Winners of the 45th annual Hamilton YWCA Women of Distinction
One (Abrar Mechmechia) is a woman who spent years helping devastated children in Aleppo, Syria, during the civil war in that country, before moving here and setting up a counselling practice specializing in youth trauma.
Another (Dr. Elizabeth Richardson) is a chief medical officer of health, serving Hamilton in that capacity for 25 years, the last of which has seen her helping this city through the most widespread global epidemic of our lifetimes.
Yet another (Olivia Mancini) counts her role as a harm reduction worker with the Hamilton AIDS Network as but one of six positions she holds, including withdrawal management, addiction services and Salvation Army case worker.
Still another (Joelle Kabisoso, in the young trailblazer category) is a Congolese-born Canadian, founder of Sisters In Sync (SIS), a non-profit organization supporting girls and women in education, mental health and financial literacy, which she started in response to her own experience as a sexual assault survivor.
These are just four of the 12 winners of the 45th annual YWCA's Women of Distinction Awards: The Courage of COVID, held Thursday on Zoom.
If the winners were all we had, they would be, judging by their accomplishments, more than enough.
But they're just a hint of the depth we appreciate when it comes to women who are truly carrying it for Hamilton and Halton.
The winners emerged from no fewer than 97 worthy nominees.
The first woman mentioned above won a special 2021 Honourary Woman of Distinction. Mechmechia is also founder of programs to help newcomer women and youth cope with COVID-19.
Dr. Richardson, this city's chief medical officer of health, the second mentioned above, won in the category of Healthcare Hero (Hamilton), and Healthcare Hero (Halton) honours went to Andrea Pohl, Halton Region's Services for senior director, in the capacity of which she helps provide a range of services around the region's three accredited long-term-care homes and their 572 residents.
Mancini won in the Frontline Worker (Hamilton) category. Her Halton counterpart winner is Christina Mulder, director of programs and partnerships for Open Doors at St. Christopher's, overseeing programs to help diverse groups access food, dignity and health.
Kabisoso won Youth Trailblazer award (Hamilton) and adds the honour to others in her young life, including Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada.
The Halton Youth Trailblazer winner is Ashwini Selvakumaran, a University of Toronto student, who has for the past five years been youth ambassador for Plan International Canada.
Here are the other winners
PANDEMIC INNOVATOR Hamilton. Andriana Lukich is director, Digital Solutions at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. She has championed a COVID-19 screening tool for staff, patients and visitors.
Halton: Lisa Lunski, coordinator for the Friday Night Community at Wellington Square United Church in downtown Burlington, advocates for affordable housing, food security and positive social change.
COMMUNITY CHAMPION Hamilton: Lisa Nussey is program director for HAMSMaRT and coordinator for Keeping Six. Lisa relentlessly defends the rights, dignity, and humanity of people who use drugs (PWUDs).
Halton: Julia Hanna is a restaurateur whose latest venture is Ritorno and who, in 2013, launched HealthyFam, helping children, families and seniors build a foundation for healthy living.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Colleen Mulholland Colleen Mulholland brings more than 28 years of experience to her current role as CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation. She previously held executive positions with Canadian Diabetes Association, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Centres of Excellence.
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