The contributions of women in the community were recognized on Wednesday during the 20th annual Quota International of Estevan Women of Today Awards at the Wylie Mitchell building.
Four awards were handed out. Jennifer Olfert, who owns JO Fit and recently started Freezer Full with her sister Rebecca Westling, won the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur. Kim Locken, who is the principal of Lyndale School in Oungre, captured the TS&M Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace.
Mackenzie Holman, who is a Grade 12 student at Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS), won the Shirley Orsted Memorial Award for Outstanding Young Woman of Today. And Gale Tytlandsvik won the Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award for her efforts to support the arts, families and recreation in the community, among other causes.
A total of 19 women were nominated for this year's awards.
Olfert was selected for the Petterson award over Cynthia Muir of Quality Wireline Services Ltd. and Jacquie Mvula of Sun Country Hearing Ltd.
In her acceptance speech, Olfert paid tribute to the women in her life, including her sister, who was nominated for the workplace award in 2011, and her mother, Teresa Howie, who was up for the Petterson Award in 1999.
“I never really actually looked at it (JO Fit) like a business or a job,” said Olfert. “It was just something that I really wanted to do that could maybe teach me and other women that our goal is, every day, to be better than we were the day before.”
She started JO Fit 10 years ago.
“I get to spend time with strong, amazing women. My job is the best job out there,” she said.
Olfert believes there is a natural connection between JO Fit and Freezer Full, which provides healthy meals for families.
Locken was selected from a field of seven candidates for the workplace award. The other nominees were Lana Dubreuil of St. Mary’s School, Jennifer Gervais of Weatherford Canada, Kim Gingras of MNP, Jodi Kallis of Malibu Construction, and Tanis Savill and Debbie Wade from ECS.
Winning the award was an overwhelming feeling, Locken said. It’s because of the students that she does her work, and the staff members and parents have been very supportive.
She also has the backing of her family, which allows her to do what she does.
“I have a great team that I work with,” said Locken.
Locken joined the school’s staff in 2007, and a year later, she became the principal. She believes the biggest accomplishment has been seeing the milestones of the students.
She also loves the parents she deals with and the staff at the school.
It’s been a challenge balancing the work of an administrator and her family, and Locken praised her husband and her children for their contributions.
“They love to just make their second home the school, and I have a lot of incredible friends and family close by who help out a lot,” she said.
Holman was one of five nominees for the Orsted Award, along with Janna Cinnamon, Tatiana Dutka, Katelyn Kobitz and Samantha Wade. Cinnamon is homeschooled and an active member of the community, while the others are enrolled at ECS.
Her involvement with ECS started when she joined the student representative council (SRC) in Grade 9 because she wanted a bigger role in the school and its events. Her goal was to boost school spirit.
Now the co-president of the SRC alongside Eric Swirski, she believes school spirit is higher than in the past.
“I like to volunteer in the community, because I really like working with kids, and I want to be a role model for them as they’re growing up,” said Holman.
The experience as SRC co-president has been a good one, and the school has received a lot of good feedback from students.
Holman plans to study kinesiology at the University of Regina this fall, and wants to eventually become a physiotherapist.
Tytlandsvik was selected as the recipient of the community award from a field of nominees that also included Tara Kyle, Megan Lingelbach and Amanda Pukas. All nominees have found various ways to be active in the community.
She said it seems strange being nominated for things she loves to do, including creating art, making friends and helping people smile.
“Volunteering is a wonderful way to get involved in your community, so if any of you, if there is something that you see that needs to be done, or if someone asks you to help out, don’t be shy, go do it, because the rewards are immense,” said Tytlandsvik.
The other nominees know how rewarding it is to volunteer.
Tytlandsvik said she loves to do things, and being involved in the community is a great way to make a difference.
“I really like the community spirit, and just getting out there and getting involved,” said Tytlandsvik.
Among her activities in the community is her involvement with the Garden Park on Fourth Street, and she loves to see people eating lunch or relaxing in the park.
The event also had two guest speakers. Jackie Wall, who is the executive director for the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, discussed the importance of living a life with intent. Former Weyburn mayor Debra Button offered advice from what she learned during her decade as mayor.
Proceeds from the Women of Today Awards will be shared by the Envision Counselling and Support Centre, the Estevan Family Resource Centre, SMILE Services, Mental Health and Addictions, and FM sound systems in local schools.
