Brandon University celebrates Women of Distinction nominees

Brandon University (BU) is celebrating its connections with some of Westman’s most incredible and inspiring women.

YWCA Westman will hold its annual Women of Distinction Gala on Thursday, April 24, recognizing women who help to build our community and society. Many of the nominees for the Women of Distinction Awards have also made great contributions to BU, either as employees, students or alumni. 

A trio of full-time BU faculty members have been nominated for awards. Cora Dupuis, BU’s Co-operative Education Coordinator, has been nominated for the Education Mentorship Award; Rachel Herron, the Canada Research Chair in Rural and Remote Mental Health is up for the Healthy Living Recreation and Wellness Award; and Canada Research Chair in Genotoxicology Mousumi Majumder is a nominee for the Science, Technology, Trade Award. Additionally, Nikolene Day, who is both a member of the BU alumni and a sessional instructor in the Department of Business Administration, joins Dupuis as a nominee for the Education Mentorship Award.

“We’re extremely proud of the amazing impact that members of our BU community, including students, alumni, faculty and staff, make each and every day,” said Dr. Kofi Campbell, Acting President at BU. “These remarkable women are a perfect example of the leadership and lifelong learning that we help to develop on campus. I congratulate the members of our BU community and all of the nominees for their dedication and service to our community.”  

BU alumni up for awards include Mary-Jane Orr (Agriculture), Whitney Kreller-Lamont (Education Mentorship), Jolene Balciunas (Community Leadership), Sheri Connery (Community Leadership), Val Caldwell (Community Leadership), Sarah Peto (Community Leadership), Tara McCarty (Healthy Living, Recreation & Wellness), Lyndsay Seafoot (Science, Technology, Trade) and Janelle Price (Young Women of Distinction). Joining Price as a nominee for the Young Women of Distinction Award is BU student Madi Bootsman.

“Being educated at BU often means that you put down roots here and continue to contribute to the Westman region through your career, volunteer work, and family connection,” said Carla Eisler, BU’s Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations. “We have a thriving alumni network throughout Manitoba and especially here close to home, and it’s thrilling to see some familiar faces being recognized for their ongoing efforts.”

While BU has attempted to identify as many members of the BU community as possible who have been nominated for the Women of Distinction Awards, we may have missed some. If you know of anyone who should be recognized in this article, please contact us at Communications@BrandonU.ca so that we may update it. Alumni may also keep their information up to date by submitting updates at BrandonU.ca/Alumni/Info.

This is the 40^th anniversary of the Women of Distinction Awards. Event details and information about all nominees are available at YWCAWestman.ca/women-of-distinction.

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