Today, L’Oréal Paris Canada announced the honourees for its fourth annual Women of Worth program. Each year, L’Oréal seeks out Canadian women that demonstrate advocacy and spearhead change within their communities. The Women of Worth awards spotlight these trailblazing women who have been nominated by the community members they have inspired. 

“These exceptional women selflessly and tirelessly strive for and champion change; lifting up their communities and bringing people together,” said Milan Mladjenovic, general manager of L’Oréal Paris Canada, in a statement. “We are humbled and inspired by their contributions to dream, learn, and ultimately do more, for the betterment of our world.”

These ten women will receive a total of $110,000 in charitable grants from L’Oréal Paris. They will also be recognized as members of the Women of Worth community, a platform to help amplify their causes across Canada. 

Head over to the L’Oréal Paris website to vote for the 2020 National Honouree. The winner will be awarded an additional $10,000 for the non-profit charity of her choice.

Ahead, the ten inspirational honourees for 2020, as revealed by L’Oréal Paris:

Kehkashan Basu, Green Hope Foundation in Toronto, ON built a networking platform, specifically designed for children and youth, with a focus on sustainable development and mitigating climate change; actively promoting gender equality, youth empowerment and social upliftment.   

Sara Champagne, CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation in Montreal, QC strives to alter preconceived notions of beauty and champion acceptance for all, through a photographic exposition and social media campaign dedicated to driving awareness to those living with facial differences – more precisely, Moebius syndrome – a rare form of paralysis that affects facial expression and eye movement.

Rabiah Dhaliwal, One Blood for Life Foundation in Surrey, BC educates the next generation of blood and stem cells donors in Canada through a variety of humanitarian efforts including the development of programming designed to aid with cultural and language barriers and enable donor recruitment accessibility for everyone. 

Tanya Hayles, Black Moms Connection in Toronto, ON actively provides a safe and encouraging environment for black mothers, through an online global village to connect on shared cultural experiences and provide relevant tools, resources, support and friendship, within the community.

Donna Hreys, Knitted Knockers Alberta in Calgary, AB provides lightweight and soft breast prosthetics for daily use and activities, including swimming, knitted by volunteers, for Canadian women who have had mastectomy or lumpectomy procedures, free of charge.

Gina Jones-Wilson, Upper Hammonds Plains Community Development Association in Upper Hammonds Plains, NS has dedicated 40 years of volunteering to support the various needs of urban youth and seniors within her community, including areas related to housing, health care, educational programming and access to public transit.

Glori Meldrum, Little Warriors in Edmonton, AB brought her vision to life of building a specialized, intensive treatment centre dedicated to children and their families, victimized by sexual abuse from across Canada.

 
Karen Sherbut, Safe Haven Foundation of Canada in Calgary, AB advocates for homeless and at-risk girls by providing them with a safe, supportive and stable home where they can focus on rebuilding their lives and becoming self sufficient.
 
Dr. Laura Whyte, Covered By Hope House in Sydney, NS developed a multi-faceted, therapeutic live-in recovery home for women struggling with challenges associated drug and alcohol addiction.  Through an approach based on their motto ‘to hope, to honour, to heal’, the program provides women with support, tools and growth opportunities to work towards becoming substance-use free.
 
Bev Woods, Gift from the Heart in Codrington, ON provides compassionate dental hygiene care for Canadians in need; raising awareness about access to oral health care and the critical importance of accessibility for all.

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