Connecting the Community Award
Voting opens March 5, 2026 and closes April 1, 2026. The recipient will be announced on May 7, 2026, during the Women of Distinction Awards.
Each YWCA Women of Distinction nominee is eligible to win the Connecting the Community Award. The recipient is selected by public vote, and the winner chooses a YWCA cause that is important to her, donating $10,000, courtesy of Scotiabank, to the YWCA program of her choice.
Read the participants' quotes below and vote.
Amanda Burrows
I choose to advance Truth and Reconciliation because homelessness and poverty have roots in colonization. I’m leading a redevelopment that showcases Host Nation artworks because cultural representation creates a sense of purpose, identity, and belonging. Along with 103 units of deeply affordable housing for Indigenous people, this project says “you belong, you matter, you have a home here”.
Amber Moon
As an Indigenous person who advocates for children and youth in and from foster care, I, and many others, directly experience the effects of colonization. I am choosing to support Truth and Reconciliation because no matter how far we come, there is always more work to be done.
Dr. Amy Parent, Sigidmnak Noxs Ts'aawit
Supporting My work in rematriation is rooted in love, love for our Ancestors and for families impacted by colonial and gender-based violence. I support Ending Gender-Based Violence because love is the opposite of violence, and collective care and accountability are how communities heal and thrive.
Andrea Seale
Creating a more compassionate, healthy and just society has always motivated me as a leader. I support Truth and Reconciliation because Indigenous people face profound inequities in healthcare, including worse cancer outcomes despite the progress made in cancer prevention and survival. We can change this by listening and working together, with a commitment to equity and respect.
Angie Lamarsh
Quality, accessible child care is essential to parents' ability to participate fully in the workforce and to children's healthy development. I am proud to support Universal Child Care because YWCA BC's inspiring leadership turns opportunity into lasting multigenerational success.
Anne Zhong
As a woman shaped by the one-child policy and its profound repercussions on girls and women, I am committed to advocating for Women’s Economic Well-Being. Removing barriers means advancing equity, opportunity and economic security. It is critical that we foster environments where women have real pathways to participate and lead, and where our contributions are visible, valued, and celebrated.
Barbara Lee
As a community advocate in the screen and media industry, I see how representation and access shape who gets to belong. I support YWCA BC for its leadership in advancing Gender Equity and amplifying women’s voices. By championing diverse storytelling, we affirm that our stories are Canadian stories. When women are seen, heard, and supported, our communities are stronger.
Dr. Brenda Lau
As a physician and immigrant raised in poverty, I know how economic insecurity harms health through relentless stress and instability. Without health, women struggle to advance themselves. I choose to support Women’s Economic Well-Being because it creates real choice, safety, and freedom. YWCA BC’s work transforms policy and delivers housing and employment supports that restore dignity, autonomy, and hope.
Camilla Tibbs
I support Universal Child Care because of the opportunities it affords to both children and their parents, particularly women. I have seen first-hand how the availability of child care can open up career opportunities for young single mothers, creating economic independence.
Candace Knoll
As a social justice advocate, I advance equity and inclusion by providing training and scholarship access for Black Youth to increase educational representation. I support the Women’s Economic Well-Being initiative, which aligns with creating safe learning spaces, inspiring confidence, empowering future decision-makers and policy leaders to build diverse, inclusive communities where everyone has a sense of belonging and is welcome.
Carey Tśisxamia McBeth
As the granddaughter of a residential school survivor and the daughter of a Sixties Scoop survivor, the Truth and Reconciliation initiative at the YWCA is deeply significant to me. As an Indigenous woman, I'm thankful for their commitment to sharing the strength and courage of our ancestors, while advocating for healing and justice to shape a better future for all.
Carly Steiman
Women’s Economic Well-Being is at the heart of the Tradeswomen Exhibit and Calendar. Many tradeswomen feel siloed at work. Bringing 65 women together to share their names and trades, and to be celebrated, showed how powerful community is. Building strong ecosystems creates confidence, fair-wage awareness, and the foundation to advocate, grow, and thrive.
Chloe Goodison
My work as the Executive Director of NaloxHome has shown me that the toxic drug crisis and the housing crisis are deeply connected. I support Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families because housing is foundational to safety, dignity, and the ability to build a stable future.
Christine Rigby
Living and working in Vancouver, I see how closely housing stability is tied to health, safety, and opportunity. As a parent, I understand the importance of Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families. I support the YWCA's work in this area because affordable housing strengthens families, supports resiliency, and gives women the foundation to thrive.
Constance Lynn Hummel
As a psychotherapist and leadership consultant, I see how burnout, unpaid care work, and systemic inequities limit women’s economic security. Financial stability expands women’s options, increases overall safety, and strengthens communities. I support YWCA BC's work for Women’s Economic Well-Being because they address these barriers through policy advocacy and direct supports that build stability, choice, and long-term economic thriving.
Crystal Hung
My advocacy for Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families comes from lived experience with abuse and inequality. I know firsthand that nothing transforms lives more than a stable, safe home—it is the foundation for healing, restoring dignity, and for individuals to change their destiny and build brighter futures.
Danielle Main
As a female entrepreneur with a disability, I understand the systemic and social barriers women face and proudly champion women in business through advocacy, mentorship, and initiatives that support Women’s Economic Well-Being and sustainable success.
Denise Praill
YWCA BC’s leadership in Truth and Reconciliation inspires us to listen deeply, learn continuously, and act with care. At Canuck Place, we embrace this same commitment—and with the help of our community, are working hard to advance equity and access so every child and family can receive compassionate, culturally safe hospice care.
Denise Williams
My purpose is to evolve economic systems into places of shared liberation and wellbeing. I support YWCA’s work for Women’s Economic Well-Being because it centres dignity, safety, and opportunity for women excluded from the economy. As an Indigenous woman and Chair of the Indigenous Economic Well-Being Committee at Beedie, I champion kinship and belonging, because when women shape economies, prosperity follows for generations ahead.
Elva Kim
Housing is where safety begins. When women and families have a secure place to live, they gain the stability to pursue justice, rebuild economic security, and reclaim agency with dignity. Ending Gender-Based Violence demands unrelenting leadership, sectors, and systems that work together. Progress happens when housing and safety are treated as one, through a human, not political lens.
Friba Rezayee
As Afghanistan's first female Olympic athlete, I saw firsthand the challenges Afghan women and girls face in playing sports and accessing education. I started Women Leaders of Tomorrow to provide educational and sports opportunities for them. WLOT has secured over 40 scholarships in Canada and has sent an athlete to the Olympic Refugee Team! I choose Access to Justice because it is critical that women have access to justice to ensure equality.
Gurminder Kaur Malik
As an educator, I constantly witness barriers for women to succeed in certain fields, pay inequities, and stereotypes that are ingrained within the most advanced institutions. I choose to support Gender Equity because YWCA BC works with multiple partners to build momentum for gender equity.
Hajar Masoud
As someone who has worked across housing, safety, and community systems, I have seen, both in Canada and internationally, what women, girls, and gender-diverse people can achieve when safety and dignity are protected. I support Ending Gender-Based Violence because YWCA’s leadership in prevention, housing, and community-based support creates the conditions for women to thrive, not just survive.
Dr. Honglin Luo
As a woman in science, I have experienced the challenges of gender disparity in research. I advocate for Gender Equity because promoting equal opportunities in Science empowers more women to lead and shape the future of technology.
Jayme Gabriel-Chan
Truth and Reconciliation lives in how we act. For me this work is guided by responsibility and relationship, rooted in care, respect, and accountability. It focuses on supporting our future generations, strengthening Indigenous identity, and protecting what our ancestors were forced to lose. This is a call to move beyond symbolism and share responsibility for turning commitments into action.
Jenn Dawkins
Gender Equity is advanced when girls and women can see it to be it. Giving visibility, mentorship, and opportunities allows them to gain the confidence, skills, and vision to pursue roles historically closed to them, fostering leadership, growth, and empowerment, and reflecting the spirit of IWD 2026’s Give to Gain!
Jennifer Zhang
I choose to support Women’s Economic Well-Being because by creating leadership opportunities for women in construction, we don’t just change careers, we build confidence, strengthen families, and shape futures. Economic independence gives women voice, choice, and the power to lead.
Jessica t'łisala Guss
I choose Truth and Reconciliation because real reconciliation means changing the systems that continue to harm Indigenous Peoples. Through my work, I support culturally safe and anti-racist approaches that center Indigenous voices, uphold dignity and rights, and build trust so individuals, families, and communities can thrive.
Julia Kim
I believe Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families is critical for their future. It is the foundation for long-term planning, economic security, and stability. Housing is more than shelter - when women and their families have a safe, affordable place to call home, they gain the freedom to plan for the future, build opportunity, and create lasting stability for generations.
Kam Raman
As a mentor, volunteer, and community member, my advocacy for Women’s Economic Well-Being is deeply personal. Witnessing the resilience of women in my community, especially newcomers and marginalized groups fuels my commitment to addressing systemic barriers. Through mentorship and engagement, I empower women to achieve financial stability and thrive in their careers, ensuring equitable opportunities for all.
Kasondra Herrendorf Cohen
I believe women to be the ones that hold society together, at home, in the workplace, and across our communities. When we invest in Women’s Economic Well-Being, we invest in generational resilience. Strong mothers and grandmothers don’t just build families; they build futures that empower generations to thrive.
Kate Armstrong
I support Gender Equity as a core principle because vibrant cultures are forged by perspectives arising across the full spectrum of human experience. The cultural narratives of art and design ground us in the present and shape our understanding of the future and the past, so nothing is more important than ensuring that women are in the room.
Dr. Kathy Denton
As president and CEO of BC’s largest college, I work with a team dedicated to the kind of affordable, accessible education that is so important for women to get ahead in life. I choose to support Women’s Economic Well-Being because YWCA BC is such a strong supporter of education as a driver for women’s economic and social advancement.
Kim Bartley
As a nonprofit leader in addiction recovery, I see how intergenerational trauma and stigma affect wellbeing and access to care. I choose to support Truth and Reconciliation because healing requires dignity, inclusion, and culturally safe spaces where people can reconnect, recover, and rebuild their lives within supportive communities.
Dr. Krista Stelkia
As a First Nations scholar and researcher, my research is dedicated to advancing Truth and Reconciliation by supporting Indigenous-led approaches that address the ongoing impacts of colonialism and structural health inequities faced by Indigenous peoples. By upholding Indigenous self-determination through community-grounded partnerships, we can transform the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities for generations to come.
Kristina Corpin-Moser
Violence against women and girls knows no borders, but neither does our resilience. As a Filipina woman, my work is grounded in the lived realities of those most affected by gender-based violence—women, migrants, and Indigenous communities. I support Ending Gender-Based Violence because when we invest in women and girls and centre them in peace, justice, and protection, we build stronger, safer, more prosperous societies for everyone.
Lana Marks Pulver
As a community leader, I believe no woman should ever have to live her life in fear—economically, socially, or personally. I support Women’s Economic Well-Being because access to opportunity, resources, and support allows women to build security, independence, and a future free from fear.
Lenya Wilks
Ending Gender-Based Violence is both personal and professional for me. As a survivor and as a leader in community-based services, I work to ensure survivors are met with dignity, safety, and culturally responsive support. I stand with YWCA’s commitment to prevention, survivor leadership, and systems that prioritize healing, justice, and long-term safety for women and gender-diverse people.
Dr. Lesa Dawson
I believe women’s health is not a niche concern but a measure of collective justice. When women are heard, respected, and cared for, families and communities thrive. Equitable access to health research for people of all genders improves health for us all. Gender Equity in health means dignity and power: the right to decide freely and live well.
Lilian Kan
As a housing leader working with governments and non-profits, I see how housing stability underpins safety, health, and opportunity. I advocate for Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families because stable housing is the cornerstone of thriving communities, enabling women and families to access education, employment, and support networks while building long-term resilience and security.
Lilian Chau
As a single mother and community housing leader, I've seen how life-changing safe and Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families can be. I've witnessed how stability fosters dignity and belonging. I am passionate about supporting the work of YWCA BC because of their commitment to ensuring women and their families have safe, secure homes from which they can thrive.
Liliia Ratushna
Access to Justice means speaking up when rights are violated. Through peaceful community advocacy and public rallies, I raise awareness about the rights of Ukrainian children affected by war and forced displacement, helping ensure their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Lynn Yingying Liu
As a cultural leader and arts educator, I support Gender Equity because I have seen how access and opportunity can transform a young woman’s confidence and future. Through mentoring, inclusive programming, and community-based arts leadership, I work to ensure women and girls are seen, heard, and valued as creators and leaders in the cultural landscape.
Mandy Bhullar
As a human resources and equity practitioner, advancing Gender Equity has been central to my career purpose. I lead efforts to redesign work, products, and systems through an intersectional lens, creating policies and programs that expand access, safety, and opportunity for women.
Dr. Mariana Brussoni
As a developmental psychologist, I have researched the importance of child care and seen first-hand how critical it is for families and children's long-term outcomes. I support Universal Child Care because it gives all children access to healthy child development and YWCA BC is working to make this a reality.
Marissa Grootes
Women’s Economic Well-Being deeply aligns with me because financial independence, access to opportunity, and confidence in decision-making are foundational to a woman’s ability to shape her life. I have built a business rooted in empowering women to take ownership of their time, goals, and futures. Through intentional planning tools, my work supports women in creating structure in their lives.
Marnie Wu
Northern Turtle Island is in the process of transforming via 94 Indigenous-developed Truth and Reconciliation actions, bringing understanding, equity, and wisdom to institutions, businesses, and daily life, and offering an alternative to harmful win-lose colonial mindsets. Like many, in my work and community I learn from Elders, nurture children and youth, and foster Indigenous-led spaces for learning, ceremony, and healing.
Marta Kasha
As a cultural educator and advocate for families, I see firsthand the challenges children and mothers face when access to quality care is limited. I choose to support Universal Child Care because my work with children in Ukrainian dance and cultural programs empowers them to grow, while providing support to mothers balancing work, learning, and family life.
Martina Meckova
Empowering Women’s Economic Well-Being is fundamental in guiding my professional advancement and personal convictions. By removing the financial barriers to higher education, we enable women to pursue their dreams without compromising their family’s stability. When a woman achieves a fair wage and steady employment, she doesn't just change her own life - she transforms her entire community.
Maura Brown
As a healthcare provider, I see how affordable, stable housing directly influences health by reducing stress, supporting healthy child development, and improving access to medical care, nutrition, and education. I choose to support Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families, because as champions of housing affordability YWCA BC strengthens community well-being and addresses a root cause of preventable illness.
Meena Amlani
As a witness and health care professional, I support Ending Gender-Based Violence through the YWCA, because everyone deserves to live in safety and dignity. Ending gender-based violence is a shared responsibility that requires strong partnerships, accessible support, and community-led action. I am driven to support organizations that connect services, centre survivors, and challenge systemic conditions that allow violence to persist.
Monika Jandu
Through my education as a UBC Medical student, I have learned about the multitude of factors that impact health, housing being a fundamental one. Therefore, I choose to support YWCA’s advocacy area focused on Affordable Housing for Women and Their Families, to ensure all families have easy access to a welcoming place that they can call home.
Neesha Hothi
As a woman of colour, I’ve seen how limited access to financial knowledge and autonomy can restrict choice and power. My mother taught me early that a woman must stand on her own feet. Through mentorship, education, and advocacy, I support Women’s Economic Well-Being by helping women build confidence, financial independence, and pathways to paid opportunities, especially for racialized creatives.
Paola Murillo
As a community leader working with immigrant and Latin American communities, I see how important it is to create voice, a sense of belonging, and opportunities. I choose to support Gender Equity because my work empowers women, immigrants, and underrepresented communities to lead, thrive, and build stronger, more equitable communities.
Parinaaz Udwadia
We’re in a first-world country, in the 21st century—so seriously, what’s the holdup? Gender equity isn’t going to magically appear like a unicorn in a boardroom. It takes action. It takes partnership. And yes, it takes men stepping up as advocates. Do that, and guess what? The barriers fall, and opportunity stops having a gender! I choose to support Gender Equity.
Dr. Paris-Ann Ingledew
As the first woman ever to lead my organization in 90 years, I know the future we build for the next generation starts now. I support Universal Childcare as a concrete investment to advance women’s leadership, build economic security and strong families. I stand with YWCA BC in advancing accessible, affordable childcare for all families.
Paromita (Mita) Naidu
Truth and Reconciliation are not catchphrases. They represent a commitment that is complex, demanding, and ongoing. My approach has always included confronting the truth and doing the slow, deliberate and ongoing work of repair. I do this by nurturing possibilities… with hope and imagination. My gratitude to the Indigenous women, both past and present, who have generously shaped my journey.
Dr. Prabhjot Kahlon
From my communications background, I understand the transformative power of awareness. I support Ending Gender-Based Violence because YWCA BC leads essential public education and provides compassionate, practical support to women confronting these challenges every day. Thoughtful communication and dedicated service ensure survivors are heard, believed, and empowered.
Rachel Wei
Through my fundraising work with Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, I’ve seen how much families rely on compassionate, accessible support in the hardest moments. I choose to support Universal Child Care because affordable, high-quality care gives children stability and belonging, and gives parents the reliable help they need when life becomes uncertain.
Rachel Bahika Matembe
As a Canadian of African heritage, equal and unbiased access to justice is very important to me. I choose to support Access to Justice because YWCA BC is working to remove systemic barriers ensuring that all women, regardless of their ethnicity and cultural background, are able to access their social, economic, cultural, political and civil rights.
Dr. Reetinder Kaur
As a racialized immigrant woman, I have witnessed the economic challenges faced by women in our community. I choose to support Women’s Economic Well-Being because it closely aligns with my vision of empowering women to achieve financial independence and advance their careers, while recognizing the multiple intersecting dimensions of their identities, including gender, race, age, and migration status.
Dr. Renisa Mawani
As a Professor of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, on the ancestral and occupied lands of the Musqueam peoples, colonial violence, Indigenous sovereignty, and Access to Justice have been central to my teaching. As a former Associate Dean of Equity in the Faculty of Arts, I worked alongside Indigenous colleagues to advocate for Truth before Reconciliation in UBC's Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Sally-Anne Stelling
My mission is to provide rehabilitation and care to those who need it most, in alignment with the YWCA BC’s commitment to closing the Gender Equity gap. My driving force is to educate and mentor students, instilling empathy, kindness, and a genuine responsibility to deliver inclusive, equitable care to all people.
Sarah Bundy
Women’s Economic Well-Being is a cause close to my heart. We are here to support women in business, because I believe when more women thrive, they create more good in the world. I believe we are stronger together, so let’s keep lifting each other up and leaning in.
Selena Woo
I advocate for Women’s Economic Well-Being because economic security is the foundation of equity. It gives women choice, voice, and agency. When women have access to opportunity, confidence in their financial futures, and pathways to leadership, families thrive and communities strengthen. This is why the YWCA’s work matters, because equity isn’t an idea, it’s something you build.
Shannon Salter, K.C.
Ending Gender-Based Violence reflects my commitment to building systems that prevent harm before it occurs and respond decisively when it does. Through my work in justice and public service, I have focused on ensuring women are believed, supported, and protected. Collective action and system-level change are essential to preventing violence and strengthening our communities.
Dr. Shelina Babul
As a woman of colour in a male-dominated field, I have personally experienced prejudice. Having been the only woman at the table, I have learned how to make my voice heard and speak my mind. I am passionate about achieving Gender Equity by mentoring female students from diverse backgrounds to be confident and capable future leaders in STEM.
Simran Kang
I support Women’s Economic Well-Being because financial systems too often determine who has control, choice, and security. Through my work, I’ve seen women lose opportunities not from lack of ambition, but from lack of access. YWCA’s focus on Women’s Economic Well-Being helps ensure women can build financial security, independence, and lasting stability on their own terms.
Sitora Azimova
Women’s Economic Well-Being is deeply personal to me. I’ve seen how fair pay, access to opportunity, and financial security empower women to lead with confidence and influence change. In my executive role, I witness this impact daily. That’s why I support YWCA BC and its work with business and government to advance policies that strengthen women’s economic security.
Steffanie Love
As an advocate for artists in Vancouver, I see how women are disproportionately impacted by economic inequity. I support Women’s Economic Well-Being because my passion focuses on helping female-identifying artists access opportunities, resources, and sustainable income so they can thrive in their creative fields.
Stephanie Redivo
I choose to support Gender Equity because equity and inclusion are essential to building strong, healthy communities. I believe in removing systemic barriers, valuing diverse perspectives, and creating environments where women of all backgrounds have equal access to opportunity, leadership, and lasting economic security.
Suhana Gill
As the daughter of immigrants, I witnessed early on how gender inequality limits opportunity, voice, and confidence. My work is grounded in advancing Gender Equity by empowering women and girls, especially those from underrepresented communities, to step into leadership and advocate for themselves. I support Gender Equity because equal access and representation create stronger families and communities.
Sukhman Kaur Dhillon
Supporting Gender Equity is a core commitment of my work because equitable access to health knowledge is foundational to safety, autonomy, and opportunity. As Co-Founder of Hands for Life Foundation, I work to remove financial and linguistic barriers to CPR and heart-health education, ensuring women in underserved communities have the tools to protect themselves, their families, and their futures.
Sumreen Kaur Rattan
As the Founder of a cleantech company, I believe innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are at the table. To build a sustainable future, we must dismantle systemic barriers facing women in STEM and leadership. I advocate for Gender Equity because it is essential for driving the creative solutions needed to solve our planet's greatest challenges.
Tamara E. Pongracz
I support investing in Women’s Economic Well-Being as it is not just beneficial for individual women—it is vital for the prosperity of families, the health of children, and the economic strength of entire communities. The YWCA’s approach demonstrates the power of partnership and policy change in creating lasting, inclusive economic growth for all.
Tracy Ridler
Truth and Reconciliation is the foundation that unlocks everything else. For First Nations women, reconciliation means safety, housing, economic power, justice, and the ability to live without barriers. My work centres systems change that enables communities to define their own futures, which in turn strengthens all communities. This is not a silo, it is a system.
Dr. Tricia Tang
When in a position to elevate women, particularly women of colour, it is our duty, our responsibility, our privilege. To achieve society’s full potential, Gender Equity in leadership roles across academia, medicine, and all professional sectors is non-negotiable. Let our commitment to the next generation be fierce and intentional.
Vanessa Wideski
As a Métis Samoan leader, I am inspired by Indigenous teachings of interconnectedness and shared responsibility. I believe we are stronger when we work together, guided by compassion. This belief shapes my work and led me to found Low Entropy and co-found the Tri-Cities Friendship Centre and Whonnock Cultural Reclamation Society, advancing Truth and Reconciliation for our land and communities.
Winnie Rufaro Chironga
I choose to support Truth and Reconciliation because strong communities are built on honesty, respect and right relationship. As a black woman and community leader guided by Indigenous teachings, my work centres listening, learning and shared responsibility for colonial harm. Truth and Reconciliation is how we build a more equitable and connected future, for all of us.
The Connecting the Community Award is sponsored by
