YWCA recognizes community leaders at annual Women of Distinction awards

By Lethbridge Herald on March 10, 2025.

HERALD PHOTO BY ALEJANDRA PULIDO-GUZMAN Anna Campmans, centre, receieves the Young Woman of Promise award from a University of Lethbridge representative while Jill Young, CEO of YWCA, left, looks on during the annual Women of Distinction Awards on Saturday.

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

With Saturday marking International Women’s Day the YWCA Lethbridge and District celebrated its annual Women of Distinction awards with over 200 people in attendance to honour five women and those who paved the path before them. 

The YWCA Lethbridge and District has been honouring local women with the Women of Distinction Awards since 1976 and this year’s recipients were nominated in five categories: the Catalyst of Change award, the Guiding Light award, the Shattering Ceilings award, the Young Woman of Promise award and the Lottie M. Austin Lifetime Achievement award. 

Maral Kiani Tari, executive director of Family Centre, received the Catalyst of Change award. She said when she found out her team had nominated her, she felt honoured and humbled for the nomination. 

“It definitely brought tears to my eyes when I found out that was the plan,” said Kiani Tari. 

She explained that the award is for women who embodied empowerment of women, especially for those who are marginalized and trailblazing. 

“Leading in the areas where I am at, I am creating a work environment that embodies what the title conveys,” said Kiani Tari. 

Prior to her current role, she was executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank, where she strengthened food security initiatives and expanded community resources. She is also a sessional instructor at the University of Lethbridge’s Dhillon School of Business, where she teaches fundamentals of business. 

“My thought process is that my knowledge is not what I own, it is to be shared and to be able to use it to empower those around me.”

Carly Adams, director of the University of Lethbridge’s Centre for Oral History and Tradition as well as lead of the Nikkei Memory Capture Project received the Guiding Light award foe education. She was nominated by Dawn Sugimoto, who is the president of the Lethbridge and District Garden Society, due to her involvement with the Nikkei Memory Capture Project. 

“While I was up there (on stage receiving the award), it was a bit overwhelming because there are some pretty amazing women in this room tonight both past and present that have been women of distinction,” said Adams. 

She said it was also overwhelming for her to receive the award on International Women’s Day because she believes it is so important to celebrate each other as women and lift each other up. 

“That was the message I wanted to share,” said Adams. “As a historian, thinking about our past and remembering those who have come before us and have laid the foundation for the work that we are doing today and to stay hopeful as we move forward into an uncertain world with everything that is going on.”

Dr. Sayeh Zielke, physician lead for Cardiac Sciences with Alberta Health Services South Zone, chair of the Southern Alberta Cardian Sciences Advisory Cabinet and medical director of Chinook Cardiology, received the Shatters Ceilings award. She said she was overwhelmed and grateful for the nomination. 

“I am humbled to be among the women that are here being celebrated tonight. For me, the fact that I am being recognized for the work that I do on behalf of my patients it means the most,” said Zielke. “Because everything I do is for the benefit of my patients.” 

She said she is constantly trying to advance care for the community, and the fact that the community recognizes that gives her courage to continue to advocate for services for the community. 

“It’s an incredible honour and I am very proud to be part of a community that is so warm, welcoming and so supportive,” said Zielke. 

Anna Campmans, a Grade 12 student at Catholic Central High School, received the Young Woman of Promise award and said she was overwhelmed by the support of her loved ones who showed up to celebrate her during the ceremony. 

“My face hurts from smiling so much,” said Campmans. “It has been an amazing evening.”

She said that since she is not used to having the spotlight on her, being on stage in front of so many people was “quite something.” 

“I prefer when the spotlight is not on me, but it felt nice to be recognized for the work I do.”

Bev Muendel-Atherstone won the Lottie M. Austin Lifetime Achievement award and said she was very honoured and overwhelmed by the award. She added that it is an honour to be counted as one of the many Women of Distinction who have been recognized throughout the decades. 

“I think I am receiving this award for my lifelong advocacy and standing up for democracy because we don’t do it no one will. It is up to each of us to stand up for what we believe in,” said Muendel-Atherstone. “And I believe women in southern Alberta have to be very resilient to stand up against the patriarchy and masochism inherited in our society.”