HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-03-16, Page 3Honouring women
in our community
Laura Broadley
Potsmedia Network
The Knights of Columbus Hall was
full with 270 people coming
together to celebrate the amazing
women of Huron County on March
4.
The event was founded in 2014 in
partnership with the Huron Wom-
en's Shelter and the YMCA as a
chance to recognize the contribu-
tions of women in the county.
There were 24 women nominated
for the Inspiring Women in Huron
awards but the night was also about
recognizing the women who nomi-
nated them and the collective power
of women, said Kathi Lomas -
McGee, senior vice present, Opera-
tions of YMCA Southwestern
Ontario.
Donna Jean Forster -Gill, execu-
tive director of the Huron Women's
Shelter, said there needed to be an
opportunity to acknowledge the
contributions women make to the
community, which is why the event
was created in the first place.
"Any opportunity we can take to
celebrate women is great," she said.
Guest speaker, Tracy Coghlin, a
Sergeant with the Ontario Provincial
Police, spoke about her time as a
United Nations peacekeeper in
South Sudan. For one year she
worked in the war-torn country
inspecting jails. In her down time
she volunteered her time at an
orphanage for girls. It was there she
found her calling. Referring to the
children as "my girls" Coghlin said
she was inspired by the happiness
and gratitude that exudes from the
girls who have been through so
much.
Coghlin said when she retires
from the OPP in six years she will be
heading back across the Atlantic to
run the orphanage. The room at the
Knights of Columbus Hall gave
Coghlin a standing ovation for her
speech.
Riley MacLennan was the recipi-
ent of the Inspiring Young Woman
in Huron award. When she was
10 -years -old she lost her father to
cancer. Even before this tragic event
MacLennan cut her hair for Wigs for
Kids, a charity that makes wigs for
young cancer patients, at just
6 -years -old. She organized a Relay
for Life team at age 12 and has been
volunteering for the Canadian Can-
cer Society for 10 years. She is
actively involved in the Huron Hur-
ricanes Aquatic Club and has been
playing the harp for nine years. Even
with all that to her name, the nomi-
nation and the award still come as a
surprise.
"I was very humbled that some-
one thought I was deserving of such
an award. It was really amazing to
be nominated with all the women
that were nominated as well," she
said.
Michelle Hansen was the recipi-
ent of the Inspiring Woman in
Huron award for her contributions
to the community. She was the exec-
utive director of the Huron Women's
Shelter and has been a councillor
for the Town of Goderich since 2010.
She said she was honoured to
receive the award.
"Twenty-four women to be nomi-
nated isn't enough, there should be
124. Women in this community do
so much and we should honour
them more than we actually do," she
said.
MADE YOUR
BOOK
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 • Huron Expositor 3
Laura Broadley
Michelle Hansen and Riley MacLennan were the recipients of the 2016 Inspiring Woman and Inspiring Young
Woman in Huron awards respectively.
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