OLDS — Six women from Olds and one from Innisfail have been nominated for the 2020 Red Deer & District Community Foundation’s Women of Excellence awards.
They are: Carol Johnston of Olds in Arts, Culture & Heritage; Joy Cavin and Andrea Hawiuk of Olds as well as Erika Fetterly of Innisfail in Community Building; Valerie Norman-Organ of Olds in Education and Training; Jody Carrington of Olds in Health and Wellness and Raelynn Notley of Olds in Human Services.
In total, 48 women from across Central Alberta have been nominated for outstanding achievements and contributions in their communities.
The winners will be announced during the foundation’s 13th annual Women of Excellence Awards gala, which will be held Saturday, June 13.
However, there’ll be a twist with this year’s gala. Due to the pandemic, the event will be held virtually, via Zoom.
“All guests are invited to get all dressed up, just as they would any other year for the Women of Excellence Awards gala,” a news release says.
The proceeds of each ‘ticket’ will go toward funding the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which was created to provide registered charities with short-term urgent funding.
Carol Johnston
Johnston has had a lifelong passion for arts and culture.
Among other things, she formed a band parent association and coordinated the Kiwanis Club of Olds and District fundraising campaign to buy seats for the TransCanada Theatre.
She also helped create the Olds Kiwanis Performing Arts Society and served as its program director for 11 years.
In addition, Johnston served on the boards of the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society, Olds Kiwanis Music Festival and the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta.
Joy Cavin
Cavin is a volunteer or committee member in more than 13 organizations.
She has helped raise more than $220,000, which has gone directly back into local communities.
Cavin has been involved in Air Cadets for 16 years and continues to mentor at ATB as part of a sub committee through Ellevate, a women’s encouragement and support program.
She is also co-chair of Local Women Unite, a local women’s empowerment group that celebrates and hosts affordable events to bring women together.
Cavin has also helped organize many auctions and events to help families in need.
Andrea Hawiuk
During the past 44 years, Hawiuk has raised thousands of dollars for the Olds & District Hospice Society, Olds and District Special Olympics and programs that address mental health.
In 1984, she started Moonbeams and Miracles, an annual concert to raise money for local charities.
In 2016, after learning of a family who lost their mother to suicide, Hawiuk spearheaded The Conversation Has To Happen, a one-day conference on suicide and depression held every September in Olds.
Its goal is to increase local knowledge of mental health illnesses, including how and where to get help.
Another goal is to decrease the stigma of mental illness and overcome isolation and loneliness for people and their family and friends who are struggling with the disease.
Since its inception, more than 1,000 people have attended that conference.
In October 2016, Hawiuk was highlighted on CTV’s Inspiring Albertans for her philanthropic work in the community.
Erika Fetterly
Fetterly is the mother of two boys, one who has special needs.
She is a strong advocate for his education and his place in the community.
Fetterly, a local photographer who works with people of all gender identities, also operates a page on Facebook with more than 900 members.
“It is a safe space for women everywhere to find their voice free from fear of judgement and where lifelong friendships are made,” the Red Deer & District Community Foundation’s website says.
Valerie Norman-Organ
Norman-Organ is the assistant principal of Holy Trinity School in Olds.
She is a Tahltan/Kaska First Nation Catholic educator who helps students, staff and community members understand and appreciate Indigenous culture.
She “recognizes the potential in every child,” according to the Red Deer & District Community Foundation’s website.
During her career, Norman-Organ has taught in a wide variety of communities, including a First Nations Arctic settlement as well as capital cities in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Norman-Organ is a board member of the Olds Rapids Swim Club and an active member of St. Stephen’s Catholic Church.
Jody Carrington
Carrington, a local child psychologist, has assessed, treated, educated and empowered people for more than 15 years.
She completed a year-long internship with the RCMP working alongside families struggling with chronic illness at the Ronald McDonald House.
Carrington received her master’s and PhD in psychology at the University of Regina.
Her book, Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting with those we Teach, Lead & Love (2019) is on Amazon’s Best Sellers List.
Raelynn Notley
Notley is a registered social worker. She has practised in Central Alberta for more than 20 years with a strong focus on promoting mental health and wellness in others.
“Raelynn’s goal is to provide opportunities for children, youth and families to develop skills to maximize their potential,” the Red Deer & District Community Foundation’s website says.
Notley is currently a mental health program manager for the Chinook's Edge School Division’s Youth Empowerment & Support (YES) program and chair of the Boys and Girls Club of Olds and District.
During the gala, a lifetime achievement award will be presented to a woman has been a role model for many years.
