Archived information

This content is archived because Status of Women Canada no longer exists. Please visit the Women and Gender Equality Canada.

Archived information is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

2011 Recipients

Madeline Boscoe

Madeline Boscoe, R.N., D.U., brings some 30 years of wide-ranging expertise to the field of women's health. An inspired leader, she helped establish HealthSharing magazine and served on the Health Canada advisory panel on breast implants. She was a member and ultimately co-chaired the advisory committee on assisted human reproduction, which led to the successful passage of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. Ms. Boscoe helped establish the Canadian Women's Health Network, serving as its Executive Director for 11 years. She has led advancements in women's health research and services, and strengthened women's participation in health policy decision-making. A founder of the Institute of Gender and Health Advisory Board, she helped advance gender-based analysis in health research. A long-time fighter for women's reproductive rights, Ms. Boscoe helped legalize midwifery in Manitoba and establish a birthing centre in Winnipeg. She also coordinated the Women's Health Coalition, which was an intervener in the Supreme Court on the "Ms G" case, and initiated a provincial awareness campaign on the links between gender, poverty and health. In 2005, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa. She has been inspired by the many visionary women whose lives have touched hers, including her mother Kathryn (née Davis) and mother-in-law Ruth (née Caplan) Schwartzman. She is very grateful to her husband of 35 years, Victor, and children Kay and Cary, for their support and patience. Ms. Boscoe lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Nancy Hartling

Nancy Hartling is one of New Brunswick's most dedicated advocates on issues affecting women. An inspiring leader, she focuses on intimate partner violence and poverty. As founder and Executive Director of Support to Single Parents Inc., Ms. Hartling spearheaded a community economic development project, using an anti-poverty approach to empower low-income women. She co-chaired a number of key committees, including those responsible for New Brunswick's involvement in the World March of Women in 2000 and in 2010. The 2000 World March brought about the New Brunswick Minister's Working Group on Violence against Women, which Ms. Hartling co-chaired. From 1995 to 2001, she chaired the December 6 Committee, commemorating the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. She also served on the board of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research. She received New Brunswick's Spiritus Award (1991) and Family Award (1997), the New Brunswick Association of Nurses Certificate of Merit (1998), the Leadership Award from the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (2002) and the YWCA Moncton's Women of Distinction Award (2010). Ms. Hartling lives in Riverview, New Brunswick.

Lucie Joyal

Lucie Joyal has worked tirelessly to eliminate violence against women and children. Since the 1990s, she has helped advance research, detection and prevention of spousal and family violence throughout the province of Quebec. In 1995, she launched and coordinated a provincial initiative for the systematic detection of spousal abuse — a first in Quebec. She initiated the creation of the Centre d'expertise Marie-Vincent, Canada's first centre specialized in caring for sexually abused children. Established in 2005, the centre is internationally recognized for its innovative service model, which improves support to young victims of sexual assault. Now Executive Director of the Centre, Ms. Joyal ensures linkages between prevention, psychosocial intervention and research. Highly respected for her many achievements and deep understanding of family violence, Ms. Joyal acts as Canada's advisor to a number of organizations in Europe, where her leadership, passion and determination are well known. In Quebec and elsewhere, she is described as a social innovation visionary in the service of young victims of violence, and her efforts in this field will continue to benefit children and women for generations to come. Ms. Joyal lives in Boucherville, Quebec.

Sharon Donna McIvor

Sharon Donna McIvor has selflessly devoted her life to justice, equality and full participation for Aboriginal women. A member of the Lower Nicola First Nation in British Columbia, she is a lawyer and activist who has dedicated close to three decades of leadership to advancing equal rights. Recently, she helped challenge the Indian Act's discrimination against Aboriginal women. Ms. McIvor was involved in founding the Court Challenges Program, fostering Aboriginal women and others in its use. As a prison reformer, she was involved with the Correctional Service of Canada in developing the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan — Canada's first and only correctional facility for Aboriginal women. Ms. McIvor has designed courses in Indigenous Studies and chaired two departments at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. She has played invaluable leadership roles in the Native Women's Association of Canada, the B.C. Native Women's Association, the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action, and the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund. Ms. McIvor lives in Merritt, British Columbia.

Kim Pate

Kim Pate is mother to Michael and Madison and an internationally recognized advocate for marginalized, victimized and criminalized women. Since 1992, she has been the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, taking a solution-oriented approach to social justice for criminalized and imprisoned women, regularly consulting in prisons and advocating in court. Ms. Pate helped bring to light the shocking strip-searches of women inmates by male staff at the federal Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario. She also lobbied for a public inquiry into conditions at the prison, resulting in the landmark 1996 report by Justice Louise Arbour. Ms. Pate led a national campaign to re-examine cases of battered women convicted of homicide, resulting in the ground-breaking "Self-Defence Review" in 1997. She has written numerous scholarly articles, chapters, briefs, reports and submissions, considered essential reading in the field of women's imprisonment. Ms. Pate has been honoured by many organizations, including the Canadian Bar Association, the American Correctional Association, the Correctional Service of Canada, Dalhousie Law School and the International Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. She is known for her courage and empathy in fighting for vulnerable women. Ms. Pate lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Amber JoAnn Fletcher (Youth Award)

Amber JoAnn Fletcher is a passionate advocate for equality issues and social justice. Her academic background is in Women's Studies, and she has won several awards for academic excellence. She is currently completing her PhD on agricultural policy and farm women's work, at the University of Regina. In September 2011, Amber's research on gender and climate change was presented at an international conference in Italy and will contribute to the United Nations Framework Convention and Earth Summit 2012. Recognizing the vital link between research and social change, Ms. Fletcher conducted pro-bono research on the needs of low-income single mothers. She dedicates countless volunteer hours to fund-raising and support for women's organizations and social activism. In 2005, Ms. Fletcher designed a curriculum to provide free English-as-a-second-language lessons to low-income community members in Tanzania, East Africa. In 2006, she founded the first feminist activist group at the University of Regina, addressing sexism and racism. A selfless volunteer, she serves on four boards of directors, all focused on women's issues. Ms. Fletcher lives in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Date modified: