2010 Recipients

Marie Louise Fish

Marie Louise Fish is a trailblazer for women in non-traditional roles, particularly in the Canadian Forces, where her career began in 1974. Her military career reflects many women's "firsts," including being the first woman: to serve as a naval officer at sea, as part of a pilot project to employ women in previously all-male naval units; to qualify and serve as a ship's diving officer; and to participate in the Canadian contingent in the rigorous annual 160-kilometre, four-day Nijmegen March, in commemoration of the liberation of the Netherlands. Ms. Fish served at sea at a time when there were very few women in the Canadian Navy, and underwent arduous training alongside her male counterparts. Upon retirement from the military, Ms. Fish entered the field of security administration, becoming the first woman to serve as president of the Ontario Association of College and University Security Administrators. At the Royal Military College, and at Queen's and Trent universities, Ms. Fish developed policies and practices to enhance women's safety, and increased the representation of women on security staff. Ms. Fish lives in Elgin, Ontario.

Lucille Harper

Lucille Harper is an articulate proponent of and long-time advocate for social justice and women's equality. As Executive Director of the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre since 1988, she has assisted thousands of adolescent girls and women with issues related to poverty, violence, social exclusion, health education and training. In Antigonish, she has been instrumental in establishing a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, Sexual Assault Response Team, school-based Healthy Relationships Program and women's health centre. She works with her community and with organizations across Nova Scotia to improve the economic, social and political situation of women. Ms. Harper helped to found many key organizations, and remains active with Women's Centres Connect! – Nova Scotia Association of Women's Centres, Feminists of Just and Equitable Public Policy, and the Women's Action Coalition of Nova Scotia, to name a few. On a national level, Ms. Harper has contributed to the work of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. Ms. Harper lives in Pomquet, Nova Scotia, with her life partner, and has three adult children.

Kerline Joseph

A federal public servant with Service Canada, Kerline Joseph holds a doctorate in law. Her dedication to community service goes back to the early 1990s, when a trip to Africa made her aware of the injustices most women face. She then resolved to dedicate herself to fighting discrimination against women. Ms. Joseph was the assistant to the Special Rapporteur of the African Commission, and worked to support the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, a legal instrument aimed at protecting women across the continent. In 2005, Ms. Joseph created the organization Voix sans frontiers [Voices without borders], of which she is president. The organization addresses the isolation of immigrant women in Canada, helps them with skills development, and provides them with information about their rights and responsibilities in this country. Ms. Joseph was a 2005 nominee for the John Humphrey Freedom Award from the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development. Ms. Joseph lives in Delson, Quebec.

Anne Michaud

Anne Michaud has played an active role in the women's movement since the 1970s and is a passionate advocate for women's rights and personal safety. In 1981, she was among the pioneers behind simultaneous "Take Back the Night" demonstrations in cities across the country, events that continue to this day. As part of her responsibilities while working for the City of Montréal, Ms. Michaud worked in conjunction with city stakeholders to develop practices that have made Montréal a leader in urban safety for women. Ms. Michaud was a member of the Canadian delegation to the 1996 United Nations City Summit in Istanbul, where she took part in negotiations on gender equality issues in the context of local governance. In 2002, she co-created Women in Cities International, a network that promotes the dissemination of knowledge and best practices regarding women's safety and gender equality in urban settings. That initiative was recognized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for its leadership among non-governmental networks working to end violence against women. Ms. Michaud lives in Montréal, Quebec.

Barbara Mowat

Dedicated to empowering women to succeed in business, Barbara Mowat is a trade and international business development specialist. Ms. Mowat is President of Impact Communications Ltd. She founded and published Home Business Report, Canada's first magazine for micro-enterprises. She created the Uniquely Programs that assisted 12,000 Canadian entrepreneurs, the majority of whom are women, in accessing increased markets throughout Canada and on four continents. She is the Women Presidents' Organization Chapter Chair in Vancouver, serving women presidents and CEOs of major companies. Ms. Mowat promotes business development at many levels and was one of the original advisory board members for the Global Banking Alliance for Women. She is a WEConnect Canada certified woman business owner, serves on the Global Membership Circle for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and was winner of the 1993 Canadian Businesswoman of the Year Award for Impact on the Local Economy. Ms. Mowat's international work supports women entrepreneurs in developing countries. She led a special United Nations project to support businesswomen in Afghanistan. Ms. Mowat lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Date modified:

2015-04-27