YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Recipients 2026
Tonight in Vancouver, YWCA BC announced the recipients of the 43rd Women of Distinction Awards, presented by Scotiabank.
YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Recipients 2026
A new fundraising record for the event was achieved as over $800,000 was raised by donors throughout the night in support of YWCA BC’s Housing Fund!
There were 97 incredible nominees, across 12 categories. The recipients by category are:
- Arts, Culture & Design: Barbara Lee, Founder and President, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
- Business & the Professions: Shannon Salter, KC, Deputy Minister, Office of the Premier and King’s Counsel
- Community Champion: Vanessa Wideski, Founder, Low Entropy
- Education, Training & Development: Tamara E. Pongracz, Department Head, Trades Access, BCIT
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Sumreen Kaur Rattan, Co-Founder and COO, Moment Energy
- Environmental Sustainability: Christine Rigby, Manager, Climate Action and Air Quality, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
- Health & Wellness: Dr. Shelina Babul, Director and Sports Injury Specialist, BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit
- Non-Profit: Lilian Chau, CEO, Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society
- Reconciliation In Action: Dr. Amy Parent, Sigidmnak Noxs Ts’aawit, Associate Professor, Simon Fraser University
- Ally: Anne Zhong, Manager, Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, TELUS
- Research, the Sciences & Technology: Kathryn Hayashi, Former President and CEO of TRIUMF Innovations
- Young Woman of Distinction: Chloe Goodison, Founder and Executive Director, NaloxHome Society
- Outstanding Workplace: BC Infrastructure Benefits Inc.
- Connecting the Community Award: Sukhman Kaur Dhillon, Co-Founder and Lead Instructor, Hands for Life Foundation
About the Awards
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards celebrate individuals and organizations whose outstanding contributions foster the well-being, strength and future of our community. These awards honour all women, including trans women. The YWCA strongly encourages nominations that recognize the contributions of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, as well as 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
As a signature fundraising event, the Awards not only highlight the nominees’ achievements but also unite our diverse community in a shared mission to empower and uplift one another.
Since its inception in 1984, the awards have been a cornerstone for celebrating progress and advancing gender equity. Over the past 42 years, the event has honoured nearly 2,300 exceptional nominees who inspire change and drive meaningful impact.
Follow YWCA BC on Facebook for more information.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, since 2010.
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