The May Court Club of Chatham on Monday announced the names of the six women of Chatham-Kent who have been chosen as Women of Excellence 2018 for the outstanding contribution that each one has made to the local, regional, national or international community.
These women are being honoured at an awards banquet May 24 at the Maple City Golf and Country Club. May Court’s Women of Excellence 2018 and their award categories are:
Shannon Prince for Arts & Culture – recognized for patronage of or contribution to the arts (visual, literary or performing), cultural diversity or heritage of the community.
Prince is currently the Curator of the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum. She is also a storyteller and participant in historical re-enactments which bring the history of Buxton and the Underground Railroad to life for many groups both here and further a-field. She is a descendant of the early fugitive families that came to Canada for freedom and opportunity.
For many years, Prince was an active member and officer of both the Merlin and the Kent County Home and School Association and was their representative at the County’s Board of Education
Justine Kilby for Business & Professions – recognized for achievement in business or profession in the public, private or non-profit sector.
Kilby grew up in Chatham-Kent and at an early age became very involved in the local community. The list of her volunteer activities while in high school is a long one.
In 2017, Kilby named by Boardlist as one of the Top 25 Women in Tech in Canada.
Her community involvement continues as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ceridian Cares Canada charity, a founding member of #Move the Dial, a movement dedicated to advancing women in technology, a member of the Entegrus Powerlines Board of Directors and WETech Alliance, the regional innovation centre for Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex.
Diane Flook for Community & Volunteerism – recognized for contribution through voluntary commitment to the development or enhancement of programs or humanitarian efforts which benefit the local, regional, national or international community.
Flook was born and raised on the family farm in Chatham-Kent. She graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts degree and from London Teacher’s College with a Specialist designation in Special Education.
Flook has always been passionate about outdoor recreation and the environment in which to enjoy these activities and she has devoted much of her time and energy in these areas.
In 2009, Flook joined as a volunteer member of the Chatham-Kent Trails Council and as its chair from 2012 to today. During her time as Chair, the Chatham-Kent Trails Council published a trails booklet featuring 45 unique trails across this county, partnered with the municipality to produce a comprehensive internet map of Chatham-Kent hiking and river trails and is currently working with the municipality to produce an internet map featuring all the cycling routes in Chatham-Kent.
Janine Griffore for Education & Training – recognized for contribution through the practice of teaching, research or administration in education, training and development or alternative learning programs.
Griffore is a native of Grande Pointe and attended secondary school in Pain Court. Looking back, she acknowledges the powerful example of her parents as role models.
Griffore began her career in education as a secondary school teacher, and later the principal at École secondaire de Pain Court. In 2004, she accepted the position of Director of Education with the board now known as Conseil scolaire catholique Providence. In December 2012, she took on the challenging role as Assistant Deputy Minister for the French language, Aboriginal Learning and Research Division for the ministries of Education and Advanced Education and Skills Development. Since her retirement in December 2016, Griffore has remained active in the education field as a consultant.
Meaghan Creed for Health, Science & Technology – recognized for contribution to the field of health and wellness, medicine, science or technology.
Creed is a Chatham native with a PhD from the University of Toronto. She went to complete four years of postdoctoral studies at the Department of Basic Neuroscience of the University of Geneva.
In 2016, while studying in Switzerland, Creed was granted the Pfizer Research Prize for her work in the field of neuroscience focusing on treating addictions. The next year, she won the highly competitive Science & PINS Prize for outstanding research into the poorly understood biology underlying addiction. Her findings could eventually help to pave the way to needed therapeutic options for diseases such as substance abuse disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and ADHD.
Creed is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Mackenzie Regts for Young Woman of Excellence (18 – 29 years of age) – recognized for commitment, achievement and leadership in her chosen environment, whether through school, community or workplace.
Regts is a John McGregor Secondary School graduate and the recipient of numerous scholastic and community awards. She is currently studying biomedical engineering at the University of Guelph where she maintains an average of 80 per cent average or higher.
While Prime Minister of the Student Council at John McGregor Secondary School, Mackenzie organized food and winter apparel collections and helped plan several events to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
In recognition of her involvement in school and community activities, Regts was awarded the Citizenship Award in the 2016 Undergraduate ceremony. She also received the 2017 Principal’s Award, the Student Council Award of Honour, JMSS 50TH Anniversary Bursary and the United Way Bursary, all recognizing her outstanding contribution to the school and community.
Kris Stevens, President of the May Court Club of Chatham, stated, “Our members are pleased to once again have this opportunity to recognize these deserving Chatham-Kent women who have worked so diligently to make a difference. Proceeds from the sale of tickets for the awards banquet on May 24 will help fund May Court’s important work with women and children in our community.”
