Two women with UFV connections have been nominated for 2023 YWCA Women of Distinction awards. Recognized nationally, the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards is the organization’s primary fundraising event, honouring extraordinary women leaders and businesses.

Dr. Lenore Newman — nominated in Environmental Sustainability category

Dr. Lenore Newman is Founder and Director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she leads a research program focusing on sustainable food systems and agricultural technologies. Dr. Newman also works to influence food policy and land use planning in BC, serving on the Premier’s Food Security Task Force and the Minister of Agriculture’s Task Force on Revitalizing the ALR. Lenore has conducted extensive research into agricultural land preservation, both within Canada and internationally; she is now considered one of the foremost experts on the subject. Lenore is dedicated to training new researchers and mentoring emerging scholars, creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience. Lenore’s research and policy activism impact our food security in environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically sound ways.

Rhianna Millman — nominated in Reconciliation in Action category

Rhianna (Human Resources Management certificate ’15) is a citizen of Métis Nation British Columbia with ancestry from the Red River Valley in what is today called Manitoba. Rhianna is the Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility Consultant at BC College of Nurses and Midwives, where she leads the organization toward a culturally safe and anti-discriminatory healthcare system. She is the family advocate for Keegan Combes and co-author of “Remembering Keegan: a BC First Nations Case Study Reflection” developed in partnership with First Nations Health Authority. “Remembering Keegan” is a first of its kind report in the province and was gifted in ceremony by Keegan’s family and community to the BC healthcare system as a learning tool. Rhianna is helping shape the Cultural Safety and quality of care for all Indigenous people in BC and across the country.