‘Paving the way:’ Female talent on display across Women of the Year awards
Posted May 23, 2025 07:15:31 AM.
Last Updated May 23, 2025 12:20:29 PM.
It was a night that put the full landscape of local female talent on display as Bingemans hosted the K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year awards.
It marked 50 years of the influential event, with a record-breaking 140 nominees up for the dozen categories, all ranging from skilled trades and community service to lifelong achievers and top professionals.
“It’s letting other people know that no matter what you do in your life, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to,” said business owner and winner of the Entrepreneurs 40+ Award, Mary Beth Kennedy. “I think it does help to inspire other people, it helps to see that collaboration and the community come together. It’s a beautiful night.”
The event also featured prominent women across the region, including Regional Chair Karen Redman and Sarah Prevette, Founder and CEO of Future Design School, who was a keynote speaker during the ceremony.
The award show broke the record for nominations that was just set last year at 123 nominations, with the awards being given out in front of a sold-out crowd at Bingemans. Kennedy mentioned it was a clear show of support, demonstrating the impact women have had across the community.
“This is exactly what we all aspire to have, and I just think it’s great to actually see this come to fruition and just have such a large crowd this year and be a record breaker.”
While events like this are important to show the growth and development of the economic and communal landscape across Waterloo Region, work is still being done to knock down the barriers women are having to face on a day-to-day basis.
The full list of award winners includes:
- Dr. Kathryn Ladano – Arts & Culture
- Marjorie Knight – Community Service
- Jan Basso – Educator
- Mary Beth Kennedy – Entrepreneur 40+ Years Old
- Women in Communications & Technology (WCT) Mentoring Circles – Group Achievement
- Melissa Reid – Health & Wellness
- Joan Fisk – Lifetime Achievement
- Kim Wilhelm – Professional 40+ Years Old
- Rochelle Williams – Rising Star
- Emily Pyke – Skilled Trades
- Dr. Charmaine Dean – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
- Jessica Quinn – Young Adult (14 to 23)
“The battles are still there for women to break ceilings,” Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice President of Research at the University of Waterloo and winner of the STEM Award, said. “It’s terrific to have the opportunity to showcase the important work that everybody’s doing.”
Emily Pyke, who won the Skilled Trades Award during the ceremony, echoed that same sentiment. She stated that it’s still a prevalent problem facing countless women across the world, the country, and right here in the region.
“As a teen mom who was once told I’d never make it, and as a woman in the trades who was told I didn’t belong, I accept this not just for myself, but for every person who’s ever felt underestimated and overlooked,” said Pyke.
That being said, Dean mentioned that over the 50 years that the event has been put on, plenty of progress and development have been seen. She said there have been definite changes since she began her career.
“When I first started as an assistant professor, I walked into the faculty council meeting. There were 200 people at the meeting, and I was the only woman there,” said Dean.
Overall, the night was filled with cheering, celebrations, and support from the local community, all with the future crop of next year’s winners already in mind.
CEO of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and winner of the Professionals 40+ Award, Kim Wilhelm, gave a similar message during her speech.
Full interview with Mary Beth Kennedy, business owner and winner of the Entrepreneur 40+ award during the Women of the Year awards.
“To the women in this room tonight who lead with courage and compassion, thank you for paving the way,” said Wilhelm. “Whether you’ve been nominated or are the next generation of leaders, your voice matters, your vision matters, and your impact will be powerful.”
“Whether you’ve been nominated or are the next generation of leaders, your voice matters, your vision matters, and your impact will be powerful,” said CEO of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and winner of the Professionals 40+ Award, Kim Wilhelm.
The spotlight on local female achievement is still well underway in the region, with the Waterloo Region Women’s Expo headed to Bingemans Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The full list of details for the upcoming expo can be found on the Women of the Year website, along with the full list of information on winners, nominees, and more.
Rogers is the parent company of CityNews Kitchener.
