Minister honours female award winners

Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, is pleased to honour a number of women who have recently received, provincial, national and international recognition for their contributions to the social and economic fabric of our province.

Allison Dancy, an employee at Memorial University�s Oil and Gas Development Partnership office, has been chosen as one of 50 Key Women in Energy. This recognizes her contributions within the energy sector internationally. She was selected out of 425 women from 45 countries and recently accepted her honour at a ceremony in Texas.

Another four women were recognized over the weekend at the 11th Annual YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards as being good role models for other women.

Anita Best is a well-known Newfoundland performer. She has made an outstanding contribution to the protection of the intangible cultural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador with her personal efforts in collecting and recording the traditional music of this province. Anita currently works for the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation as the cultural policy development officer.

Ruth Canning is a successful real estate agent who is an active leader in the preservation of the built heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. In recent years she has been chair of the provincial Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and received national recognition for her role on the board of Heritage Canada.

Judi Kelloway is a devoted wife and who, during her career as a teacher, instilled in her students a love of music and soccer. Although now retired, she is an active volunteer in her community and continues her involvement with soccer through the Burin Minor Soccer Association and with the Canadian Women�s Soccer team tournament.

Kimberley Mullins certainly lives up to the title of Young Woman of Distinction as bestowed upon her by the awards selection committee. Although still in her early 20s, Ms. Mullins is currently in the final stages of defending her PhD in performance and political communication. Today she serves as executive assistant to the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, Kathy Dunderdale.

"As Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, I would like to personally thank them for the role they play in advancing the social and economic equality of women in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Burke. "They have become shining examples of the spirit of women. They represent our strength, our optimism and our drive and we all should take pride in their work. On behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, I also commend the YWCA-YMCA for their service to furthering the status of women by sponsoring these awards."

In addition to these five remarkable women, Donna Butt, Susan Dyer Knight and Nancy Riche have all been selected recently to receive the Order of Canada.

Through the Rising Tide Theatre Company, Donna Butt has provided a vibrant showcase of the culture and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly through her commitment to staging plays about the province which have been written by its residents. As the director of the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir, Susan Dyer Knight has enthralled audiences across Canada and around the world and Nancy Riche�s considerable service to the province is demonstrated in her 30 years as an activist, trade unionist and feminist within the labour movement.

"These are just a few examples of the extraordinary contributions being made each day, in both large and small ways, by women in every community of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Burke. "We celebrate these achievements and offer our congratulations to these women recipients for their outstanding achievements and service to community."

Media contact: Kelly Foss, Women�s Policy Office, (709) 729-6225

2004 06 02                                        8:55 a.m.