The deadline for nominations for the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction awards is fast approaching.

According to Lee Farnworth, professor at Algonquin and member of the YMCA-YWCA nominations committee, the main focus of the awards is to recognize the important contributions women are making in the community.

“We are looking for women who are role models and mentors for other women because we want to encourage women,” said Farnworth.

She said for the last four years, Algonquin has averaged two or three nominations a year. Last year Rebecca Volk and Diane Bloor from the college were nominated for the awards. Farnworth received the award for community volunteerism and Donna Leon, professor at Algonquin at the time of nomination, also received an award for arts and culture in 2003.

“Only one person receives the award but everyone nominated is a winner,” said Farnworth.

She said there are usually about 50 nominations a year for the Ottawa region. She is interested in making sure women from all walks of life have the same opportunity to be recognized by nomination.

“We’ve been trying to get more and more into the visible minority and Aboriginal community,” she said. “We want to be inclusive; we want to not just have middle-class white women, we want to have women in all categories recognized.”

She is disappointed by the lack of nominations Algonquin has produced in the “young women of distinction” category. This is for women between the ages of 18 and 25 who have demonstrated the ability to effect change and follow their own path to success.

“I would like to see the Students’ Association or a group here at the college find a young woman who has done some special things,” said Farnworth.

When the YMCA-YWCA first formed the annual awards ceremony 14 years ago, it was the first of its kind, which led to the production of many other awards recognizing women.

Farnworth attended the first ceremony while she was working for Nelson House, a shelter for abused women. At the time the awards decided to give a portion of the ticket sales to Nelson House. This tradition of contributing ticket sales to a charity continues, with a portion of the tickets for the upcoming awards will go to the YMCA-YWCA camps for girls.

Farnworth explained there are two parts to nominating someone: first you must fill out a nomination form explaining under what category they belong and why. Then you must provide a letter of support for the nominee from two other people.

The categories for the award nominations are as follows: arts and culture; business, professions and the public sector; community volunteer; education, training and development; healthy and active living; science, research and technology; young women of distinction and lifetime achievement.

The deadline for nominations is Feb.16, with the awards ceremony being held at the Congress Centre on May 17. For more information on nominating, contact Lee Farnworth at 613-727-4723 ext 7069.