Several Lambton County women will be recognized on Thursday, June 6, during the eighth Women of Excellence event, organized by the Sarnia Community Foundation (SCF).
The SCF Board of Directors chose this year's honourees based on their contributions to support safe, vibrant, and inclusive communities.
The 2024 recipients include Susan Chamberlain of Sarnia, Marylin Gifford of Sarnia, Jeannette Douglas of Alvinston, and members of the Parents for Parks group in Petrolia.
Chamberlain, owner of The Bookkeeper and Poppies gift shop in Bluewater Health, is being recognized for promoting 2SLGBTQI+ inclusivity. She also organizes and hosts a fundraiser that brings notable writers to the area in support of Literacy Lambton.
Gifford has been highlighted for bringing awareness to the doctor shortage. She collected thousands of signatures for a petition in an effort to see more medical residency placements in Sarnia and Lambton County.
Douglas is noted for her community activism as she served a term on municipal council and planned Canada Day events.
Also, a group of women from Petrolia fundraised and successfully opened an accessible playground at Greenwood Park in September 2022. The Parents for Parks group included Laurel Pickel-Kittmer, Erin Miller Hawryluk, Emily Bright, and Emily Denham Weed.
This year's keynote speaker is Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander.
"The Women of Excellence event really is a fabulous gathering of awesome women in our community who do awesome things to help others," Alexander said. "I'm just happy to be a part of it and happy to share my experience and my message with the guests."
Alexander will talk about her professional journey and how a health issue impacted how she prioritizes life and work.
"A lot of my comments will be about bringing awareness and the importance of trusting your symptoms and seeking assistance when you need it," she said.
The Women of Excellence luncheon will be held at the Dante Club in Sarnia. Registration and the Women’s Expo are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
SCF Executive Director Mike Barron said over 200 tickets were sold for the event.