Exceptional women to be celebrated in Lethbridge on Friday

Dawn Sugimoto [Community Leadership and Enhancement]
Trudi Mason [Education and Mentorship]
Kamryn Sandberg [Young Woman of Promise]
Mandy DeCecco-Kolebaba [Leadership and Empowerment]

Jill Young, CEO of YWCA Lethbridge & District said, “We are thrilled to recognize these exceptional women who have made a significant impact on our community.”

She added, “Their achievements serve as an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to celebrate their accomplishments on International Women’s Day.”

The evening will feature an awards ceremony and plated dinner, presenters and a networking reception. More details about the event are at the YWCA Lethbridge & District website.

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE HONOREES

Lethbridge College is celebrating two of its own, as honorees at the Friday event both have ties to the post-secondary institution.

Dawn Sugimoto is the communications manager at the school. The college said Sugimoto studied print journalism at the school and worked at the Lethbridge Herald for over two decades, where she served as the newspaper’s first female managing editor. Sugimoto was also a finalist for a National Newspaper Award for editorial writing in 2005.

Her career then transitioned to the field of communications, first at a K-12 school division and for the last six years, at Lethbridge College, where she manages the Communications team. In addition to her work in journalism and communications, Sugimoto is a longtime volunteer with the Lethbridge and District Humane Society and has served on the board, including as the current president, of the Lethbridge and District Japanese Garden Society.

The leadership and board at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden supported Sugimoto’s nomination. Executive director Michelle Day Miles said, “Dawn has encouraged and preserved the important relationships that have been cultivated with those who have a long-standing history in our community and with Garden supporters in Japan and across Alberta and Canada.”

She added, “She is also respected for the integrity she brings to everything she does. Growing up in southern Alberta, a third generation (sansei) child of Japanese immigrants, she continues to connect and engage with those of Japanese ancestry in our community.”

Day Miles continued, “She inspires others and advocates to ensure our diverse community stories from the past are protected, she empowers those around her as she ensures people are heard and validated and when needed, she is also a fierce advocate in maintaining the Garden as a cherished Gem of the South, and an important space for Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta.”

Dawn Sugimoto (left) and Trudi Mason of Lethbridge College are two of the individuals set to be honoured at the Women of Distinction event on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Photos: Lethbridge College)

Trudi Mason, another one of the honorees, is the dean for the Centre for Justice and Human Services at Lethbridge College. The college said Mason is a collaborative academic and administrative leader, as well as a talented musician and music instructor. Mason has performed and appeared as a soloist with various groups across Canada and the United States. Additionally, she has led chamber music groups for more than 20 years.

Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, the President’s Applied Research Chair in Public Safety at the college noted that she has “had the honour of being mentored by Trudi in a variety of roles in my career”.

“At every juncture, she has provided guidance, support and wisdom all while demonstrating servant leadership qualities.”

Fantazir added, “Trudi builds rapport with diverse groups across campus because she is respectful, appreciative, tactful and positive. I have watched Trudi patiently mentor, coach and support others who may not believe in their capabilities, and she has helped many of us realize our full potential.”

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Prior to the Women of Distinction Evening, the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce will host an annual International Women’s Day Breakfast at the ENMAX Centre on Friday.

The Chamber said the theme for this year will revolve around how individuals can transform challenges into opportunities.

The event will feature opening remarks by Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas, and a speech from Melody Garner. More about the event is available here.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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by Justin Goulet

Exceptional women to be celebrated in Lethbridge on Friday

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