Saturday March 8th is International Women’s Day and nine women from Muskoka will be honoured at the 19th Women of Distinction Awards Gala at Hidden Valley Resort in Huntsville. There will be 6 YWCA Muskoka Women of Distinction recipients and 2 King Charles III Coronation Medal Recipients being awarded. Additionally, the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce will be awarding the Women in Construction Award to Jacqui Kramer, Project Manager at Fowler Construction.
Aline Nizigama, National CEO at YWCA Canada, is the evening’s keynote speaker and is a leader in gender equity, affordable housing, childcare, workplace equity, youth leadership, and eliminating gender-based violence. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor’s in Health Policy from York University, and an executive certificate from Yale University on Fostering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Aline has extensive experience with equity-deserving groups and received the Governor General’s King Charles III Coronation Commemoration medal in 2024.
Here is a look at the incredible women making our communities better.
Dr. Eva Olsson – The King Charles III Coronation Medal Recipient
Dr. Eva Olsson was nominated for her role as a peacemaker. As a holocaust survivor whose family was annihilated in the concentration camps, Dr. Olsson is an educator with a passion to eradicate hatred. She has shared her life story and message of hope over 3,800 times across the country, including the United Nations. Countless have been inspired by Dr. Olsson to rise up against discrimination and hatred. She has published two books – one a Canada bestseller – and a bio documentary has been made about her life.
Penny Varney – The King Charles III Coronation Medal Recipient
Penny Varney was nominated for her dedication to the community of Gravenhurst through her participation in the BIA, the high school breakfast program, Megan’s Walk to support children with brain cancer and the Spring into Summer Art Crawl. Varney was a founding member of the Women’s Centre and is an accomplished goldsmith who owns Penny Varney Jewellery Gallery & Gifts. She is also founder of the Arts at the Albion and is currently in her second term as a Gravenhurst Councillor.
Britney Hammell – Young Woman of Distinction
Britney Hammell’s commitment to helping others led her to the University of Ottawa where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Health Science. She volunteered at the Peer Help Centre, led youth mental health initiatives, and her research has been peer-reviewed and presented at a variety of psychological conferences in Ontario. In Muskoka she volunteered as a PPE Procurement volunteer and with Muskoka Victim Services as a Crisis Responder. She is now in the Master of Arts in Applied Psychology program at Laurentian University.
Gayle Dempsey – Arts, Culture, and Creativity
As an artist and creative entrepreneur, Gayle’s career has spanned 3 decades, reflecting a passion for arts, culture and community development. Alongside her partner Gary Froude, she rebirthed Muskoka Chautauqua, an iconic 100-year old cultural institution and multidisciplinary arts and education organization. Gayle has spearheaded numerous community projects, including the national ArtsSmarts program and a new cultural center in Port Carling. She is currently the Artist in Residence at Muskoka Place Gallery.
Leslie Tempest – Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Leslie Tempest, a physiotherapist with 32 years of experience, has made a lasting impact on the Huntsville community through her dedication to wellness and community service. She is the owner of
ProActive Rehab & Sport Injury Center and takes pride in mentoring younger clinicians. Beyond her career, Leslie has been an active community member, volunteering with local charities including The Children’s Foundation of Muskoka, The Table Soup Kitchen and Hospice Huntsville.
Tracy Nickles – Transforming Community
Tracy Nickles is a volunteer and public speaker dedicated to poverty reduction and gender-based violence prevention. She volunteers with families whose children who have disabilities, particularly on the autism spectrum. While at Home Depot, Tracy and her team raised funds for Muskoka’s local women’s shelters. She uses her personal experiences to help others through her volunteer work with
the YWCA’s Getting Ahead Program and her website, Nickles and Cents. She also helped develop the “Together We Thrive Cookbook”, which offers healthy meal ideas using food bank items.
Sarah Roberts – Health, Sports, and Wellness
Sarah Roberts is an Assistant Coach, Assistant trainer and Team Manager for the Huntsville Girls Hockey Association. As Chair of the Irwin Memorial Parent Council she helps with the school gardening program to advocate for healthy, local food for all. She has coached the Muskoka United Girls and was a Girl Guide Leader. As owner/operator of The Acres Driving Range, Sarah hosts community fundraising events and donates to local fundraising initiatives. She was a key part of efforts to ensure that a Syrian family was welcomed and supported when they sought refuge in Huntsville.
Beth Ward – Lifetime Achievement
Beth Ward has an unwavering dedication to community service and a passion for improving the lives of women and children. Through decades of leadership, advocacy, and mentorship Beth has transformed the landscape of her community, leaving a legacy of service and empowerment. Beth served as Executive Director at Community Living Huntsville & YWCA Muskoka. Beth’s leadership also helped women navigate the challenges of breast cancer at Willow Breast Cancer Support Services.
Jacqui Kramer – Muskoka Lakes Chamber Woman In Construction Award
With over 30 years of experience in civil road building, Jacqui has proven herself to be an exceptional leader, mentor, and role model for her crew and colleagues. Her unwavering commitment to her craft, paired with her deep knowledge and expertise, makes her a standout in a traditionally male-dominated field. Jacqui’s dedication to her work is unmatched—she consistently gives 150 percent in everything she does. Whether she’s overseeing complex road projects, troubleshooting on the fly, or ensuring safety standards are met, Jacqui’s attention to detail and work ethic are a constant source of inspiration to those around her. She leads by example, setting the standard for what it means to be truly dedicated to one’s trade.
