And the nominees are…

Once again several members of the UVic community are among the nominees for the YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. In its 10th year, the event takes place at the Victoria Conference Centre on May 12.

Nominated in the education, training and development category: Mary Anne Waldron, UVic's associate vice-president for legal affairs, who has helped hundreds of law students by creating a more supportive learning environment; and Deborah Yaffe who continues to challenge traditional views and open young minds as a women's studies professor at UVic.

Nominated in the science, information technology and research category: Dr. Penny Codding, an internationally recognized chemist who was the first woman to serve as UVic's vice-president academic and provost; and Dr. Kathy Gillis, a professor of earth and ocean sciences, who encourages her students to participate in shipboard field work on international projects.

Nominated in the category of community legacy: Cathy Whitehead McIntyre, principal of the consulting firm Strategic Initiatives, who shares her entrepreneurial skills with UVic's alumni association, Craigdarroch Castle and the World Partnership Walk.
Nominated in the young woman of distinction category: Jeannie Coates, director of the UVic Student Society and a member of the university's V-Day Collective; Ashley Heaslip, president of World University Services of Canada at UVic; Megan Noakes a musician, athlete and resident advisor at UVic; and Sarah Webb, UVic's interim sustainability co-ordinator, who helped develop a campus plan committed to sustainable growth and a bicycle bursary program.