The 6th annual PRISM Awards, presented by Business Women of Moose Jaw (BWMJ), spent the evening of Mar. 2 celebrating the influence of 21 local women, highlighting their accomplishments and contributions to the community.
The event took place at the Macoun Lounge at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and presented awards to seven women in the categories of Perseverance, Role Model, Influential, Successful, Mentor, Youth Achievement, and Lifetime Achievement. Each nominee was carefully chosen based upon personal and community achievements, as well as their tremendous influence in the community.
This year’s theme was Strength and Sparkle, which BWMJ President Sharleen Froats says is fitting to describe this year’s nominees, and also perfectly describes the exclusively-designed necklaces from Fifth Avenue Collections presented as this year’s awards.
Award winners for each category are as follows: Emmy Barr, Perseverance; NIcole Radfelder, Role Model; Crystal Froese, Influential; Kyra Klassen, Successful; Bonnie Nelson, Mentor; Kaia Isenor, Youth Achievement; Betty Butler, Lifetime Achievement.
This year’s guest speaker was Christine Boyczuk, the recipient of the 2016 PRISM Lifetime Achievement award, and had some kind advice to offer during her speech.
“We are all different, we have different strengths we bring in order to make a difference. And it's really quite wonderful the way in which we come together, to do things together, with all these different strengths, and we need all these strengths in order to make a committee, business, community, to make a great country,” said Boychuk. “So, know yourself and know these strengths, and use them to make a difference.”
The PRISM Awards Gala acts as a fundraiser for the Moose Jaw Transition House, and has raised over $100,000 for the group over the years. Executive Director Jenn Angus offered her gratitude to the BWMJ for their role in the community.
“As a Canadian, we are fortunate to have an organization like the Business Women of Moose Jaw to provide women in leadership with a support system for their voices,” said Angus. “I am incredibly grateful to be the recipient of the funds raised here tonight. We have surrounded ourselves with a group of people who are so devoted to helping women succeed, and there is real power in that.”
