Local women with a passion for the community were recognized Wednesday night by the Orillia Business Women’s Association (OBWA).
The organization decided to hold its annual Nelle Carter Woman of the Year and Lisa Brooking Young Woman of the Year celebration virtually after it became obvious an in-person event would not be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were not going to let these young women and women nominees go unrecognized,” said OBWA president Sharon Van Noort. “It’s so important to be supportive of each other as women and I’m very happy to be part of this.”
The Woman of the Year award went to Carolyn-Marie Goodwin. The tradeswoman and owner of Timberwolf Custom Carpentry founded Uplifting Blessings, which has expanded its mandate in recent years to provide essential items and support to people in need in the community.
The group has assisted the homeless, children in the foster care system, women experiencing domestic violence and others.
Goodwin sees it as a chance to give back, she said, noting she has experienced homelessness and domestic violence in the past.
Goodwin was nominated alongside Allana George, Jenna Green, Trish Holloway and Dale McKay.
“It was an honour and a privilege to stand with all these amazing women who are just as deserving. I love each and every one of them,” Goodwin said.
She thanked the OBWA, the partners in the community who work with Uplifting Blessings, her family and everyone who believed in her when she was training as a carpenter.
Julianne Pires was named Young Woman of the Year. The recent graduate of Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School was involved in various groups, events and causes at the school. That included producing promotional videos to help Grade 8 students transition to high school.
Community involvement has been important to Pires since she was in elementary school, when she helped with the annual Christmas Wish Dinner at Guardian Angels Church.
“I was so surprised,” she said after being named Young Woman of the Year. “I never would've thought I would be here winning this award.”
The other nominees were Emily Hawton and Alyssa Mandarino.
“I’m very sure that every other nominee was capable, if not more, of winning this award,” Pires said.
She thanked a number of people who assisted and inspired her during her time at Patrick Fogarty, as well as her friends and family.
“Everyone needs a mentor in their life and I have luckily found more than one,” she said.
Van Noort said she was “so, so proud of the young women and the women here tonight — the nominees and the recipients.”
“You’re all winners and you’re all just absolutely remarkable.”
She explained that she had no friends in Orillia when she started her business, Pets at Peace, four years ago. When she joined the OBWA, that changed.
“I believe so much in women supporting other women,” she said. “We need each other.”
She gave a shout-out to Carey Moran, a local radio broadcaster who served as MC for the celebration.
“It’s very uplifting for me to get to meet, even if it’s virtually this year, all these women who are doing such good in our community,” said Moran, who has been MC for the event previously.
