ESTEVAN - The immense impact of women on the region was recognized May 2 during the 2025 Southeast Women of Distinction Awards at the Power Dodge Curling Centre.
Award recipients were Cea Anna Kerr (Innovative Leadership Award, presented by Southern Plains Co-op); Angela Smeltzer (Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award, presented by TS&M Supply); Crystal Ross (Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award, presented by Steam Est Industries); Kerison Burnett (Young Visionary Award presented by Impact Creative Digital Services); and Desiree DaSilva (Equity and Inclusion Award [non-traditional overcoming barriers], presented by Saskatchewan Blue Cross).
A total of 20 women were nominated across the five categories. The largest category was the Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award with seven nominees. Also vying for the honour were Rebecca Fedyk, Sydney Wanner, Maureen Ulrich, Debbie Wade, Brittany Brokenshire and Shannon Culy.
The other candidates for the Innovative Leadership Award were Kamri Olfert and Elicia Krupka.
Prysm Gooding was also nominated for the Young Visionary Award.
The other nominees for the Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award were Donna George, Selagh Eskra, Lianne Kenler, Brenda Mantei and Maribel Cabezudo.
Kari Lawrence was also up for the Equity and Inclusion Award (non-traditional overcoming barriers).
The Women of Distinction Awards were organized by the local Women for Women committee. Proceeds from the event will be directed towards scholarships for the Young Visionary candidates. Hundreds of people were in attendance.
The event also had a number of videos and some discussions with lessons for the audience. The Sisters of St. Joseph were inducted into the Trailblazers Memorial Walk for their contributions to St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan.
More to come.
