The nominees for the YWCA Regina's Nutrien Women of Distinction Awards were released on March 24 in the Queen City, and three local women were among those who were nominated.
Brady Johnson, who owns Encompass Fitness Studio, is up for the Contribution to a Rural Community Award. Brenda Lyons is nominated for the Wellness, Recreation and Healthy Living Award for her work with the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swim club and other initiatives.
And Evanne Wilhelm is vying for the Education and Mentorship Award for her efforts with the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS).
A total of 44 women from across southern Saskatchewan are nominated in the 11 categories.
Johnson said bringing fitness to rural communities has been a priority for her through her business.
“I would like to see fitness and health brought not only to our community, but to all communities in the Prairies and southeast Saskatchewan … creating a space that not just focuses on fitness but health in general,” said Johnson. “I like to think of it as a community within the community.”
She was nominated by her friend Ashlyn George, who was the Saskatchewanderer tourism ambassador in 2015, after George found out about Johnson’s efforts to improve the lives of people in Estevan.
Johnson said she is inspired by the other women in Estevan, not just by Lyons and Wilhelm, but those who weren’t nominated.
“We have so many amazing and fabulous women in our community who make a difference at a community level, at a corporate level,” said Johnson.
And it sets a standard that Estevan has three nominees for the Women of Distinction Awards.
“For me, I know that whenever I see one woman who is making a difference, there’s always a tribe around her, and so to see three women means that there are a lot of women working together in the community to do great things, and I think that’s outstanding,” said Johnson.
Without the support system she has around her, Johnson said she wouldn’t be able to do the things she does.
Lyons was nominated by the Synchro Sask. board for the contributions she has made to that sport on a provincial level and at a local level with the Mermaids. She was also saluted for her work with initiatives like the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games, and organizations such as Estevan Minor Baseball, and youth and high school football.
“Many years ago, I was pretty involved with the arts council,” said Lyons. “Until 2015, I was the co-chair for Koncerts for Kids, bringing in programming.”
The category is an important one for Lyons, because she wants to see children have programming that meets their needs, and contributes to them being happy and well-rounded.
“I want to see every kid have the opportunity to find their passion, and every kid have an opportunity to become well and a contributor to society,” said Lyons. “That’s always been my passion is to have that great programming.
“And I always say that with my coaching. I’m not there to create synchronized swimmers. I’m there to create excited and engaged and passionate young people in our society, who understand the value of volunteering and the value of positive self-worth.”
Lyons said it’s an honour when someone believes that she’s done something worthy of recognition.
“There are so many people who do so many things, that I feel very humbled that they chose to nominate me for various initiatives, because it’s a big process to nominate someone, so I appreciate that they took the time and energy to do that,” said Lyons.
The reception on Saturday was a great event, she said, and it was exciting to see the different categories that are offered. It was amazing to hear the bios of the nominees, and the work that people do every day, and how people choose to put their time and efforts and resources to make Saskatchewan a fantastic place to live.
“It was interesting to be in the room with so many dynamic women and to hear what they do,” said Lyons. “I wish I would have had the chance to get to know more of them that day.”
Wilhelm said two students at the Estevan Comprehensive School, Levi Stepp and Abby Hanna, took the lead in nominating her. They talked to other people about the nomination package regarding Wilhelm’s contributions to the community, her background and her life experience.
“And that was the category that they chose,” said Wilhelm. “They read the descriptions of the category, and decided that was the one that best fit the influence that I have had on their lives.”
She noted there was also a fine arts category, which is the subject area she teaches in. But Wilhelm said education and mentorship are the reasons she was nominated.
The nominators didn’t tell Wilhelm about their plans until after all the information had been compiled.
“I saw some of the things that people had written about me and reference letters they had written, or statements that they had all put together in this package as part of this nomination,” said Wilhelm. “I was very, very touched by it. I still haven’t been able to read through the entire thing, because I just get really emotional every time I look at it, and I just feel so overwhelmed with gratitude.”
It’s also unique for teachers to receive this kind of feedback from students when those students are still in school.
“There are often times that you meet with students after they graduate, or they go onto post-secondary education, and then you hear back from them about the influence you had on their lives,” said Wilhelm.
The nominees’ reception was a pretty incredible experience, she said. There are incredible women nominated in her category as well.
“It’s something different than what I’ve experience in the business community, or even in the education sector, being in that room with women empowering other women,” said Wilhelm.
The winners will be announced at a gala on April 26, and all three women say they are looking forward to the banquet.
“It’s amazing to see and hear what other women are doing,” said Johnson. “It’s just so unique the gifts that each woman has. I love hearing their stories and … being able to support and encourage them.”
