VANCOUVER — Former Surrey councillor and mayoral candidate Barinder Rasode is one of five local women nominated among 71 nominees up for recognition in the 32nd annual YWCA Women of Dictinction Awards.
In the non-profit or public service category Rasode is named among the 11 other finalists for her role as a "Community Engagement Leader."
Other Surrey nominees include Laurie Shultz, president and CEO of ACL, Vancouver's fourth largest Vancouver-headquartered software company, in the category of Business & The Professions; and Lisa Tuningley, president of T-RAIL Products Inc., in the Entrepreneurship category.
Two Delta women were nominated for awards as well. Cynthia Johansen, registrar and CEO of the College of Registered Nurses of BC, will challenge Rasode in the Non-Profit or Public Service category, while Diana Kaarina, director and owner of Broadway Edge Performing Arts Studio Inc., is up for an Arts, Culture & Design award.
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards honours individuals and organizations whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the well-being and future of their communities. Since 1984, the YWCA has paid tribute to more than 290 award recipients and 1,690 nominees.
In addition to the 10 nomination categories, the individual nominees are eligible for the Connecting the Community Award. The nominees will select a YWCA program area in which they are interested and use social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook to promote votes.
From April 22 to May 15, the public can cast votes and the nominee with the most votes will receive the Connecting the Community Award. Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to the YWCA program area of her choice.
Award recipients will be announced on May 26 during the Awards dinner at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Click here to purchase tickets for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.