BU employees and alumnae honoured as Women of Distinction

Several Brandon University (BU) alumnae and employees were in the spotlight last week as the YWCA Brandon celebrated the accomplishments of area women at the annual Women of Distinction Gala.

Brandon University partnered with Assiniboine Community College to sponsor the Education and Mentorship award, which was presented to Deidre Gregory, the Indigenous Student Transition Co-ordinator at BU.

Other recipients included BU Dean of Science Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, who was presented with the newly created Science, Technology and Trade Award, and Dr. Cathy Mattes, who recently left the IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual Art at BU for a position at the University of Winnipeg. Dr. Mattes was the recipient of the Arts and Culture Award.

Gregory, who is also a graduate of BU, was one of three alumnae who were award recipients, joining Debra Mason, who was honoured for Lifetime Achievement, and Andrea Epp, who was recognized in the category of Business, Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Several of the other nominees have also studied at BU, including Whitney Hodgins, Carolynn Cancade, Ann Germani, Barbara Scott, Barbara McNish, Leah Lazaruk and Lisa Rowley.

“The YWCA Brandon Board of Directors are proud and honoured to provide space to recognize all the amazing nominees and winners,” said Kristin Jette, Chair of the YWCA Brandon and another BU employee, as the University’s Enterprise Resource Planning System Co-ordinator. “It feels extra special to honour our BU colleagues.”

When Jette’s term as Chair of the YWCA Brandon board ends, they will be replaced by a BU colleague as Vice-Chair Candice Waddell-Henowitch steps into the role. Waddell-Henowitch teaches in BU’s Psychiatric Nursing program.

For more information on the Women of Distinction and biographies of the recipients, please visit WomenOfDistinctionBrandon.com.

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