The Women of Influence Awards 2020 were awarded today, recognizing local women who have made a strong impact by promoting equality, providing opportunities for women in the community and breaking barriers in their field.

The Young Woman of Influence Award was presented to Erica Fisher. Erica was nominated for her work in building a diverse and inclusive newsroom at 2DayFM and MyGrandePrairieNow.com, as well as her allyship and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Erica has been an active member of Grande Prairie Pride, currently serving as President of the Board of Directors and previously spearheading a public art contest promoting Grande Prairie as a welcoming, inclusive and diverse community. The contest was created as a response to the vandalism of the PRIDE rainbow crosswalk and was featured in the “Painting Pride” Telus STORYHive documentary.

The Trailblazing Woman of Influence Award was presented to Holly Sorgen. Holly has served as the Executive Director for Community Futures since 2005 on top of owning her own business coaching and facilitation company where she develops and delivers training related to employment, business and entrepreneurship. Holly has been involved in the development and facilitation of several community economic development projects including through her professional roles on the Community Futures Alberta Board, the provincial Professional Development Committee, the Pan-West Community Futures Professional Development Committee and GroYourBiz Advisory Board for woman entrepreneurs. Holly is an avid Rotarian and dedicated mentor for emerging women leaders.

The Distinguished Woman of Influence Award was presented to Kari Speaker Smith. A true trailblazer, Kari was the first female partner at Fletcher Mudryk LLP and its predecessor companies, leading the way as half of the partners and associates are now women. Described as an advocate for all of the women working for her, Kari has worked tirelessly to support the women she works with in their education and professional development so they too may become leaders in their field. Kari continues to prove herself as a great inspiration through her volunteerism, connection to the community and devotion to family.

“Being a part of providing an opportunity to recognize the power of women’s achievements is a privilege.  It is inspiring to see how many community members come together during International Women’s Day to celebrate,” says Angela Sutherland, Community Social Development Manager.

“Increasing and advancing women’s opportunities leads to stronger families, successful businesses, and thriving communities. Congratulations to all of our award recipients and nominees!”

Grande Prairie is known for its vibrancy, entrepreneurship and continuous growth and these awards are a way to show appreciation for the many ways that women are making significant contributions to our social and economic development.

Background

The Women of Influence Awards were created to commemorate International Women’s Day in Grande Prairie. International Women’s Day (IWD) is an event recognized world-wide to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and to advocate for the continued advancements of equal rights. The 2020 theme is “Each for Equal” calling for each of us individually to take collective action towards equality.

The Women of Influence Awards are brought to you by the City of Grande Prairie, the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundations of Northwest Alberta, PACE, Odyssey House and Curry’s Jewellers.