March 08, 2005
NORTH DELTA, BC—March 8, 2005—Local residents joined the Burns Bog Conservation Society to honour both cranes and women at their fourth annual Celebrating Women and the Spirit of the Cranes event on Saturday, March 5, 2005 at the Kennedy House Senior Centre in Delta, BC.
This year, the guest speaker was Dr. Julia Levy. She is an internationally renowned scientist and co-founder of QLT, a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in developing treatments for cancer, eye diseases, and dermatological and urological conditions. Dr. Levy gave a presentation about her company, QLT, and the technologies she has helped develop, including treatments for immaculate degenerate disease. Her presentation, though highly scientific, was very informative about the biopharmaceutical industry and the luck QLT has had in becoming a major international company.
“We lucked out,” said Dr. Levy. “A lot of biotechnology companies work just as hard as we did, we were just lucky.” In 1981, as a UBC student with little knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Levy and a few friends decided to start a company.
“We had no idea what we were doing,” said Dr. Levy. “We just thought it was a good idea.” Several years later, an American company offered to invest $15 million in QLT, putting them on the Toronto Stock Exchange and allowing them to join the big leagues, so to speak.
On Saturday, March 5, more than 140 people gathered to honour 15 women who have impacted the environment around them in one or more of the following categories: Arts, Business, Community Spirit, Education, Science & Technology, and Young Women Under 25.
The following women received Gold awards for their community contributions:
Dorothy Beach, now in her 90’s, won the Gold Community Spirit Award for her work in raising environmental issues in her community. Her influence goes beyond her community. As Local and Provincial Council of Women’s Environmental Chair of the National Council of Women, she helped women from 78 countries to pass resolutions against the use of phenoxy herbicide.
Lisa Baile won the Gold Education Award for her involvement with the Wilderness Education Program (WEP). Since its founding in 1996, over 35,000 young people in the Lower Mainland have benefitted from the program. She is also a research scientist in the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Her area of expertise is the study of pulmonary circulation, but her passion is environmental education.
Amanda Smith won the Gold Science & Technology Award for her active involvement in Science & Technology. She is a scientist who owns and operates her own company, Smith Biotech. She is VP for both the Wired Women Society and the Society for Women in Science and Technology, is on the Board of Directors of the Science Fair Foundation.
Debbie Gebert, a resident of Surrey,won the Gold Young Women Under 25 Award for her active role in fundraising. She attends school full-time, runs her own online magazine for young people (popYOUlarity.com), and works at two jobs. She has also included volunteer work in her busy schedule.
Nina Raginsky won the Gold Art Award for her community work. She is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and she received the Simon Fraser University’s Kees Vermeer Award for Conservation and Education.
Chief Kim Baird won the Gold Business Award for her work bringing forth a treaty that will let her people live in harmony with the rest of the community and build a strong economic base for future generations that honours their history and traditions.
May Murray also won a Gold Community Spirit Award for her involvement with the environment. At 70 years old, Murray climbed the Chilkoot Trail. She is a lifetime member of Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society and past Secretary/Treasurer of the Friends of the Stikine Society for about 20 years. She has been a mentor and role model for many women with whom she has come into contact.
The Society thanks all volunteers and corporate sponsors who made this event possible. Special thanks to Starbucks, Lehigh Heidelberg Cement Group, G&F Financial, Atkinson & Terry Insurance Brokers, Century Group, Roddick’s Feed & Supply, Delta Cable, The Now, and Coffee News. Their support made Celebrating Women and the Spirit of the Cranes a success.
