In her lifetime, Kerri Wynne MacLeod, long-time Morning Show Host of Ocean 100 and local entertainer, made a significant impact on Prince Edward Island. She touched Islanders from every walk of life and recognized each person for their contributions in making PEI a better place to live.
As a tribute to her legacy and her impact on PEI, Stingray has the Annual Kerri Wynne MacLeod Women of Impact Awards Recipients. These awards recognize women in five categories: Women in Business, Women in Healthcare, Women in our Community, Women in the Arts and Women in Music. These awards will be presented live on air during the Ocean 100 Morning Show in March.
Stingray Director of Operations, Jennifer Evans says the Women of Impact Awards are an important way to recognize the impact that Kerri Wynne had on Prince Edward Island. “As a company we are proud to present these awards in Kerri Wynne’s name and honor her legacy of recognizing the extraordinary contributions of everyday Islanders. Amazing work is being done by women across Prince Edward Island to create positive impact in our communities.”
Monday, March 3: Women in Arts Award Winner: Reequal Smith
Reequal Smith is the Founder and Artistic Director of Oshun Dance Studios in Prince Edward Island. Originally from The Bahamas, she blends her Bahamian heritage with Canadian dance culture, celebrating and evoking the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean. She is a multidisciplinary artist with over ten years of performance experience, an alumna of Holland College’s School of Performing Arts she is deeply involved in community initiatives and cultural arts. Reequal is also the Program and Events Coordinator for the Black Cultural Society of PEI, and the Administrator/Outreach Coordinator for the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network in Ottawa. Reequal champions diversity and inclusion in the arts serving on boards like The Fringe Festival, Fusion Charlottetown, and Kinetic Studio Dance based in Halifax. Reequal fosters inclusivity and empowerment, creating spaces where diverse artists and youth can unite to celebrate the Caribbean spirit in PEI’s artistic scene.
Tuesday, March 4: Women in Healthcare Award Winner: Erin Kinnee Richard
Erin has been a nurse for over 25 years and has worked in many different areas on PEI. She currently works in three different nursing roles at the QEH as well as Holland College. There has never been a time in Erin’s life she has not put others first. She spends every waking minute of her life doing things for others. When she’s not working as a nurse she can be found, cooking meals at the Upper Room Soup Kitchen, singing worship at her church or looking after one of her grandchildren on one of her very few days off. Erin demonstrates so much selflessness on a daily basis it is actually hard to understand how she does it all. To know Erin you truly are one of the luckiest people on PEI because it is a gift to have her in your life.
Wednesday, March 5: Women in Music Award Winners: Yvonne Higgins and Joan Murchison
Joan Murchison and Yvonne Higgins have been instrumental in the music ministry of St. Mary’s Parish, Montague for over forty years. Both come from a family where music was a daily part of their lives. People have no idea of the time and commitment they dedicate to music. Their musical involvement is not only at St. Mary’s, but both have given their time to fundraise for various organizations and to play and direct at funerals throughout Southern Kings County. Joan plays the organ and piano while Yvonne directs the choir and sings. Joan is a retired teacher and Yvonne is currently in the educational system as an EA at Montague Regional High School. Their dedication is second to none. They are two amazingly talented women who have a genuine love of music and love to share their music with others and most deserving of the Kerri Wynne MacLeod Women in Music Award.
Thursday, March 6: Women in Business Award Winner: Juanita Leary
In 1988, and still in her final year of university at UPEI, Juanita Leary began working at the Charlottetown location of Vogue Optical. After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree, Juanita moved to the administrative team at Vogue. Over the years, Juanita used her strong work ethic to move through many departments from accounting to buyer to marketing and finally to President. In her current position as President, Juanita’s primary responsibility is the day to day operations of all Vogue Optical retail locations. She spends a lot of time visiting each location in eastern Canada to ensure the company’s high standards are always being met. Juanita’s motto has been “Love what you do and love who you do it for.” She contributes her success to hard work and commitment to great relationships.
Friday, March 7: Women in Community Award Winner: Candy Gallant
Candy Gallant of West Prince is the founder of the PEI Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc. She is the only licensed wildlife rehabber on PEI. Candy has dedicated the last 50 years to working with PEI wildlife by providing haven and rehabilitation for injured and sick wildlife, raising awareness, fundraising, and building a network of volunteer rescuers and transporters from all over the island. For the better part of the year her tiny home is filled with all species of injured, abandoned and neonatal animals and birds. Candy and the animals rely on volunteers and donations to allow this to happen. Candy is definitely deserving of this recognition in Kerri Wynne’s memory for her hard work and her dedication to our Island Community.
Women in Business Recipient: Della Parker.
Della is a trailblazer for women in real estate in PEI. She was one of the first female real estate agency owners in PEI and in 2023, Parker Realty celebrated 25 years in business under the ownership of Della. Della is well respected in the PEI business community and well known for her generous spirit. She has devoted many years and hours to Rotary and to helping those in need. Della Parker embodies the spirit of a successful business owner and good corporate citizen truly making an impact on the business community in PEI.
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Audio PlayerWomen in Healthcare Recipient: Shelaine Gallant
Shelaine Gallant has always had the passion and desire to help others. In high school and university she started a Run for Cancer, called The Honor Run to support the Relay for life in her grandmother’s name. For her efforts she was awarded the Young Acadian of the Year. She then continued her cause to help others by becoming a nurse and worked at the Summerset Manor and Prince County Hospital Emergency Department. As a bilingual nurse she became an instructor at College de l’Île to train new RCW’s and LPN’s. Since 2021, she has been continuing her studies for her Masters in Nursing while she is the Bilingual project manager with Health PEI for the Maplewood and Summerset Manors. Shelaine is dedicated to helping others, especially seniors and spends much of her free time visiting the senior residents even bringing her puppy along to help brighten their day. Shelaine’s impact on her community, her profession and to helping others makes her our Women in Healthcare Award Winner.
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Audio PlayerWomen in our Community Recipient: Norma Dingwell
Norma Dingwell is well known in King’s County as a true champion for her community. After a near fatal car accident in 2004, Norma emerged as a true survivor and committed to helping others. She is the manager of the Montague Food Bank where she works tirelessly to ensure that no one in the community goes hungry, she is an advocate for the homeless community and she has dedicated her life to making life better for others. Her acts of kindness include baking cakes for special occasions, dropping off flowers to brighten someone’s day to providing transportation to someone who has a medical appointment. At Christmas Norma is also known for dressing up as Mrs. Claus and visiting children to read the The Night Before Christmas to the children. Norma says watching their faces light up brings her so much joy. Norma’s unwavering commitment, resilience, and selfless service to her community make her the very deserving recipient of the Women in Our Community Award Winner.
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Audio PlayerWomen in the Arts Recipient: Emily Howard
Emily Howard is a well known PEI artist whose beautiful paintings of the Island bring warmth and comfort to others. Emily is also a strong advocate for supporting mental health. Through her paintings Emily tries to be a light for those who may be walking through the dark. Emily is a supportive friend and has a magical way of making a person feel seen, loved and important. Through Emily’s work to help others she is making a significant impact on the lives of Islanders and is a deserving recipient of our Women in the Arts Award.
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Audio PlayerWomen in Music Recipient: Krista Bryson
Krista Bryson is a music teacher at Three Oaks High School in Summerside, and a sessional faculty member with the UPEI Music Department. Over the last four years at Three Oaks, she has piloted newly designed Popular Music Performance courses, which she co-wrote the curriculum for with Christie Beck of Montague Regional High School. Adding popular music performance courses to run alongside the band program at TOSH has completely transformed the music department into a thriving, diverse, inclusive, supportive space that’s welcoming an entirely new crowd of students who are passionate about music in a variety of styles The Popular Music Program at TOSH has been wildly successful and it is now being offered in several other high schools across PEI. She recently received a Queens Jubilee Medal for her contribution to music education through the expansion of the TOSH music program to include popular music performance, and is nominated for 2024 Music PEI Educator of the Year. Krista teaches and directs music but most importantly helps people connect with themselves and with each other through their shared passion for making music ! For her contributions and impact on the youth music industry in PEI, Krista Bryson is the recipient of the Women in Music Award.
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