THE FIRST CANADIAN WOMEN'S MENTOR AWARDS HELD IN CALGARY
By: Karen Bissessar

The idea that there exists an informal 'apprenticeship' quality to a mentor/protégé relationship is an antiquated one. It originated in Greek society and was an alliance between an older, wiser person and a young, inexperienced one. Today, mentors continue to help protégés realize their goals and aspirations by helping them build networks and explore new opportunities. Mentoring is receiving recognition as an integral element in a person's road to success. Most Canadian women have always recognized and relied on mentoring relationships, both in their personal and professional lives. but while family and friends can provide personal mentoring, professional counterparts have often been more difficult to find. Unlike the Old Boys' Club, the 'Old Girls' Network' is often hard to identify.

Dr. Roy Carr, a specialist in mentoring and president of Peer Resources, a non-profit consulting firm based in Victoria, appreciates the significance of mentoring relationships which are becoming especially important in the workplace. "There's more of a need to make a connection with other people in the workplace, not just because it will make the workplace a better place, but because people are looking for things that make them feel more whole, more balanced or supported," he says.

To foster mentoring relationships for Canadian women and to acknowledge the ones that already exist, Trimark Investment Management Inc. launched the first Canadian Women's Mentor Awards. The initiative is sponsored by The Globe and Mail and supports local YWCAs across Canada.

"One of the best ways women can achieve success in their personal and professional lives is by having a mentor, someone who is a trusted friend, role model, counsel and confidante," Elizabeth Hoyle, Vice-president of Marketing at Trimark, says.

Six women were recognized at the awards ceremony, which took place in Calgary on January 28, 1999. Awards were presented in six categories: Arts and Culture, Business and Professional, Life, Science and Education, Sports and Fitness, and Volunteerism and community.

More than 600 women across Canada nominated their mentors by composing a written submission, highlighting areas such as leadership qualities, problem-solving skills and innovation. Recipients in each respective category were Elaine Keillor (Nepean, Ont.), Carol Denman (Toronto, Ont.), Jacqueline Shumiatcher (Regina, Sask.), Sandra Djwa (Burnaby, B.C.), Kate Zubick (Port Moody, B.C.), and Patricia MacKay (Toronto, Ont.).

Denman is sole owner and president of Atchison & Denman Court Reporting Services. She has spent the last 12 years successfully managing Canada's largest and most technologically advanced court reporting business. Denman says mentoring is more than just encouraging success and personal achievement; it's an opportunity to assist and guide a younger woman in the legal industry, one that has typically been dominated by men. "Many of us wouldn't be where we are today if it weren't for the special people who gave us leadership, encouragement and experience," she says. "These awards aim to honour those people." Djwa, a professor at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in B.C. since 1968, was nominated by Mary Ann Gillies, an associate professor of English, also at SFU. "I was astonished to receive this award. In the 30 years that I have been a professor I am sure that I have encouraged many young people, but at the time you don't really think of it," she says. "When I first started in this profession I was helped a great deal by many of the professors. The opportunity to encourage professors like Mary Ann to come to SFU is my way of giving something back."

All funds raised from the Canadian Women's Mentor Awards go to support services for women all over Canada. Proceeds from the awards luncheon benefitted the Calgary YWCA. Future awards ceremonies and fundraising activities will take place all across Canada with next year's awards planned for Halifax.

Kerry Bissessar is a Toronto-based freelance writer.
Reprinted with permission from the author.