Honourees Celebrating Women 2011

Biographies of the Honourees:

Individuals
COLLEEN ALLAN, MScM, MPM, MDIV
Colleen, a pioneer in the Addiction field, retired in April from the Addiction Foundation of Manitoba after 47 years. Colleen has a Masters of Science of Management degree with a major in management of addiction services, as well as a Diploma in Ministry and a Masters in Pastoral Ministry, and Masters of Divinity. As part of her responsibility as Prevention Education Consultant she had the responsibility for researching, designing and facilitating university accredited courses in addiction and related issues. She has developed and facilitated courses on addiction and related issues both nationally and internationally. Colleen headed a task force with the Correction Service of Canada and assisted in developing a drug and alcohol strategy for offenders from orientation to community release. She also developed, coordinated and facilitated the first four week Drugs in Perspective Course for Alcohol and Drug Educators in the Armed Forces.

Her area of particular concern is Women and Addiction issues and Family Violence as well as related issues such as Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She was a founding member of the Manitoba Family Violence Workers Association and the Provincial Suicide Prevention Committee and developed the first Lifers-In-Reach Program in Western Canada. Colleen is currently the provincial President of the Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Canada and lives in St. Andrews, Manitoba with her husband John, son Scott and a Havanese named Misty. She is actively involved in her community and is an Executive Member of the St. Andrews Community Club Board.

MONIKA FEIST
Immigrating to Canada as a child, Monika has dedicated her life work to promoting access for newcomers. She is Chief Executive Officer of Success Skills Centre, a not-for-profit organization, working with immigrant professionals returning to their occupations. She was instrumental in the founding of Success Skills Centre, the Immigrant Women’s Association of Manitoba, Women’s Employment Counselling Services (now Employment Projects for Winnipeg), Reaching E-Quality, as well as a number of other organizations.

Monika is an active volunteer, having served on the boards and/or committees of the YWCA, SEED, Manitoba Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Services Association (MIRSSA), Canadian Learning Opportunities for Women (CLOW), Junior Achievement of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Literacy Partners of Manitoba, and the former Women’s Advertising Club of Winnipeg, to name only a few.

Some of her past accomplishments include the development and delivery of Employment Orientation and Pre-Trades/Pre-Technology courses for women, the former COPE Program for women on Mother’s Allowance, and the study for the establishment of the City of Winnipeg Equal Opportunity (now Employment Equity) Office.

Monika brought the issue of apprenticeship for women to the federal and Manitoba government using the PCWM’s “Why Not Apprenticeship” mid-1970s Report, with resolutions to the Provincial Government. As a result, the Women in Apprenticeship Trades (WIAT) program was established by the province, with two staff then in the government to focus on more apprenticeship opportunities for women. She served as PCWM President, 1989 to 1991, and NCWC Vice-President, 1994 to 1996. From 2009 - 2011 she was President of the Council of Women of Winnipeg and continues to serve as Past President.

Monika’s personal motto is collaboration. She believes in raising the issue, and works with others to advocate for change. Monika is married with one daughter, and actively supports her daughter’s commitment to fencing.

ELSIE kATHLER
Elsie is a woman whose Faith and the love of her husband, children, grandchildren are the cornerstones of her life. She serves as the Secretary of her Ukrainian Orthodox Church Council, President of the Rosa Branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, and Auditor of the Manitoba Provincial Executive of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada. Working on a 5 month assignment in Ukraine assisting to create a municipal governance model has given her a greater understanding of the richness of her cultural heritage.

Elsie is committed to alleviating hunger and providing affordable housing. One day a week she prepares meals for Steinbach’s Soup Kitchen and bag lunches for children who come to school hungry. She volunteered with Winnipeg Habitat for Humanity as Building Committee Chair and crew leader to help build affordable housing. Her work with Habitat for Humanity International has seen her building homes in Guatemala and Jamaica.

Rotary International has given Elsie the opportunity to build peace and understanding in the world. She served as cross-cultural trainer for the Rotary One Year Youth Exchange Program and has hosted fifteen Exchange Students in her home. Elsie is a Past President of the Winnipeg Charleswood Rotary Club.

A passion for enhancing the beauty of the world, has led Elsie to volunteer as the Chair of the Steinbach Arts Council’s Art Exhibit Committee. She also serves as the Community Service Director with the Steinbach and Area Garden Club coordinating volunteers in the creation of beautiful flower and vegetable gardens at Steinbach’s Mennonite Heritage Village.

GISELE SAURETTE-ROCH
Gisèle’s involvement in the community is exemplary. She is a member of several Francophone and Anglophone groups. One of her greatest contributions is interagency and organizational networking. She makes a point of sharing her knowledge of various groups’ mandates and projects in various fields; women’s, children’s education, immigration, poverty and environmental, when and where it can be useful.

Gisèle is or has been a board member of several women’s organizations at the provincial and local level; the PCWM, WCW, Réseau action femmes, UNPAC, Manitoba’s Women Advisory Council. At the national level, she was elected Social Issues Convener for six years by the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC). NCWC also delegated her to the United Nations Special Session of the UN general Assembly on Children in New York in 2002 and to the UN Commission on the status of Women Conference in 1999. In 2000 and 2003 she was elected as delegate by the NCWC to attend the International Council of Women Triennial Conferences in Helsinki and Perth respectively. For three consecutive years, Gisèle was sent as a delegate to the World Social Forum in Brazil by UNPAC.

Twenty five years ago, Gisèle bought a house as her home and a social economy project. She offers temporary shelter for women and their families who are waiting for affordable housing and has also welcomed women and their children waiting for second stage housing at L’Entre-temps des Franco-Manitobaines.

Réseau action femmes is very grateful and proud that Gisèle is a member of our board.

ANNA PAZDZIERSKI
Anna has been the Executive Director of Nova House Inc. for 11 years; working closely with service agencies, community groups and government programs, and holding various executive roles with the Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters during that time.

Her educational experience is in the fields of Administrative Management, Board Development and Training. Her work experience includes 13 years working with First Nations youth living at Teulon Residences. She travelled extensively in Northern Manitoba and Ontario, visiting student’s homes at least yearly and working with northern Band Councils, Education Authorities and schools. Anna and her daughter Mona owned their own business in Teulon for 5 years bringing an understanding of the world of small business.

Anna’s current work and volunteer involvement includes: Provincial Council of Women, Family Violence Consortium, Legal Aid Advisory Committee, Interlake and North Eastman Interagency, Chamber of Commerce, RESOLVE Healing Journey and committee roles with 3 levels of the United Church of Canada. Her past experience as a founding member of the Interlake Community Foundation, a volunteer ambulance attendant for 13 years, a member of the Interlake Regional Mental Health Advisory Council and Provincial Advisory Council, Psychogeriatric Team Advisory Board, Risk Management Committee for Hunter Memorial Hospital, South Interlake Juvenile Justice Committee, RCMP Community Advisory Council, Teulon & District Seniors Resource Council, Teulon & Area Healthy Communities , HRDC Advisory Council, Interlake Drug & Alcohol Awareness Network, Interlake School Division Special Education Advisory Council, Parent Advisory Councils, 4-H Leader, Cub Leader and Teulon Kinette Club have all contributed to her experience.

Anna is married with 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 4 pets, who all live in Teulon.

FEDERATE
THE ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY OF MANITOBA Inc .
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba Inc, is one of 25 “Efry” agencies across Canada who are members of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS). CAEFS takes its name from Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) who lived in England and was the driving force behind improving the treatment of prisoners in London’s famed Newgate Prison. She was horrified by the deplorable conditions she witnessed. Children were imprisoned with their mothers and prisoners were responsible for their own washing and cooking. Elizabeth Fry went on to form the Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners in Newgate and the British Ladies’ Society for Promoting the Reformation of Female Prisoners as well as a homeless shelter. In 1939, Agnes Macphail, the first woman Member of Parliament in Canada founded the Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba (EFSM) has been in existence since the 1950’s when it was a member of the Prisoners’ Aid Society with the John Howard Society. It became evident that services needed to be more specific due to gender differences and issues experienced by women in the criminal justice systems. In 1983, ESFM was incorporated with a focus on criminalized women, who often experience multiple systemic, social, health and economic barriers such as discrimination, racism, marginalization, poor mental and physical health and poverty.

Part of the mandate of EFSM and CAEFS is to educate and the public about the challenges our clients face every day and inform them about programs such as STOPlifting and Women for Change (anger management) that seek to address why women offend and help promote healthier lifestyle choices. These, as well as our Bail Verification and Supervision Program, the Provincial Reintegration Program and Transitional Housing Program work to reduce the risk of recidivism. We are able to access and visit women in provincial and federal institutions such as the Winnipeg Remand Centre, Portage Correctional Centre, Edmonton Institute for Women, Okimaw Ohci and the Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon. This allows us to assist the women with establishing plans for their release and address issues and concerns that they are not able to while incarcerated such as housing, food, clothing, and medical appointments, arrange visits with children, assist with résumé preparation and job search. The more engaged a woman becomes in her own life and a contributing member of society, the less likely she is to reoffend and begin the cycle again.

EFSM has a staff of 7 with a core of invaluable volunteers. Our board is represented by a group of professional and knowledgeable volunteers who provide guidance and direction. We are all proud of the work we do.