22 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday October 25, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com ALLISON THOMAS "Alison exemplifies the qualities inherent in the Athena Award-- Leadership, Professionalism, Excellence, Community Spirit and Mentorship of women to achieve their potential." Alison has excelled in the field of nursing and has had great impact on her colleagues through her intelligence, guidance and patient centred focus. She has mentored students and staff nurses and guided them to higher levels of practice in her role of Advanced Practice Nurse. As the President of the Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians, Alison was elected by her peers across the country and leads the association in its focus on excellence in patient care and education for Nephrology. This volunteer role demonstrates Alison's passion and willingness to share her time and expertise with the thousands of Nephrology nurses in the country. Alison has demonstrated strong commitment to championing women in achieving leadership potential and has made a lasting impact in nursing and the health care profession. JANE THOMAS YAGER "Jane is soft spoken, caring, supportive, giving and very knowledgeable. She is always aware and tuned into everyone's physical and emotional state." Jane has devoted the majority of her professional life to positions that involve providing education and mentorship to women. Through her work at McMaster University in the Nurse Practitioner program, Jane has guided many students to strive for excellence in their chosen field. At the Ontario College of Art and Design Jane identified mental health issues as a key issue amongst the young female students and championed better access to support for these vulnerable young women. At Wellspring, Jane facilitates the Healing Journey program which teaches cancer patients and their loved ones to develop a variety of coping strategies to help take an overwhelming experience and turn it into opportunity to build inner strength and character. CJ MARTIN "CJ could stand for Cultural Junction, as CJ uses her café `CJ's Café' in Bronte to showcase hundreds of local musicians, artists, poets, and writers" CJ has many outstanding successes and achievements as a community organizer, entrepreneur, published author and mentor. She has worked for environmental organizations in Ottawa, Barrie, Mississauga and as far away as Sydney, Australia. She has also been actively involved in the United Way, Bereaved Families of Ontario in Mississauga and for the Oakville Arts Council. CJ's career and life have been based around the service principles she learned as a teenager in Junior Civitan where she developed her knowledge of herself as an organizer and a leader. In many ways CJ's Café in Bronte is half-business and half ministry with CJ taking the initiative to encourage others to talk about their creativity. wendy perkins "Wendy has been bold, relentless and fearless in championing the cause of homelessness in Oakville, enabling women and children to live to their fullest potential." Wendy has been a resident of Oakville for more that 20 years and her commitment to advocating for the helpless and the homeless have become her calling card. Her work with the Salvation Army and her founding work in creating Home Suite Hope have made it impossible for the Oakville community to ignore the plight of homeless people experiencing distress. Wendy has faithfully mentored a group of native women from The Six Nations Reserve for many years. She has gained their trust and their respect by working alongside these women to build their individual strengths, confidence and collective accomplishments. Wendy not only strives for personal excellence, but she makes a conscious effort to bring out the excellence in others. ELKA RUTH ENOLA "Elka is a poet! Her poetry is redolent with women! She writes about women, for women. Her poetry is accompanied by her photographs about women, for women!" Elka has brought positive and enthusiastic energy to Oakville. Some of the organizations that Elka participates in include WHAM (Women of Halton Action Movement), SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services), Amnesty International, the Halton-Peel Humanist Society which she founded, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Mensa. Presently, as a member of Amnesty she is organizing a Taste of Justice in Oakville with the proceeds going to the campaign to stop violence against women. As the moving force behind the Poetry Café series in Oakville and with the aid of other organizing poets, she coordinates the monthly feature of renowned Canadian poets and provides the opportunity for local writers to showcase their talent. 2008 ATHENA RECIPIENT - LINDA ROTHNEY PRESIDENT, CEO ERIN OAK KIDS CENTRE FOR TREATMENT AND DEVELOPMENT "Linda is an apt and appropriate example of standing for the worthy goal and persisting without rancor of hostility until she achieves it." In 1998, Linda left her position as Executive Director with Halton District Health Council to transform ErinoakKids Centre, a 20 year old children's treatment centre. Linda is a role model for the 550 staff members and 500 plus volunteers who provide the life enhancing activities at ErinoakKids Centre. She is a visionary leader with a deep commitment to both the community in which she lives and the Central West Region of Ontario which ErinoakKids Centre serves. 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