WIB presenting Inspire Award in online event
By LAUREN THOMSON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on June 2, 2021.
lthomson@medicinehatnews.com Women in Business, a local Medicine Hat committee made up of business women and female entrepreneurs, on Friday will host its annual event to present the Inspire Award. Women in Business is a group of women dedicated to encouraging and empowering women. The committee is made up of about 12 women who meet monthly to help one another and all women in the business community in the city to connect and network with one another. “Pre-COVID we used to have a few events every year,” explains Joleine Hartman, Women in Business media co-ordinator and general committee member. “We had a wine and cheese event and an empowerment day, where we would bring in great guest speakers and have a meal together. And we also have our Inspire Award, which is coming up. The inspire Award is meant to recognize women in Medicine Hat who have gone above and beyond, and who are true leaders in what they do and true leaders in the community.” Normally the event is held in person, with a luncheon and time to network and visit, but with COVID health restrictions still in place, Women in Business will host the event online for a second year. There will be panellists to speak and present during the event. “The panellists are usually previous winners, previous nominees, they’re all very powerful women in the community, they’re all business owners or have very important roles,” said Hartman. “Heather Bach, executive director at Medicine Hat and District Foundation; Lisa Frost, owner of True Balance Aromatherapy; Nichole Neubauer, agriculture educator at Neubauer Farms; Jaime Rogers, manager, Homeless and Housing Development Dept., MH Community Housing Society; and Dr. Reagan Weeks, assistant superintendent at Prairie Rose School Division will all be participating in the presentations this year.” Hartman sees the group as a positive way for women in business to connect with one another, develop relationships and have contacts for business ventures, as well as helping to promote one another’s businesses. She is happy the group can still host the event to help recognize women in business despite the health restrictions. “I can’t reveal who is nominated or who the winner is of course, because we want it to be a surprise,” Hartman said. “But I will say that over the past year the women of Medicine Hat, whether it be police officers, firefighters, paramedics, teachers, moms who have had to turn into teachers, everybody has been very important in the last year, so we just want to recognize everybody. Hats off to everybody!” The Inspire Award event is Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the event and the co-ordinators ask to please pre-register on EventBrite. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wib-2021-inspire-luncheon-tickets-152158182219 11-10
