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Honouring Women and Girls in Oakville

Kevin Flynn  &  wife, Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities Award, Oakville News | Building Communities Award
Kevin Flynn & wife, Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities Award, Oakville News | Building Communities Award

Ontario is celebrating International Women’s Week by recognizing eight women and girls in Oakville who have made a positive difference.

Established in 2006, Ontario’s Leading Women/Leading Girls, Building Communities Award recognizes women and girls whose exceptional leadership has improved the lives of others in their communities.

This year’s Leading Girls recipients from Oakville are:

Emily Duncan: Grade 12, St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Secondary School

  • Started the Loyola gay/straight alliance club;
  • nominated for YMCA Peace Medallion

Taylor Legere: Grade 12, Abbey Park High School

  • Co-president of Young Women in Leadership Council;
  • founding member of Junior Optimist club

Brittany MacKinnon: Grade 11, Oakville Trafalgar High School

  • Working on Gold level Duke of Edinburgh Award;
  • President of Junior Optimist club

Chantelle Colangelo: Grade 12, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School

  • Peace & Justice Club for STA;
  • Member of Kevin Flynn’s Youth Club OPYAC;
  • Big Brother Big Sister

Firoza Dodhi: Grade 12, St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School

  • 650 school volunteer hours;
  • Volunteers Oakville Museum and Home Sweet Hope;
  • Student Head of St. Mildred’s

This year’s Leading Women recipients are:

Jennifer Opper: Mental Health Therapist;

  • Started Bridges to Recovery program;
  • Swim for Mental Health

Michelle Sparling: Raising awareness for mental health – Shine out Shout out fundraiser, Equilibrium

Lyndsey Thomas: Women in Skilled Trade – carpenter;

  • Won Athena award;
  • Habitat for Humanity

These inspirational girls and women joined me at The International Women’s Day dinner in Oakville, which featured keynote speaker, Mary Walsh. The presentation ceremony will take place on May 22, 2014.

Celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women across the province supports the government’s plan to work together as One Ontario, to build a successful, vital province where everyone has the opportunity to connect, contribute and achieve their goals.

I am so impressed by the contributions these women and girls are making in Oakville.Their actions help build stronger bridges between women and girls in Ontario, and their leadership inspires and is an example to us all.


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