YWCA of Moncton Women of Distinction - Winners Announced!

May 28, 2009

For Immediate Release



Press Release

YWCA of Moncton Women of Distinction



The YWCA Moncton's annual Women of Distinction Awards and Fundraising Dinner will be held on Thursday, June 11; at La Teraz from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. This extraordinary evening will provide a chance to meet and greet the recipients of the Women of Distinction Awards. These awards will recognize women who through their own initiative, ability and effort, have made an exemplary contribution to the community and to their own field of interest.



Sponsored by the Majesta brand of household paper products, Wilma Evans of RBC Dominion Securities, Sullivan Homes, and La Teraz.


2009 Winners


Women in Art & Culture Susan Chalmers-Gauvin

A woman who has enriched the cultural life of our community through her work in the arts.



Founder and CEO of Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, Susan Chalmers-Gauvin has been the driving force behind the Company. She has over 20 years of management and consulting experience in the not-for-profit sector and has brought an extensive expertise in organizational development, strategic planning and evaluation to her position with the organization. Ms. Chalmers-Gauvin has been responsible for the strategic and financial development of the Company over the past seven years, including overseeing growth in both government and private sector sources. She has also placed a strong focus on business development, revenue growth and export and has worked to position Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada as a cultural force both nationally and internationally. Ms. Chalmers-Gauvin co-founded Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada with Artistic Director Igor Dobrovolskiy in 2001, with a vision to establish an internationally ranked professional ballet company of high artistic standard that would serve and represent the Atlantic region across Canada and around the world. A key goal within this mandate was to contribute to the cultural and social quality of life of Atlantic Canada through education and community outreach programs. The unparalleled and early success of Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada has been the result of Ms. Chalmers-Gauvin’s commitment to artistic excellence, but also her innovative and forward-thinking vision in building this arts organization based on a business/export model. The business approach to the organization has been recognized through awards from the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce and the Pan-Atlantic Export Initiative. The success of Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada has opened doors for additional artistic development within the Atlantic region.





Women in Wellness Kristine Acker

A woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the well-being of woman in our community.



Kris Acker was born and grew up in Shelburne, Nova Scotia the youngest of four girls. It was during those years that Kris developed her interest in sports, teamwork and community, and it was this foundation that later contributed to her growing a running culture here in Moncton. After high school Kris attended Mount Saint Vincent University and graduated with a

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. She later earned her diploma in Computer Systems, Management and Support after which she worked for a physiotherapy clinic in Halifax and a compounding pharmacy in Ottawa. Through those years, Kris lived in Halifax and Ottawa where she began what would become a 9-year career with Canada’s independently-owned running store, the Running Room. When founder John Stanton conceived of the type of business that would become more than a store, but a resource and support system for recreational runners and would-be runners, Kris took up the challenge. After a few years with the Running Room in Ottawa, Kris managed the first New Brunswick store here in Moncton in 2002 and so the culture of running began in the Moncton area. From the few intrepid lonely runners in the city before then to the hundreds of people running and walking their way to wellness today, many have Kris to thank. Running clinics, coaching, run clubs, fun runs and other running events typically see Kris as she covers the kilometres motivating runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Named Canada’s Manager of the Year in 2004, Kris became Atlantic Canada’s Regional Manager for the Running Room in 2006 sharing her love of running and wellness in communities around the region….but none better than here in Moncton!


Women in Work Wilma Evans

A woman who has made an outstanding achievement in a private, public, or a not-for-profit company.

Wilma began her investment management career in 1996 with RBC Dominion Securities, an affiliate of the Royal Bank of Canada. During her career with Dominion Securities, she has continued to study and upgrade her knowledge, while building her business. In 2006, Wilma received her Certified Investment Management designation, an accreditation which allows her to manage portfolios on a discretionary basis. Wilma is among a handful of Investment Advisors in New Brunswick to achieve this level of expertise in her Profession and part of an elite group of Investment Advisors with the necessary accreditation and proven track record to receive the industry designation of Portfolio Manager (the highest designation within the field). She manages a growing business of individual, corporate and non-profit clients and attributes her ability to listen to her clients and to find wealth management solutions specifically designed to meet individual needs, as the main factors for success in her chosen profession. Her close relationship with her clients and the day to day challenges of her Profession inspire her every working day. Wilma sponsors a Ladies Only Golf Clinic every June to raise funds for the Atlantic Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. She has also provided sponsorship and funding for YWCA events, the local Osteoporosis Society, the Hillsborough Fashion Show fund raiser and the Moncton Public Library. She has chaired the Women in Business Committee of the Moncton Chamber of Commerce and is Past President of the Business and Professional Women’s club and served as a board member at the National level of that organization.





Women in Public & Community Service Sue Calhoun

A woman who through her involvement and participation has made her community a better place to live.


Sue Calhoun has been involved in public and community service all her adult life. She was a co-founder of the Kitchener-Waterloo Women’s Centre in the early 1970s. She was a member of the Atlantic Board of Directors of OXFAM-Canada (1979-89), Dialogue New Brunswick (1990-93), the NB Judicial Council (1996-99) and the National Advisory Committee on Rural Issues (2002-05). In 1992, Sue helped parents to take over Shediac’s only daycare centre, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, and to turn it into a parent’s co-operative. She was the founding President for four years, and was named “Volunteer of the Year” by the Acadian Co-operative Movement as a result. Sue’s passion is the education and empowerment of women. She was president of the Moncton Business & Professional Women’s (BPW) Club (2002-04), NB-BPW Provincial President (2004-06), 1st Vice-president nationally (2006-08), and is currently national president of the Canadian Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs. In 2006, Sue helped to found the Club des femmes de carrière du Sud-est du Nouveau-Brunswick, the first francophone BPW club outside Québec. Through her company, Calhoun Research and Development, Sue has worked with senior levels of government, communities and women in business as well as with people who need their belongings moved from an emergency shelter to an apartment. Sue believes that all people have value, and that we all have a responsibility to give back to our community as much as we can. Sue lives in Moncton with her daughter Raphaëlle.





Women in Volunteerism Patricia Harknett

A woman who has contributed to making a difference in the lives of others through community service.

Patricia Harknett was brought up in a household that considered volunteer involvement to be part of everyday activity. As an adult she was fortunate to find a professional home with Midland Transport Limited; who as an employer encouraged her to positively impact change not only at work but within our community as well. With the ongoing support of her family & Midland she joined the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce, served on various committees and the Board where in 2001 she became the 3rd woman to chair the organization. Professional volunteerism is a continuing theme with Pat and over the years she has served on various committees and the Boards of the Atlantic Institute of Logistics and Transportation and the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority. She currently sits on the Board of Moncton Industrial Development and Medavie Blue Cross’ Client Advisory Committee. Pat plays an active role in the Human Resources Association of New Brunswick and was on the volunteer steering committee of last year’s very successful Atlantic Canada Human Resources Conference – Taking Flight. On the community side Pat has volunteered with CNIB, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Greater Moncton Community Foundation and the Memorial Cup committee. She is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Board for the United Way of Greater Moncton & SENB and is chair of registration for the upcoming QMJHL Draft. When asked about volunteering Pat says; “I encourage each of you to become involved in areas that will make a positive difference in our community. I can assure you that what you give you will get back tenfold.”



Lifetime Achievement Gabrielle Maillet

A Woman who has devoted many years of her life to women’s issues or to her community.


Gabrielle is a maverick that is known to go against the current in whatever employment or committee she belongs to. She graduated in 1972 from the Université de Moncton with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. She has held many positions: Protection Worker at Social Services, activist in the 1975 International Women's Year, Boys' and Girls' Club, therapist with Family Services Moncton, Inc., Recreation Director with the City of Dieppe, Social Director with Co-op Atlantic, and life insurance salesperson. Eventually she was hired as a Victim Services Coordinator with the Provincial Department of Public Safety in December, 1986 and she has been there ever since. Her clients are seldom able to advocate on their own behalf and she has made it her mission to become their voice and to question the status quo. Since 1975 she has supervised students from the Université de Moncton and St. Thomas University in the Bachelor’s of Social Work program. This has been one of her proudest accomplishments: to be part of shaping future social workers, sharing her beliefs and values, guiding them in a most difficult profession and helping them find their strengths and limitations. She is a founding member of the Coalition Against Abuse in Relationships and was President from its inception in 1990 until 2006, and continues to be an active member. She thanks the members of the Coalition for nominating her.





Please join us in celebrating the achievements of the 2009 winners and the YWCA Women’s Resource Centre which works actively to improve the lives of women and their families in Metro Moncton.







Christina Guthrie, CMA

Executive Director

YWCA of Moncton l A Turning Point for Women

506-855-4349 ywcamctn@nbnet.nb.ca

www.ywcamoncton.com