Patricia Ross and Maggie Calloway are the women of the year in Abbotsford and Mission,
respectively.
They are the winners of the Myrtle Evertt Woman of the Year awards for 2009, announced on
Wednesday night at the annual awards banquet at Garden Park Tower.
Ross said no one has to worry about her getting a swollen head – she found the experience
quite humbling.
“So many people have faith in you, and are inspired by the work you do, and you don’t want
to let them down.”
The event is sponsored each year by the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Abbotsford
and Mission, to recognize the outstanding contributions of local women.
With their nomination package the nominees are to present two letters of recommendation, and
hers were written by former mayor George Ferguson, and present city councillor and longtime school trustee John Smith. Ross said it meant
a lot to her that political colleagues “who you disagree with on a regular basis,” apparently held her in such high regard.
She said the prize is the evening itself, a banquet that celebrates the achievements of the eight nominees.
She was nominated by Kim Lawrence, who she thanked for assembling an impressive package.
Ross grew up poor and survived a violent abduction as a young woman, but has overcome these trials in stellar fashion. She is one of the city’s top-polling politicians
in civic elections.
Always at the forefront of environmental issues, she was prominent in the successful battle
against the proposed U.S. power plant Sumas Energy 2 and the threat it brought to Fraser Valley air quality. She has continued to be an
environmental champion for the Valley, fighting for stringent air quality
standards in the greenhouse industry, and working to keep waste to energy
incinerators from coming to the Lower Mainland.
Ross is the the founder
and chair of the Keep Canada Pure Foundation and has been a board member
with Abbotsford Restorative Justice, the Fraser Basin Council, Environmental
Advisory Comittee and Valley Women’s Network to name just a few of
her many involvements.
Her nomination says “Patricia
has faced extraordinary challenges in her life and has overcome them
and used them to cultivate a love of life and all things in it. She
chose to be a leader. She chose to make herself more accessible, giving
her time to the Fraser Valley.”
Such sentiments made
Ross feel appreciated.
“It was a big thank-you
to me, winning that honour. It makes you feel your existence on this
earth is justified.”
Mission Woman of the Year
Mission’s Woman of
the Year is Margaret (Maggie) Calloway.
“It was a wonderful
night. The nominees were fantastic, and I felt privileged to be among
them,” she said.
“To be acknowledged
in that crowd of awesome women is pretty special. It’s a lifetime
event.”
Once a broadcast reporter,
Calloway runs Dundarave Communications. She has provided management
for high-profile events including the Vancouver International Boat Show,
and Vancouver Motorcycle Show, and has been a regular columnist with
Black Press.
Calloway was a founder
and president of the Fraser Valley Humane Society, and has been a fundraiser
for SAINTS (Senior Animals in Need Today Society). She also served as
chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee at Ferndale Institution,
and founded an animal shelter there. She is also director of development
for Skills Canada, B.C.
These are just a few
of many accomplishments, but despite her high level of achievement,
Calloway was certain it would be one of her esteemed co-nominees who
would win the award.
“I had no expectations.
When I heard my name it was an emotional shock. What an honour.”
“For anyone who volunteers
in any way, the work you do is a reward,” she said. “This is just
icing on the cake.”
Calloway, a master gardener,
said working around her flower beds and vegetables keeps her grounded,
“pardon the pun.”
“No matter what happens, you can always
go pull a few weeds.”
