The nominees for the 2019 Women of Excellence Award were announced last week, and there are a few local names that are being honoured.

Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Lacombe Crystal Zens was nominated in the Human Services category for all of the great work she does in the community.

“To go to work every day and help kids in our community and provide them with mentors that they are missing in their life and things like that, being recognized for that type of work is a great honour for sure.”

Zens says her reward is getting to do a job she loves every day.

“I’ve just seen so much long term impact from our program being here 11 years, I’ve been able to see kids grow up through the programs and now be a mentor themselves, so it’s an incredibly rewarding job and to be nominated and recognized for that work in human services is a great honour.”  

Three other local women were nominated to be recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions in central Alberta who serve as role models for women and girls.

They are Randi Boulton, who was nominated in the Arts & Culture category, Denise Harty in the Entrepreneurship category, and Tabitha Phiri, also under the Human Services category.

The 12th annual Red Deer and District Community Foundation Women of Excellence Awards Gala is being held on June 19th, 2019 at the Sheraton in Red Deer.