Posted on March 10, 2023March 16, 2023 by Rodney L. Denis

10
Mar

Biz X Was There – WEST International Women’s Day Gala 2023

Recognizing Individuals and Partners Creating More Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for All

Amico Affiliates, WESUN, Paul Davis, and Matthew House Refugee Welcome Centre Windsor are among this year’s award winners who were honoured at WEST’s International Women’s Day Gala and Journey Towards Success Awards on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Embrace Equity”. Together with many local individuals, they were recognized for creating spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for all persons, demonstrating a commitment to promoting gender equality and partnering to increase the inclusion of women in the Windsor-Essex community with Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, Inc. (WEST).

Over 550 people including executives and representatives from corporations, small business, government, banking, industry, labour, and non-profit groups were in attendance.

WEST was very honoured to welcome keynote speaker Carolyn Brown, CEO of the Windsor Detroit Tunnel Corporation. And everyone enjoyed the meal by St. Clair and the decor (in purple and crystal elegance) by Designs by Diane.

The Journey Towards Success Awards were created to recognize individuals, businesses and organizations in Windsor Essex that support WEST, its mission and assist women on their journey toward success.

“WEST continuously encourages the partnerships, allyship and advocacy required to live in a society where men and women with equal ability, education, and experience also have equal opportunities,” says Rose Anguiano Hurst, Executive Director of Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, Inc. (WEST). “Each of us can make a difference and these awards are one way of inspiring each of us, no matter where we work, to do our part to work against the bias, discrimination and stereotypes.” (#EmbraceEquity)

The following recipients in each category received a WEST 2023 Journey Towards Success Award . . .

Winner of the Phenomenal Woman Award: Theresa Nguyen
Winner of the Innovation Award: Faria Islam
Winner of the New Excellence: Partnership Award: WESUN
Winner of the VIP Award: New Business Partner: Amico Affiliates
Winner of the Daphne V. Clarke Trailblazer Award: Matthew House Refugee Welcome Centre Windsor
Winner of the Embrace Equity Award: Paul Davis
Winner of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award: Evelyn Myrie
Winner of the Influencer Award: Rama Musharbash-Kovacsi
Winner of the Sisterhood Award: Nada Ayad
Winner of the Allyship Award: Lido Zuccato
Winner of the Visionary Award: Lana Talbot

WEST wishes to acknowledge and express its gratitude to the following award sponsors: St. Clair College, WFCU Credit Union, TD Bank Group, Caesars Windsor Cares, Small Business Centre – Invest Windsor-Essex, Odette School of Business, Erie Shores Health Care, CPA Ontario, Windsor Regional Hospital, Green Shield Canada, HUB, Blue HR Consulting, Windsor Star, AM800/CKLW, CTV Bell Media, Biz X magazine, Workforce WindsorEssex, Meridian Credit Union, Key Solutions Realty, Attache Group Inc., and the New Canadian Centre of Excellence Inc.

WEST also expresses its gratitude for the generosity of their International Women’s Day Gala sponsors and silent auction contributors. They would especially like to acknowledge, their Gala Sponsor St. Clair College and the Title Sponsor WFCU Credit Union, Awards sponsors, partners, friends, and donors.

WEST organizers say they are grateful for the on-going generous support from the individuals, organizations and businesses that have been working with them throughout the years. Many community members have collaborated with WEST as mentors, provided work placement opportunities and training, facilitated workshops plus volunteered their time and expertise to support WEST and our clients. Since 1987, Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc (WEST) has provided 50,000 women in Windsor-Essex with support and programs to aid them in securing employment, enhancing their skills, along with, providing newcomer and immigrant women with services designed to help them adapt and integrate into Canadian culture and their new community. Organizers say, although at times their job may not be easy, it is because of the strength and passion of their clients that they are motivated to be better people and service providers.

Check out the accompanying photo gallery by Rod Denis and assisted by Tina Huynh now . . . and watch for the May issue of Biz X magazine with photos in our Hot Shots pages!

WEST International Women’s Day Gala 2023 Gallery

[Show slideshow]

Rodney L. Denis

A professional photographer for over 30 years, Rod Denis has shot everything from fashion models and commercial products to food and automobiles. Denis is a graduate of the photography program at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario and has worked in major centres such as Toronto, Halifax and Detroit. Since 1991 he has operated Rodney L. Denis Photography shooting commercial projects for corporate brochures, catalogues, calendars and the web. Rod has been taking photos for Biz X magazine since day one. Be sure to watch for him at area events and business functions.

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Biz X Was There – WEST International Women’s Day Gala 2023

Recognizing Individuals and Partners Creating More Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for All

Rodney L. Denis

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