, Gina Robinson, Melanee McAuley, Paula Laing

• Lifetime Achievement (Halton) - Colleen Mulholland, Julia Hanna, Nancy Romic

Jeff Mahoney is a Hamilton-based reporter and columnist covering culture and lifestyle stories, commentary and humour for The Spectator. Reach him via email: jmahoney@thespec.com