LFS CEO Mintz honoured with YWCA award
By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on March 29, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com Lethbridge Family Services CEO Sandra Mintz was recognized as a woman of distinction by the YWCA during their 46th annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony Friday.President of YWCA 2021-2022 board of directors, Pardip Athwal said during the event that each year the YWCA presents women of distinction awards to women from southern Alberta, who have distinguished themselves through their achievements as individuals, group members of the community and role models for other women.
Mintz was nominated for her leadership and management award by former Lethbridge-East MLA Maria Fitzpatrick who introduced her to the crowd.
Fitzpatrick said she believes Mintz to be a woman of integrity, a woman who cares deeply about her community, intelligent and articulate.
“I have always found her to be forward thinking and the woman of action always thinking of how this or that might be a positive in our community,” said Fitzpatrick.
She added that Mintz is a woman who listens to others points of view and then incorporates what is shared whenever possible.
During her acceptance speech, Mintz said that she originally wanted to be a speech pathologist. She moved to Edmonton to pursue that dream, but it was there where she realized she was destined to be in a leadership role and therefore she switched careers and pursued Education and Business Administration.
She said during her time in Edmonton she got married and had two sons, and as fate would have it, her husband was diagnosed with cancer and they decided to move to Lethbridge. Which she said brought her many blessings, but four in particular.
“When we moved back to Lethbridge we got to be close to my family and I have the best family, that was a real blessing. And my husband actually lived a little longer than he would have because of the love of my family,” said Mintz.
She said that a neighbour introduced her to the Ammena Dance Company, which is owned and operated by Lise-Anne Talhami, who also received a women of distinction award the same night, and she said the dance community was very helpful through her grieving process when her husband passed away.
Mintz said the other blessing that happened when they moved to Lethbridge was the opportunity to take on her current role at LFS.
“This position opened up at Lethbridge Family Services as a chief executive officer and my husband told me I had to apply because he knew it would make me very happy to be there,” said Mintz.
She said she is very happy to be there and it has been a real blessing and a privilege to be able to lead the organization, especially through the times they have had during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mintz said she was very honoured to receive the award and she was proud of the work the YWCA does to lift women up and recognize the women in the community.
“It has been an incredible honour to stand alongside so many incredible women in this community who have done so much good,” said Mintz. Follow @APulidoHerald on Twitter 4
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