A total of 15 women and businesses from Burnaby and New West have been chosen as nominees for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.
The awards celebrate individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to foster the well-being, strength and future of communities.
The event has honoured close to 2,300 nominees over the 42-year event, with 105 nominated this year.
The 11 nominees from Burnaby are as follows:
- Natali Altshuler - chief operating officer of EA SPORTS Studios (business and the professions category)
- Rena Dhir - director of Radar Immigration Inc. (business and the professions category)
- Mariat Imade Jibril - CEO of MJ Consulting and ForbesBLK Canada Lead (community champion category)
- Monica Gärtner - founder of the Canadian Assistive Travel Society (community champion category)
- Prachi Jatania - co-Founder and chief impact officer of Immigrant Women Initiative (education, training and development category)
- Tina Strehlke - CEO of Minerva BC (education, training and development category)
- Dr. Elicia Maine - associate vice-president of Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation at Simon Fraser University (education, training and development category)
- Kristy James - president and CEO of Burnaby Hospital Foundation (non-profit category)
- Melanie Mark - Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, founder and CEO of Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak Consulting Ltd. (reconciliation in action category)
- Pacific Blue Cross (outstanding workplace category)
- Microserve (outstanding workplace category)
The four nominees from New West are as follows:
- Andrea McLearn - senior vice-president of infrastructure asset management at Fengate (business and the professions category)
- Sophie Hansen - student journalist at BCIT and co-founder of safety, education, advocacy and support (young woman of distinction category)
- Zahra Hashemi - community support worker at MOSAIC (community champion category)
Award recipients will be announced at the Women of Distinction Awards Gala on April 28, 2025.
