Women of Distinction

A successful ‘wellness’ chiropractor is an excellent example of a young woman who, through her work and accomplishments, is inspiring others and positively contributing to the health and wellness of our community. Having built a successful business, Dr. Doni recently turned her chiropractic clinic into a ‘Creating Wellness’ Centre, which is helping members achieve optimal health and also providing placement for local co-op students. Committed to improving the lives of her patients and our community, Dr. Doni volunteers her time to educate the public through free wellness talks to community groups and local newspaper articles. She co-created the ‘Get Chelmsford Fit’ program and will present at this summer’s YMCA Women’s Wellness Weekend on John Island. Dr. Janna-Marie Doni is the team chiropractor for the Sudbury Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club and Muay Thai Academy and provided chiropractic care to local Olympian figure skater, Jeffrey Buttle. She is also the treasurer and secretary of the Sudbury Society of the Ontario Chiropractic Association. Dr. Janna-Marie Doni is truly a remarkable Young Woman of Distinction.

Throughout our community, there are many special women who are doing extraordinary things with their lives. Gladys Beange, a mother of 10, grandmother of 18 and great grandmother of 3, is one of these remarkable women.

Widowed at age 44, Gladys raised her last five children as a single mom while working at K-Mart.

While nurturing her children to become successful adults, Gladys inspired and instilled in them her strong sense of ‘giving back’ and ‘service to others’. When her children were young, Gladys volunteered at her church, worked at teas and bazaars, helped with Brownies, Girl Guides, Cub
Scouts, and helped raise funds with the Women’s Auxiliary.

In her workplace, Gladys organized fashion shows to boost revenues, sat on the Christmas Social committee, organized the Lotto ticket group and now organizes re-union lunches for fellow retirees.

In her retirement, Gladys continues her community involvement as President of the Nickel Centre Seniors Bowling League and President of the Nickel Centre’s Seniors Club where she has initiated numerous innovations, improvements and events. In 2007, Gladys received the Ontario Government Senior’s Award for Volunteers.

An inspiration to her family, friends and community, Gladys is a true Woman of Distinction.

For 13 years France was CEO and co-owner of Bélanger Ford Lincoln Center, a predominantly male industry. She worked with La Société Radio Canada and was a part-time commissary of both official languages for 7 years. Presently France is Director of Employment Services at College Boréal.
She is a member of the Greater Sudbury Economic Development Committee and is Vice-Chair of the Ontario Council of Regents for the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario. In 2009 she was awarded le Prix de la Francophonie at Collège Boréal for her dedication, commitment and active participation in various francophone organizations and community events.

With a passion for the arts and culture, France has volunteered with Le Théatre du Nouvel Ontario (TNO) for over 12 years. She shares her skills and energy with countless local business and charitable organizations such as Centre pivot du triangle magique (day care center), St Joseph Parish, Run for the Cure in Sudbury, University of Sudbury, the City of Greater Sudbury and The Nickel Belt Federal Liberal riding. Thank you France for all that you’ve done and for everything you continue to do.

In 2008 Harriet received the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Occupational Disease Response TeamHarriet Conroy, a leader in social justice, was a pioneer in the creation of the Office of the Worker Advisor and has become known as the agency’s “heart”. She worked tirelessly to eliminate systemic discrimination against women and through her determination the sexist language in the former “Workman’s Compensation Act” was changed, and sections that denied compensation to widows were repealed.

Harriet’s long history of social activism began when she was a teacher and continued to flourish when she worked as a Constituency Assistant. When she chaired the Sudbury Legal Clinic Board she successfully sponsored the application to establish the Sudbury Women’s Centre. She served as the local president of OPSEU and used this platform to address systemic inequalities and to provide mentorship, particularly to women. Harriet was also a candidate for the federal election, believing that “a woman’s place is in the House of Commons”

In 2008 Harriet received the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Occupational Disease Response Team Award for her activism on behalf of injured workers. Award for her activism on behalf of injured workers.

With the passing of Betty in November 2008, Cambrian College and Sudbury lost a true leader, motivator and role model. As the former Vice President Student Services and Strategic Initiatives at Cambrian College, Betty’s legacy lives on through such initiatives as Cambrian’s Student Leadership Certificate Program, the First Nation College Experience Camp, student leadership bursaries, local, national and international college/university partnership agreements and the many initiatives and improvements she made in Student Services. Betty was one of the first women Deans and then Vice President at Cambrian College. She achieved the Fellow of the Society of Management of Accountants in 2004, was a member of the Sudbury Business and Professional Women’s Club for ten years, member of the Sudbury Manitoulin Workforce Partnership Board and Chair of the “Women of the Future Workshop Planning Committee.”

Betty served on numerous committees and was the recipient of the Ontario College Administrative Staff Association’s Distinguished Administrators Award in 2004 and the Art King Award for outstanding contribution to students in 2008/2009. Betty “set the bar high to achieve all you could be and work to realize your goals and dreams while always giving back to society…a true inspiration”

Maureen Lacroix is an esteemed community leader in the fields of health care, social housing, the arts and education. She was the first woman on the  Board of the Sudbury Regional Hospital and the first woman to chair the Laurentian University Board.

Maureen established Sudbury’s first social housing projects for women, the Northern Regional Recovery Home for Women (an addiction treatment facility) and Genevra House (a shelter for abused women). Maureen, a strong advocate for the arts was instrumental in the establishment of the Sudbury Theatre Centre.

Maureen established the steering committee to develop the Northern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre. She initiated the development of the Chair in Cancer Research,co-chaired the highly successful Heart and Soul Campaign and currently chairs the Northern Cancer Research Foundation Board.

Maureen’s extensive community involvement includes numerous health related committees, Councils and Boards, the Ontario Council of University Affairs, YWCA, the Sudbury Housing Authority, and the Employment and Immigration Canada Ministerial Advisory Board. She is dedicated, tenacious, and passionate and has worked tirelessly for the betterment of our community.

For over 10 years the Waabishki Mkwaa Singers, an Aboriginal women’s hand drum group have played an important role as teachers and leaders in our community. Committed to promoting First Nation culture and traditions, the Waabishki Mkwaa Singers offer rich teachings about First Nations culture, spiritual values and beliefs to both aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities and provide strong positive role models for women and girls.

Prior to the formation of this group there was no traditional drumming in the urban Aboriginal community in Sudbury. Today the Waabishki Mkwaa Singers continue to host regular, biweekly women’s hand drumming circles. By sharing the richness of their voices, and drumming in many community educational, arts and cultural, health , environmental and community events, they continue to demonstrate that their language and culture is strong, that women can be safe and achieve their dreams and that a more peaceful and just future is possible for all. Thank you to this group of strong, courageous women for finding their own voice, and for giving voice to women and children through the drum, a healing voice that signs of strength, courage and community.