Last night was the 2018 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in Saskatoon with a notable first. It was the first time an award was given for Leadership in the Trades which went to Devin West. West pointed out that it was not only the first time such a category was included in Saskatoon’s program but she believed it was the first time a Trades Category was recognized in Canada. West also noted that, with papers written and actually working in the trades, only 2% of those employed are women and she encouraged employers to make it a goal to hire women in the trades. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Barbara Maxwell who joined the Saskatoon Police Service in 1977 and retired just last year. She became the first woman in the Drug Unit, the first woman NCO in Detention Communications and the first woman promoted to the rank of staff Sergeant and Watch Commander.
The complete list of 2018 award winners:
29 and under: Andrea Hill
Arts, Culture and Heritage: Peggy Sarjeant
Athletics: Marie Robertson
Community Building: Kayla Brien
Education : Audrey Hestand
Entrepreneurship: Jordana Jacobson
Health and Wellness: Barbara Jiricka
Leadership in the Professions: Peggie Koenig
Leadership in the Trades: Devin West
Research and Technology: Elizaveta Petelina
Lifetime Achievement: Sandra Maxwell