Local women were reminded that nothing can stand in their way.
During Cold Lake’s Women of Influence Awards on Friday, March 8, hundreds of women were told that when they put their mind to it, nothing can stop them.
Organizing committee member and nominee, Candice Sutterfield, said “(The awards are) an opportunity to acknowledge the women who are influential in our community, whether it’s through the business sector or volunteer sector, young or old. We’re pretty fortunate to have an event like this.”
Hosted on International Women’s Day, Sutterfield expressed how it was kind of a “no-brainer.”
“Women have come so far... They’ve really moved mountains to try and make positive change,” she stated.
With eight awards up for grabs and over 100 nominees, the committee had a task selecting this year’s recipients.
“In a community this size, that certainly says something about what the women are doing and the many ways they contribute to our community,” Stephanie Oleksyn, committee chair, said.
Taking home the honours of overall Woman of Influence was Brooke Cory, a Cold Lake veterinarian that has made her mark.
Not only did Cory start her own practice while raising a family, but she continued to assist her husband in expanding their farm.
“She’s a dedicated mother of three who volunteers with her sons’ hockey teams, and is a supporter of the Lakeland Humane Society, the local crisis centre, and many other community events and organizations,” detailed Oleksyn. “She’s an incredible asset to our community and an inspiration to all who know her.”
After accepting her award, Cory admitted it was “hard to believe” out of all of the women nominated, she was this year’s Woman of Influence.
Cory said she wouldn’t be where she is today if it wasn’t for her supportive family, staff, and community.
“I suppose this is mostly for them.”
“It takes a lot to build a practice and a business in Cold Lake. When I started, I moved back here in 2011. I moved back because I had a child, and that was really hard. I needed my mom... So I thought it was time to come back,” she continued. “I remember wandering around in my postpartum depression wondering what I should do with my life. I didn’t know if I should go get a job somewhere, open a practice, or wallow. I eventually decided to open to the practice I have now.”
In closing, she expressed how influential her support system has been.
“I truly believe it’s the people around you, the moms, the dads, the siblings, the wonderful staff, the great clients, it’s your husband, and all of those people behind you that help you build something.”
Aerospace Engineering Officer with 4 Wing Cold Lake, Capt. Marla Haring, shared her story as one of this year’s keynote speakers.
She described how throughout her career she’s been told she’s a woman or too sensitive to hold a position in the military. Rather than let that deter her, Haring said it only made her work harder.
“Five years ago I was told that I might want to think about leaving the military... and 10 years ago I was on my bike leaving an abusive relationship. Now, here I am, telling a room full of people what I do for the military, flying in fighter jets, something that at that time if you had told me that’s what I was going to do, I would have said ‘I don’t think that’s going to happen,’ but it did. If you’re someone out there that thinks that because of the circumstances life has thrown at you, it’s going to take you away from your goals and your dreams, if you surround yourself with people who motivate you or want to build you up, that will help get you there,” she exclaimed. “Don’t let anyone or anything stop you, and be fearless in everything that you do.”
Local photographer Susie Fraser-O’Conner used her speech as an opportunity to remind women to encourage each other.
“Social media is the perfect platform for spite and malice. We owe it to our young women to be positive examples of support and encouragement.”
As a woman who struggled to figure out her purpose, Fraser-O’Conner admitted it wasn’t until after she learned she couldn’t conceive that it dawned on her.
If she couldn’t have a baby of her own, she wanted to capture those precious moments for those who could.
Closing the keynotes was Nadine Friesen, a teacher and entrepreneur.
In her 20s, Friesen was in a serious collision that left her face severely scarred.
Friesen used her story as a reminder to all of the women listening that every scar is a part of your story.
“If someone were to ask me if I would change my past, go back to the way it was before the accident, I would say,’are you crazy? And miss all of this?’ No, give me 10,000 more scars if you want to. But if it’s to have the life I have today, I will take it in a moment, because I’m a happy person and I have a good life,” she expressed. “I would change nothing... because I am who I am because of those scars, because I fought for them, I believed, and I have faith.”
For more photos, click here.
