A prize awarded to inspiring women
The Women of Distinction Awards recognizes the role of women in the advancement of society by bringing women to light who, through their commitment and achievements in their respective fields, have a positive and lasting impact in the society. Through its added social value, this benefit event aims to support the YWCA Montreal, whose mission is to help build a better future for women and girls. This award is unique, particularly because of the profile diversity of its winners.
Over the past 24 years, more than 285 exceptional women and one man have received this award with pride, from generation to generation, in their respective categories.
Special Awards 2018
Sandra Miserez
Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal
Strong Girls, Strong World (Montreal)
Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal
Michèle Audette
Inspiration Award
Women of Distinction 2018
Nadine St-Louis
Arts, Culture and Design
Kim Thùy
Arts, Culture and Design
Natalie Voland
Business and Entrepreneurship
Mélanie Loisel
Education and Information
Sonia Lupien
Public Services
Heidi McBride
Research and Innovation
Chantale Arseneau
Social and Environmental Engagement
Karine Champagne
Sports, Health and Wellness
Changing the World, One Woman at a Time
Discover the commitment and everyday life of 8 exceptional women. A docu-report directed by Ève Lamont, Woman of Distinction 2017).
Laureates 2016-2018
Click on a column title to sort or use the filters below.
| Image | Laureate | Category | Years | femmes_de_merite_cat_hfilter | annee_hfilter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandra Miserez | Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal, Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal | 2018 | coup-de-coeur-en coup-de-coeur-en | 2018 |
| Strong Girls, Strong World (Montreal) | Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal, Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal | 2018 | coup-de-coeur-en coup-de-coeur-en | 2018 |
| Michèle Audette | Inspiration Award | 2018 | inspiration-en | 2018 |
| Nadine St-Louis | Arts, Culture and Design, Arts, Culture and Design | 2018 | arts-culture-design-en arts-culture-design-en | 2018 | |
| Kim Thùy | Arts, Culture and Design, Arts, Culture and Design | 2018 | arts-culture-design-en arts-culture-design-en | 2018 | |
| Natalie Voland | Business and Entrepreneurship, Business and Entrepreneurship | 2018 | business-entrepreneurship business-entrepreneurship | 2018 |
| Mélanie Loisel | Education and Information | 2018 | education-information-wod | 2018 |
| Sonia Lupien | Public Services | 2018 | public-services | 2018 | |
| Heidi McBride | Research and Innovation | 2018 | research-innovation | 2018 |
| Chantale Arseneau | Social and Environmental Engagement | 2018 | social-environmental-engagement | 2018 |
| Karine Champagne | Sports, Health and Wellness | 2018 | sports-health-wellness | 2018 | |
 | Annie Lemieux | Business and Entrepreneurship | 2017 | business-entrepreneurship | 2017 |
 | Suzanne Sauvage | Arts, Culture and Design | 2017 | arts-culture-design-en | 2017 |
 | Dinah Oliel | Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal | 2017 | coup-de-coeur-en | 2017 |
 | Anne-Marie Messier | Social and Environmental Engagement | 2017 | social-environmental-engagement | 2017 |
 | Ève Lamont | Education and Information | 2017 | education-information-wod | 2017 |
 | Shahrzad Arshadi | Inspiration Award | 2017 | inspiration-en | 2017 |
 | Annie Pullen-Sansfaçon | Research and Innovation | 2017 | research-innovation | 2017 |
 | Géraldine Martin | Public Services | 2017 | public-services | 2017 |
 | Dr. Marie Laberge-Malo | Sports, Health and Wellness | 2017 | sports-health-wellness | 2017 |
 | Kim Thomassin | Business and Professions | 2016 | wod-business-professions | 2016 |
 | Marcelle Dubois | Arts and Culture | 2016 | wod-arts-culture | 2016 |
 | Carmen Daviault | Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal | 2016 | coup-de-coeur-en | 2016 |
| Françoise Dupont | Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal | 2016 | coup-de-coeur-en | 2016 |
| Marielle Ricard | Coup de coeur Award by YWCA Montreal | 2016 | coup-de-coeur-en | 2016 |
 | Mireille Cyr | Education | 2016 | education | 2016 |
 | Marie Houzeau | Social commitment | 2016 | wod-social-commitment | 2016 |
 | Déborah Cherenfant | Entrepreneurship | 2016 | wod-entrepreneurship | 2016 |
 | Pauline D’Amboise | Environment | 2016 | wod-environment | 2016 |
 | Louise Champoux-Paillé | Woman of outstanding achievement | 2016 | woman-outstanding-achievement | 2016 |
 | Koriass | Inspirational man | 2016 | inspirational-man | 2016 |
 | Kharoll-Ann Souffrant | Young Woman of Distinction | 2016 | wod-young-woman-of-distinction | 2016 |
 | Véronique Jacques | Young Woman of Distinction | 2016 | wod-young-woman-of-distinction | 2016 |
 | Louise Pilote | Health | 2016 | wod-health | 2016 |
 | Manon Simard | Sports and Wellness | 2016 | wod-sports-wellness | 2016 |
 | Joanna Berzowska | Science and Technology | 2016 | wod-science-technology | 2016 |
 | Sue Montgomery | Communications | 2016 | wod-communications | 2016 |
Laureates 1994-2015
Click on a column title to sort.
| First name | Last name | Category | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne-Marie | Chagnon | Entrepreneurship | 2015 |
| Anne-Sophie | Thommeret-Carrière | Young Woman of Distinction | 2015 |
| Brigitte | Vachon | Science and Technology | 2015 |
| Cara | Tannenbaum | Health | 2015 |
| Colette | Lafrance | YWCA Woman | 2015 |
| Danielle | Danault | Sports and Wellness | 2015 |
| Diane | Chênevert | Social commitment | 2015 |
| Line | Pagé | Communications | 2015 |
| Louise | Fréchette | Woman of Outstanding Achievement | 2015 |
| Martha | de Francisco | Arts and culture | 2015 |
| Mary-Ann | Bell | Business and Professions | 2015 |
| Sheila | Watt-Cloutier | Environement | 2015 |
| Susan | Bartlett | Education | 2015 |
| Caroline | Ouellette | Sports and Wellness | 2014 |
| Cathy | Wong | Young Woman of Distinction | 2014 |
| Christine | Décarie | Business and Professions | 2014 |
| Danièle | Henkel | Entrepreneurship | 2014 |
| Francine | Lelièvre | Arts and culture | 2014 |
| Gyslaine | Desrosier | Health | 2014 |
| Louise | Roy | Woman of Outstanding Achievement | 2014 |
| Lucie | Joyal | Community Service and Social Development | 2014 |
| Marianna | Simeone | Communications | 2014 |
| Mispa | Nkuh Basa | YWCA Woman | 2014 |
| Nathalie | Tufenkji | Science and Technology | 2014 |
| Sylvie | Guilbault | Environement | 2014 |
| Wendy | Thomson | Education | 2014 |
| Carole | Robert | Environement | 2013 |
| Christine | Marchildon | Business and Professions | 2013 |
| Frédérique | Vallières | Young Woman of Distinction | 2013 |
| Linda | Kay | Communications | 2013 |
| Lynne | McVey | Health | 2013 |
| Marianna | Newkirk | Science and Technology | 2013 |
| Martine | Hébert | Education | 2013 |
| Monique | Jérôme-Forget | Woman of Outstanding Achievement | 2013 |
| Pascale | Pageau | Entrepreneurship | 2013 |
| Sylvie | Bernier | Sports and Wellness | 2013 |
| Thérèse | St-Gelais | Arts and culture | 2013 |
| Yvonne | Séguin | Community Service and Social Development | 2013 |
| Charmaine | Nelson | Arts and culture | 2012 |
| Claudine | Labelle | Sports and Wellness | 2012 |
| Diane | Lamarre | Health and Environment | 2012 |
| Ginette | Berteau | Education | 2012 |
| Jocelyna | Dubuc | Entrepreneurship | 2012 |
| Marie-Claude | Lortie | Communications | 2012 |
| Mariela | Segura | Science and Technology | 2012 |
| Monique | F. Leroux | Woman of Outstanding Achievement | 2012 |
| Nathalie | Bernier | Business and Professions | 2012 |
| Simone | Samuels | Young Woman of Distinction | 2012 |
| Tara | Lyman-Abramovitch | Y’s Woman | 2012 |
| Yasmina | Chouakri | Community Service and Social Development | 2012 |
| Angela | Genge | Science and Technology | 2011 |
| Christiane | Pelchat | Woman of Outstanding Achievement | 2011 |
| Geneviève | Bois | Young Woman of Distinction | 2011 |
| Geneviève | Grandbois | Entrepreneurship | 2011 |
| Joanne | Liu | Community Service and Social Development | 2011 |
| Johanne | Lépine | Business and Professions | 2011 |
| Josée | Boileau | Communications | 2011 |
| Laurette | Dubé | Social and Environnemental Sciences | 2011 |
| Louise | Nadeau | Education | 2011 |
| Susie | Napper | Arts and culture | 2011 |
| Sylvie | Béliveau | Sports and Wellness | 2011 |
| Ana Maria | Seifert | Community Service | 2010 |
| Claire | L’Heureux-Dubé | Pioneer | 2010 |
| Denise | Cornellier | Entrepreneurship | 2010 |
| Djemila | Benhabib | Communications | 2010 |
| Francine | Ducharme | Science and Health | 2010 |
| Joannie | Rochette | Sports and Wellness | 2010 |
| Jocelyne | Robert | Education | 2010 |
| Léa | Clermont-Dion | Young Woman of Distinction | 2010 |
| Lise | Watier | Business and Professions | 2010 |
| Michèle | Stanton-Jean | Advancement of Women | 2010 |
| Nathalie | Bondil | Arts and culture | 2010 |
| Arpi | Hamalian | Education | 2009 |
| Christiane | Bergevin | Business and Professions | 2009 |
| Iris | Almeida-Côté | Community Service | 2009 |
| Johanne | Boivin | Entrepreneurship | 2009 |
| Lise | Payette | Pioneer | 2009 |
| Louise | Vandelac | Advancement of Women | 2009 |
| Mae Jane | Nam | Young Woman of Distinction | 2009 |
| Marquise | Lepage | Arts and culture | 2009 |
| Michèle | Boisvert | Communications | 2009 |
| Rima | Rozen | Science and Health | 2009 |
| Thérèse | Cadrin Petit | Sports and Wellness | 2009 |
| Anaïs | Barbeau-Lavalette | Young Woman of Distinction | 2008 |
| Céline | Darveau | Sports and Wellness | 2008 |
| Dorothy | Reitman | Advancement of Women | 2008 |
| Isabelle | Brabant | Science and Health | 2008 |
| Janet | Bagnall | Communications | 2008 |
| Karen | Radford | Business and Professions | 2008 |
| Louise | Arbour | Pioneer | 2008 |
| Marina | Orsini | Arts and culture | 2008 |
| Mariouche | Gagné | Entrepreneurship | 2008 |
| Marjorie | Villefranche | Education | 2008 |
| Wanda | Bedard | Community Service | 2008 |
| Andrea | Courey | Entrepreneurship | 2007 |
| Andrea | Martin | Business and Professions | 2007 |
| Ariane | Moffatt | Young Woman of Distinction | 2007 |
| Bilkis | Vissandjée | Science and Health | 2007 |
| Diane | Matte | Advancement of Women | 2007 |
| Evelyn | Beker-Brook | Community Service | 2007 |
| Laurette | Champigny-Robillard | Pioneer | 2007 |
| Lorraine | Pintal | Arts and culture | 2007 |
| Mireille | Mathieu | Education | 2007 |
| Pascale | Navarro | Communications | 2007 |
| Anne-Marie | Dussault | Communications | 2006 |
| Gretta | Chambers | Pioneer | 2006 |
| Jacynthe | Côté | Business and Professions | 2006 |
| Janine | O’Leary Cobb | Science and Health | 2006 |
| Karine | Vanasse | Young Woman of Distinction | 2006 |
| Léa | Pool | Arts and culture | 2006 |
| Louise | Roy | Advancement of Women | 2006 |
| Marie | Saint Pierre | Entrepreneurship | 2006 |
| Pearl | Eliadis | Community Service | 2006 |
| Sarah | Ali-Khan | Sports and Wellness | 2006 |
| Sharon | Hudson | Education | 2006 |
| Susan | Campbell | Education | 2006 |
| Aleksandra | Leligdowicz | Young Woman of Distinction | 2005 |
| Aline | Desjardins | Pioneer | 2005 |
| Claudette | Carbonneau | Community Service | 2005 |
| Danielle | Morin | Education | 2005 |
| Denise | Filiatrault | Advancement of Women | 2005 |
| Elisabeth | Koczi | Entrepreneurship | 2005 |
| Lorraine | Desmarais | Arts and culture | 2005 |
| Margaret R. | Becklake | Science and Health | 2005 |
| Monette | Malewski | Business and Professions | 2005 |
| Penny | Vilagos | Sports and Wellness | 2005 |
| Sophie | Thibault | Communications | 2005 |
| Vicky | Vilagos | Sports and Wellness | 2005 |
| Anila | Madiraju | Young Woman of Distinction | 2004 |
| Anne | Leahy | Advancement of Women | 2004 |
| Céline | Galipeau | Communications | 2004 |
| Diane M. | Provencher | Health | 2004 |
| Francine | Décary | Business and Professions | 2004 |
| Hazel | Mah | Entrepreneurship | 2004 |
| Jocelyne | Bourassa | Sports and Wellness | 2004 |
| Léa | Cousineau | Pioneer | 2004 |
| Mariella | Pandolfi | Education | 2004 |
| Michèle | Audette | Community Service | 2004 |
| Mona | Nemer | Science and Technology | 2004 |
| Paule | Baillargeon | Arts and culture | 2004 |
| Peta | Tancred | Public Service | 2004 |
| Alanis | Obomsawin | Advancement of Women | 2003 |
| Claudine M. | Desjardins | Young Woman of Distinction | 2003 |
| Geraldine | Dubrule | Sports and Wellness | 2003 |
| Isabelle | Narayana | Public Service | 2003 |
| Jeannette | Bertrand | Pioneer | 2003 |
| Lili | de Grandpré | Business and Professions | 2003 |
| Lorna | Roth | Education | 2003 |
| Louise | Lévesque | Health | 2003 |
| Lucie | Pépin | Pioneer | 2003 |
| Marie-José | Turcotte | Communications | 2003 |
| Marion | Lowe-Mclean | Community Service | 2003 |
| Ranee | Lee | Arts and culture | 2003 |
| Rhoda | Blostein | Science and Technology | 2003 |
| Ruth | Flicker | Entrepreneurship | 2003 |
| Anne-Marie | Trahan | Advancement of Women | 2002 |
| Annnmarie | Adams | Science and Technology | 2002 |
| Carol A. | Fitzwilliam | Business and Professions | 2002 |
| Catherine | Hooper | Community Service | 2002 |
| Claire | Kirkland | Pioneer | 2002 |
| Francine | Descarries | Education | 2002 |
| Ginette | Noiseux | Arts and culture | 2002 |
| Guylaine | Bernier | Sports and Wellness | 2002 |
| Jennifer | Stoddart | Public Service | 2002 |
| Marie-France | Bazzo | Communications | 2002 |
| Naomi | Lear | Young Woman of Distinction | 2002 |
| Sara | McKenna | Entrepreneurship | 2002 |
| Vania | Jimenez | Health | 2002 |
| Brenda | Milner | Science and Technology | 2001 |
| Edith | Duterville | Health | 2001 |
| Françoise | David | Advancement of Women | 2001 |
| Gertrude | Joch Robinson | Communications | 2001 |
| Maria | Trudel-Day | Community and Public Service | 2001 |
| Marie-Anne | Raulet | Entrepreneurship | 2001 |
| Michèle | Fortin | Arts and culture | 2001 |
| Nadia | Fahmy-Eid | Education | 2001 |
| Nicole | Beaudoin | Business and Professions | 2001 |
| Sabrina | Pettinicchi | Sports and Wellness | 2001 |
| Sarah-Jeanne | Salvy | Young Woman of Distinction | 2001 |
| Aoua | Bocar Ly-Tall | Community and Public Service | 2000 |
| Astrid | Christoffersen-Deb | Young Woman of Distinction | 2000 |
| Danièle | Sauvageau | Sports and Wellness | 2000 |
| Gloria | Shaffer Tannenbaum | Health | 2000 |
| Jeanne | Maranda | Advancement of Women | 2000 |
| Julie | Payette | Science and Technology | 2000 |
| Léa | Roback | Pioneer | 2000 |
| Louise | Daoust | Entrepreneurship | 2000 |
| Louise | Maihot | Business and Professions | 2000 |
| Madeleine | Parent | Pioneer | 2000 |
| Marie | Bernard | Education | 2000 |
| Micheline | Lachance | Arts and culture | 2000 |
| Thérèse | Paquet-Sévigny | Communications | 2000 |
| Denise | Caron | Community and Public Service | 1999 |
| Huguette | Bélanger | Health | 1999 |
| Johanne | Daly | Business and Professions | 1999 |
| Kate | Williams | Communications | 1999 |
| Louise | Fleishmann | Advancement of Women | 1999 |
| Louise | Guay | Entrepreneurship | 1999 |
| Lynn | McAlpine | Education | 1999 |
| Martha | Crago | Science and Technology | 1999 |
| Mochéda | Alexandre | Young Woman of Distinction | 1999 |
| Robin Marlene | Hornstein | Sports and Wellness | 1999 |
| Wanda | Kaluzny | Arts and culture | 1999 |
| Abby | Lippman | Science and Technology | 1998 |
| Agathe | Plamondon | Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | 1998 |
| Aoura | Bizzarri | Community and Public Service | 1998 |
| Dina | Lavoie | Education | 1998 |
| Hélène | Denoncourt | Health | 1998 |
| Joya | Balfour | Young Woman of Distinction | 1998 |
| Michaëlle | Jean | Communications | 1998 |
| Nathalie | Lambert | Sports and Fitness | 1998 |
| Shree | Mulay | Advancement of Women | 1998 |
| Yvette | Pauzé | Arts and culture | 1998 |
| Chantal | Petitclerc | Sports and Fitness | 1997 |
| Claudine | Bertrand | Arts and culture | 1997 |
| Erin | Duchesneau | Young Woman of Distinction | 1997 |
| Gemma | Raeburn-Baynes | Community and Public Service | 1997 |
| Lily | Tasso | Communications | 1997 |
| Lynn | Butler-Kisber | Education | 1997 |
| Maîr | Verthuy | Advancement of Women | 1997 |
| Margaret A. | Somerville | Science and Technology | 1997 |
| Nicole | Saint-Jean | Health | 1997 |
| Sonia D. | Raikes | Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | 1997 |
| Denise | Bombardier | Communications | 1996 |
| Johanne | Berry | Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | 1996 |
| Lisa | Grushcow | Young Woman of Distinction | 1996 |
| Louisette | Dussault | Arts and culture | 1996 |
| Maryse | Lassonde | Science and Technology | 1996 |
| Nancy J. | Adler | Advancement of Women | 1996 |
| Ratna | Ghosh | Education | 1996 |
| Sophia | Demetelin | Community and Public Service | 1996 |
| Susan | Ballmer | Sports and Fitness | 1996 |
| Yvette | Bonny | Health | 1996 |
| Anne-Louise | Crago | Young Woman of Distinction | 1995 |
| Claudie | Solar | Science and Technology | 1995 |
| Corinne | Mount Pleasent-Jetté | Education | 1995 |
| Diane | Vandy | Sports and Wellness | 1995 |
| Heidi | Rathjen | Community and Public Service | 1995 |
| Hélène | Kayler | Science and Technology | 1995 |
| Johanne | Totta | Advancement of Women | 1995 |
| Lise | Bissonnette | Communications | 1995 |
| Lorraine | Vaillancourt | Arts and culture | 1995 |
| Louise | Lafortune | Science and Technology | 1995 |
| Louise | Lambert-Lagacé | Health | 1995 |
| Madeleine | Barrette | Science and Technology | 1995 |
| Renée-Paule | Caron | Science and Technology | 1995 |
| Sylvaine | Borenstein | Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | 1995 |
| Catherine | Hankins | Health | 1994 |
| Célyne | Muloin | Community Service | 1994 |
| Donna | Mergler | Science and Technology | 1994 |
| Judith | Gill | Sports and Fitness | 1994 |
| Karen | Messing | Science and Technology | 1994 |
| Lise | Thibault | Business, Professions and Entrepreneurship | 1994 |
| Margaret | Gillet | Education | 1994 |
| Maryvonne | Kendergi | Arts and culture | 1994 |
| Mercedes | Palomino | Arts and culture | 1994 |
| Micheline | Bouchard | Advancement of Women | 1994 |