Women in Leadership Foundation SuperWomen & Friends Winter Palace Gala
by
The Women in Leadership Foundation in Vancouver is hosting their annual gala on November 21st and they would like to invite a Miss604.com reader and a guest to attend this event.
Who:
The Women In Leadership Foundation (WIL) creates inspirational programs that bring women together to collaborate in the development of their leadership skills and creates positive change in the future of women’s leadership in Canada.
What:
2009 SuperWomen & Friends Winter Palace Gala
The gala is a celebration in honor of the SuperWomen around us (and within us) who make a difference in business, the community, and the lives of others. This luxurious Winter Wonderland of fashion, entertainment, makeovers and glamour will have a red carpet, cocktail reception, silent auction, swag bags and more.
When:
Saturday November 21st, 2009 from 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Where:
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver (that’s the brand new hotel near the new convention centre)
To enter, please leave a comment below (no more than 100 words) about a SuperWoman in your life that inspires you the most. The winner will be chosen (based on their entry) tomorrow around 3:00pm and given two tickets to the gala on Saturday.
Ticket value $165 x2
Update November 17th, 2009: Thank you to all for your inspiring entries. The winning entry has been selected by the Women in Leadership Foundation and it is by Lili Vieira de Carvalho. Congratulations and I hope you have a great time at the gala!
20 Comments — Comments Are Closed
It may sound cliche but the SuperWoman I admire and inspires me the most is my mom. She raised us kids as a single mom while working full time as a nurse with terminally ill patients. She always encouraged us to do what we love to do with integrity, a strong work ethic and most of all, a sense of humour. She always put herself last and never, ever treated herself. I’d love to take her to this event and honour her.
My super woman would be my friend Al. She is a single mom going through all the issues of dealing with a 12 year old’s angst while at the same time dealing with her own major health issues. She handles the health issues with grace and humor. She never wavers and continues to stay positive.
The child rearing, she uses some great tools to deal with the questions of dating, facebooking and the all familiar (to moms) “I’m old enough now and should be able to make my own decisions”.
All this while she works away to start her own business and juggles a relationship. She is a strong woman with integrity. She is a definite superwoman who needs to be recognized for all she does and has accomplished.
My SuperWoman is my Mom! She inspires me everyday to be a good person, a patient mother and wife and a dedicated entrepreneur. She stuck by me when I was a cranky, trouble making teenager, when I made hard decisions about my future and regardless of whether she agrees with me or not she stands by me and supports me no matter what! (all of the above applies to my SuperDad as well!)
I’m lucky to know many women who embody SuperWoman, but as soon as I saw this I knew who I must write about. My manager is truly a SuperWoman, in fact so much so that she was given a SuperWoman award last year (including a matching necklace). A lawyer and trained nurse who’s role is to advocate for healthy public policies that will prevent cancer and help those living with cancer. She leads a team of staff, and we often call her SuperWoman for her ability to manage an extremely full work portfolio, staff, as well as a balanced life (she has two toddlers!). The reason I’d call her a SuperWoman is – she truly believes in what she does, and goes above and beyond every time, and walks the talk. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with and learn from this SuperWoman!
Fortunately I have a number of strong women in my life who I greatly admire, but somebody I’d like to recognize right now is a good friend of mine who is due any day with her third child. After her second child was diagnosed with a serious genetic disease she realized her family needed lots of flexibility to deal with the inevitable hospitalizations she would be faced with, and so she opened her own business. This business continues to grow in leaps and bounds and is making a real positive contribution to young children’s lives. She and her partner decided to have a third child as part of a decision to let hope, not fear rule their lives. I’m filled with awe when I look at – not only at what she handles, but the grace with which she handles it.
Hi Rebecca,
My Mom is definitely my SuperWoman and I can’t imagine my life without her. Alzira, today a 63-year-old woman, went through tough times in her life, but overcame all the struggles.
My Mom was raised in a coffee farm in a small town called Laranja da Terra in Brazil. When she turned 21, she decided to move to Rio de Janeiro to study to become a nurse. The only way she managed to convince my Granny to agree with her plans was by becoming a nanny at my Granny’s brother’s house. My Mom would take care of his three kids during the day and go to school at night.
After she graduated, she landed a job at one of the biggest hospitals in Rio. It has been 35 years since Alzira entered Hospital da Lagoa doors for the first time! I remember going to work with her and being always greeted by her patients and coworkers. I’ve never met anyone with more passion about their profession than my Mom. She says that she will only leave the hospital when she dies, and I do believe her!
Alzira is a workaholic and a full-time outreach worker! Every single time she comes to visit me in Canada, I need to watch her carefully to not help and counsel people. You might ask me how she does it without speaking any English. I guess body language really works, especially for someone who never gives up! Yeah… That’s the type of woman that my Mom is!
When people ask her if she misses her only child, she always says that I am exactly like her. She has always supported me in every single adventure from drama classes to immigrating to Canada, she has always been there for me! However, if you ask me if I miss her, I think I won’t be a strong Heringer woman as she is, and I’ll confess that a little piece of me dies everyday for not having my favourite warm Brazilian afternoons filled with my Mom’s wisdom, smell of coffee and chocolate cake!
Take care,
Veronica
I know this may sound a bit cliche but my Superwoman is Mother Teresa. Not only did she win the Nobel Peace Prize which is quite an accomplishment for someone who came from such a humble background, but she also dedicated her entire life to help the less fortunate without expecting anything in return. In today’s material world, it’s very rare to find someone that gives generously with an open heart. By helping others in need, she also raised awareness about the impact of war on families and children and left the world a better place than what she was born into. Here’s my favorite quote from this Superwoman: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
A SuperWoman in my life is my best friend. When she was nineteen her father passed away, who she had lived with since she was two. She eventually became an alcoholic and smoked a pack a day. She has now turned her life around to healthy living and giving back to the community. She has not had a drink for seven years, quit smoking, and is now getting her masters in social work. One of her practicums was counseling prisoners with substance abuse issues. She will graduate next year and pursue a yoga instructor certification. Her love and zeal for life is inspiring.
My sister is the superwoman in my life. She has been a single mom raising 2 kids for the past 5 years. We unfortuanetly do not have very much family so there has not been a lot of ppl to help her. It is just the 3 of them and they do everything together. In addition to raising 2 young children full time and maintaining the household she also runs a buisness from the house. You have to appreciate everything a mother does but when she does it on her own it is something to praise even more. It is very inspiring.
My superhero is my friend and business partner – Paulina Lipska because she does not realize how much of an inspiration she is for others, and especially me. Paulina is one of those one in a million people that have all the amazing qualities of a best friend, revolutionary leader and cheerleader. Not only does she excel in her professional life, Paulina also contributes heavily to the development of young women. To me, Paulina has always been extremely patient and has coached me through every challenge. She also inspires and motivates me on a daily basis by being consistently committed, and authentic in what she does
My superhero is my friend Sandy. She always puts everyone else before herself. She has had a lot of health problems but is still the most positive person i know. She is the person you can rely on in the middle of the night, if you need to call her or you need a ride or emergency babysitting. I would love to win this and be able to take her.
Debora Colker is an amazingly talented Brazilian choreographer who recently got the honour to be the first woman to direct a production for the Cirque du Soleil. At 48, Deborah is petite but very, very strong. Since I immigrated from Brazil to Canada last year I have always been looking for an opportunity to make a link between my homeland and the country that welcomed me with open arms. It’s very inspiring to see a woman doing so through art and high professionalism. For two and a half years she has been sharing her time between Rio and Canada, leading over 200 professionals. The first performance of ‘Ovo’ (no title in English so far) will debut in Rio in 2012 and I hope to see it Vancouver not long after that.
I have met many people in my life that I consider as SuperWomen. However, one particular person comes to my mind and that is my dear friend Megan. Megan is 25 years old and she held a fundraiser for Sechelt Search and Rescue team just last night, as a memorial tribute to her husband she lost just a year ago from a plane crash. Her positive and amazing spirits inspire everyone who knows her. She shines and brightens up the room wherever she goes with her exuberant smiles and positive energy. Although her loss was tragic beyond words and her heart is left broken, she continues to live life to the fullest by being involved in many extra curriculm activities, provides scholarships to the school her husband went, and simply spreading LOVE to everyone who supports her. She is currently going to nursing school with me, and inspires people through her compassionate nursing work as well. She cares about her friends and gives all to her friends. She surrounds herself and others with love. She is truly one inspiring spirit I can call SuperWoman.
My superwoman is my girlfriend. She is the sweetest woman I’ve ever known. We care so much about each other. She inspires me to get up and work.
My super great granddaughter is my superwoman (even though I consider her more of a supergirl because she is 4). My little Ellie is so smart and caring. When she knows something is wrong, she runs over and gives me a hug. The things she says are so thoughtful! What a dear.
My mom is my superhero. To start with, if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t even be here. She has always set high standards and inspired me to be the best that I can be. As a nurse, she spends her work days helping people. When she’s not working, she loves and supports me, my father, my siblings, and anyone blessed enough to run into her. I hope to follow her footsteps in my own way as an elementary school teacher: Inspiring others to be all they can be.
My mom inspires me the most. She is always the one that looks out for us, keeps the family together and centered. We weren’t born here. We were poor immigrants and even though my mother didn’t know the language, she struggled to provide for the family.
My sister, hands down. She basically raised herself (my mom was a single mom and a business woman and left my sister to be raised by random family members to concentrate on her career). My sister is 10 years older than me, raised me and made me the woman I am today. She is one of the most hardworking individuals I know.
At the age of 23, she worked her way up as a CSR at a bank and within 6 months became assistant manager. After being in a dead end relationship for 7 years, she broke it off to better herself, met her husband 3 months later and they have been together for 12 years and have 3 beautiful children. She has taught me that everything I do, I have to have love in my heart for it, whether it’s cooking a dinner, finishing a project for work or spending time with friends. I see her demonstrate that everytime she cooks a 8 course meal for her family or plans a party for her husband. She does not half-ass ANYTHING and puts her whole heart into everything she does.
There is nothing sad about my sister’s life. We are strong women and she has taught me nothing less short of being empowered because of it.
My SuperWoman is my best friend Jenny.
She has devoted herself to teaching for an alternative school. Rather then have her own children it seems like she has 90! She offers them the type of support and encouragement many have never felt or heard before. These are the children of our society who have been forced to grow up too quickly, who are often beaten down and forgotten about. We are just so lucky to have someone like Jenny in our midst who sees them, sees their potential and will take on the challenge of getting them to see it for themselves.
Most days her only wish is that she could do more for all of the people in her life. My wish is that I could do something for her to celebrate the fact that, as well as being an amazing teacher, she is a fantastic friend and woman.
Perhaps you have even taken into consideration adding a little pic to most of the writings articles that can maintain the readers even more ideas? Which i suggest I usually do read along the entire post created by yours also this seemed to be quite great although due to I?m more a visual learner