This Year's International Women's Day Award Recipients
Investing in Women and Girls – Gender Equality
Nicole Vranas: Outstanding Youth who Educates Youth
Nominated by: Melonie Dwiwenka, Morinville
Our first award recipient tonight is our youngest. Nicky Vranas is a dynamic young woman and a dedicated volunteer with high ideals. She is a graduate of Sturgeon Composite High School is currently enrolled in General Arts at University of Alberta with a view to a degree in Education. Nicky's values, loyalty, dedication and passion, speak volumes about her. She is a high energy young woman who uses her dynamic qualities to inspire and motivate others.
For more than 5 years Nick has been a driving force behind the Sturgeon Youth Council where they carry out projects to help inform and guide young people who may be tempted to get involved with poor life choices. She is a key member in the "Chicks in Charge" program which is designed specifically for 13 to 18 year-old young women and the "Chicklet" program for 9 – 12 year old girls. Each year, Nicky has helped arrange annual conferences and retreats that deal with important issues ranging from body image, healthy relationships, date rape, violence and substance abuse in an engaging, informative manner. In 2004 the Youth Council received the Alberta Solicitor General Youth Leadership Award for these important efforts.
Nicky is also involved in a program called TADD - Teens Against Doing Drugs. Within this program using the Nicky has spearheaded many projects such as school presentations, planning meetings and a conference in a retreat setting to help create awareness among young people. This particular program approaches the "stay away from drug" message from a positive perspective. This is also true of the O24U (that means oxygen for you) program which Nicky helped launch. Both programs emphasize the personal and social benefits to be derived staying clean and being active. This positive approach has proven to be appealing to the young people.
Nicky's gives much recognition and gratitude to her family for their continued support and inspiration. Her mother is very active in the community and has been her mentor over the years. She also gives much credit to Melonie Dziwenka, her advisor on the Youth Council and also the person who nominated her, for teaching her about the value of volunteering and supporting her ideas as the projects are being developed and delivered.
Nicky's selfless work landed a national award, the Canada Millennium Scholarship. This is a substantial scholarship awarded for excellence that will help her with her expenses throughout her Bachelor's degree providing she maintains her grades and keeps on volunteering.
Nicky has accomplished so much in furthering education for our youth in her community and with her creative and dedicated spirit she no doubt will continue to make a positive difference on the road ahead. It is with great pleasure that we applaud and recognize Nicky.
Tilly Mallard: Unsung heroine
Nominated by: Carolyn McRae
Our next award recipient, Tilly Mallard, is a lady of perseverance, strong will and deep and abiding love. She is especially humble and feels that anyone would have done what she has done and continues to do. She says that, "You never know what you are capable of until you jump there."
And jump she did! Tilly Mallard is the proud and grateful mother of two beautiful daughters, Hanna and Makenna. She faces the challenges of not only raising them herself as a single mother, but also caring for a child with many and varied special needs. She will do anything and everything it takes to meet those needs. When Makenna was born, it was not expected that she would live, let alone walk and talk. She has cerebral palsy, severe hearing loss, and is prone to grand-mal seizures. But live Makenna did, with great credit to her mother's ongoing, dedicated efforts.
Over the years, Tilly has worked closely with a team of healthcare professionals providing for Makenna's needs. Up-to-date on current research she provides valuable insights not only to the team but to other parents raising special needs children. She has been a persistent advocate and that has opened doors to special programs that have helped Makenna. She gives and receives information with grace and sincerity, and follows the advice of doctors and teachers for the benefit of Makenna. Part of the ongoing therapy has involved hundreds of hours of physiotherapy administered by Tilly. Makenna can now walk. Persistent efforts have also helped her learn to talk and now she is learning to read.
Tilly is quick to point to the contributions of others. She feels that Hanna, Makenna's older sister, deserves a great deal of credit for Makenna's progress and sense of well being. Since the young age of 18 months when Makenna was born, Hanna became a crucial member of the care team. She has constantly been at her mother's side caring for Makenna, attending appointments and meetings, and insisting on "normal and fair" treatment of her sister at home and at school. In Tilly's words, Hanna's influence has been HUGE in Makenna's life. Hanna, would you please stand up and take a bow? (Allow time for applause.)
Tilly's deep compassion shines on everyone she meets, her family, her friends, her clients, the care team, and especially on other children with special needs and their families. Tilly feels that she leads a blessed life and is forever humble. Much as she helps Makenna and others, her heart and mind are fixed on the gratitude and thankfulness she has for others. In her own mind, the help, support, and prayers of others eclipse her own efforts. Probably the only reason she accepted this award was to have an opportunity to share her findings with us and to educate and advocate for children of special needs.
Hon. Dr. Thelma Chalifoux: Education, Preservation and Elevation of the Culture
Nominated by: Pauline Vaugeois, St. Albert, AB
Our next award recipient has devoted many years working to preserve Métis Culture, history, and identity. Dr. Chalifoux was instrumental in establishing the Michif (mit-chif) Cultural & Resource Institute in St. Albert. This important Institute on Mission Avenue contains the most comprehensive collection of historical documents relating to Métis culture found anywhere in Canada. The institute also houses a Métis Museum, an Aboriginal Veterans Display, a Genealogical Library and a Gift Shop. Among the many visitors to the Michif Institute are students from schools, the colleges and universities. The visitors have the opportunity to visit and learn first hand from Dr. Chalifoux and the collection of artifacts and documents. The Institute is run by volunteers under Dr. Chalifoux's guidance.
Dr. Chalifoux has worked with courage, determination and spunk to achieve justice for aboriginals and help her people improve the quality of their lives. In a positive and constructive fashion for over thirty-five years she has been a hands-on advocate negotiating land claims, organizing community action groups, insuring the instruction of Cree in Northland's School Division, and working to develop all facets of communications including radio, print, television and satellite broadcasts. She also helped develop the Métis Urban Housing Corporation to help the working poor and the Métis Women's Council of Edmonton developing programs for single parents and older women. She has also been an ardent advocate for the rights of aboriginal women and their families and helped establish Women's Shelters in Northern Alberta. She has served as a Land Claims Negotiator, was a founder of the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre and helped develop the Métis Association of Alberta Land and Welfare Departments. And these are just a few of the things that she has done!
With so much significant work behind her, Dr. Chalifoux was the first Métis woman to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and to the Senate of the University of Alberta. In 1997 in recognition of many ground-breaking contributions the University of Toronto bestowed upon her an honorary Doctorate degree.
Family has always been a priority. Abandoned by her abusive husband, Dr. Chalifoux had to raise seven children on her own. All this while she worked and took course at several institutions to better herself as well as conducting workshops and planning conferences. She now has 30 grandchildren and 27 great-grand children.
Even though Dr. Chalifoux retired from the Senate in 2004, she continues to work as much as health allows at the Michif Institute as well as consulting with organizations that need to negotiate with the Federal Government.
Because of Dr. Chalifoux's perseverance and dedication many lives have benefited and history has been preserved for future generations. We are delighted to recognize and honour her for her outstanding lifetime of contributions.
Jane Spaans: Pioneer RCMP, Service
Nominated by: Ed Spaans and Colleen Lowe
Our next award recipient, Jane Spaans, knew what she wanted to be from a very young age – an RCMP police officer. The only problem was that women were not allowed in the forces. Undaunted she waited. Within minutes of the October 1974 announcement that women were finally allowed to join, Jane signed up. Three months later she was among the first females to be appointed a Special Constable and was posted to the Vancouver International Airport to work in security. Two years later Jane became a full-fledged RCMP and has since served BC, Nova Scotia and Alberta. Over time, she has taken on some of the most demanding areas: drugs, family violence, homicide, and child pornography. Often risking her own safety, Jane commits long hours on a daily basis dealing with situations most find unthinkable, striving for justice and human rights.
Jane and the other female offices were not welcome with open arms into the RCMP. They encountered much prejudice and discrimination as they broke new ground. This came not only from the previously male-only institution but from the Canadian public as well. Undaunted, Jane persevered, focusing on doing the best that she could and proved her worth over and over.
Over the years policies and procedures had to be developed to deal with gender issues such as maternity leave, transfers and duty assignments. When Jane was pregnant in 1982 and later as a new mom, she ended up doing dangerous undercover surveillance duties. She hung out in seedy bars, watching for disreputable and dangerous people, all the while surreptitiously spilling her beer into flower pots to protect her unborn children and maintain her cover. In 1986 when husband Ed, a fellow RCMP officer was promoted and transferred, Jane had to resign; RCMP policies made no provision for spouses to be transferred as well. It wasn't until 1989 that she was allowed to return to active duty.
Because of her work with family violence issues, Jane was asked to be a part of an advisory committee to the Canadian Panel for Violence Against Women. Jane's stellar performance in investigating serious crimes earned her a promotion and posting to the Crime Analysis Section in Edmonton. Jane has also plays an important role on a team dedicated to investigating crimes against children through the use of the internet. The team deals with offences of luring children and the making, transmitting and possessing of child pornography.
Amazingly, along with her stress-filled vocation, Jane's devotion to her family is most loving and strong. She is the very proud and involved mother of two daughters and two sons and is grandmother to five. She also cares for her aging parents travelling frequently to B.C. to tend to their needs. She is the leader in ensuring strong family relations, often organizing great gatherings and reunions.
Jane carries many with her in her heart: those victimized by crime, her family, her friends and her community. She is always scanning the world to see what she can do to make it better.
For her awe-inspiring bravery, her strength and generosity of spirit we honour Jane Spaans.
Heidi Alther: Arts
Nominated by: Carol Watamaniuk, St. Albert, AB
Our next award recipient fills any room with energy, enthusiasm, competence and smiles. Tonight, Heidi Anther is being recognized for her outstanding leadership in the Arts. Her efforts in the promotion of culture through art has reached out and improved the richness of life for people of all ages.
Heidi is passionate about art and about people. She pointed out the notation on the back of our twenty-dollar bill: "Art makes a community soulful." For Heidi, the arts define the community – the more varied, diverse and prolific the art, the richer the community. In the six years since she took the helm as director of the Profiles Art Gallery in St. Albert, Heidi has taken it from a rather insular institution to a delightful place filled with laughter and learning bringing art to thousands and encouraging them to create.
One of Heidi's goals at the Profiles Gallery is to making art accessible for everyone. Under her leadership over 2000 visits to the Gallery and 8000 outreach programs are coordinated each year to provide meaningful and fun art experiences and activities to over 15,000 students . "Art," she says, "Gives the children a special kind of voice." She loves it when people see others in a different light because of their creations.
Heidi also helps art infuse into the community by coordinating lectures, the Art in Public Places program, and the art rental and sales program. Each year Heidi is instrumental organizing the 12 exhibitions hosted at Profiles Gallery. The shows reflect a wide diversity of styles and mediums from local, provincial, national, and international artists as well as special community exhibitions. She also organizes special exhibits to address special needs. Viewing and then discussing a show mounted for Stop Abuse in Families, many of the clients had an opportunity to work through some of their issues in a safe environment. This show tied into another of Heidi's passions which is to help women tell their stories through the medium of narrative painting.
In addition to her full-time work in the Gallery, Heidi both leads and participates in a multitude of programs with many organizations and charities. Her volunteer work has included projects with the Stollery Hospital, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Kindergarten, preschool and daycare centers, working with persons with developmental needs, programs for inner city and correctional institutions, the Art Walk and the list goes on and on. She has a gift for providing relevant art for special circumstances.
In her role as Gallery Director, Heidi Alther's strategy combines artistic innovation with community involvement to create many levels of support, access and interpretation. The Gallery's mandate, to provide enriching educational experiences that celebrate visual culture and artistic achievement is exceeded on many levels through her creativity and inclusiveness. Heidi approaches her mission with entrepreneurial flair finding connections and opportunities in all walks of life. For this we recognize this outstanding woman of passion.