Women of Excellence Award Recipients
April 16, 2008

MLA Statement

Last Wednesday the 11th annual Women of Excellence Awards were held in at Newlands Golf and Country Club in Langley. Organized and sponsored by the Valley Women's Network, the awards recognize outstanding women in a variety of categories: in the arts and culture category, Marika Siewart, CEO of Emerton Records; in the sports and recreation category, Sheryl McIntosh, founder of the Fort Langley Canoe Club; in the community and humanitarian service category, Marilyn Piticco, coordinator of the Stroke Recovery Association; in the women of vision category, Rachel Cram, director of Wind and Tide Preschool.

Woman of the Year 2008 was awarded to Dr. Karen Parmar. Karen, along with her husband Gurdev, is a co-founder of the Integrated Health Clinic in Fort Langley. Karen was recognized for her tremendous commitment to her practice as well as her volunteer work in Thailand. Together the Parmars have established a foundation in support of a health clinic in Thailand, where she travels annually to volunteer.

But the most important winner is a person who is close to my heart and well regarded throughout Langley. She is known for her office skills and her sense of humour, her strength of character and her easygoing manner, her ability to speak in public and her unflappable nature in the face of sometimes troubled constituents.

Cathy Gibbs is the Women of Excellence Employee of the Year. The fact that she is also my constituency assistant makes me one of the world's luckiest employers. I'd ask this House to please join me in acknowledging these incredible women of excellence.