Soroptimist International of Vancouver

The Violet Richardson Award recognizes young women in high schools between ages 14 and 18 who make the community and world a better place through volunteer efforts. This year, Violet Richardson Award Committee had received 26 applications. Out of which, 17 applications passed validation check. Shelly Moffet, Sheila Carter and Lisa Shen had been invited to form a judge panel and carefully evaluated each of the 17 applications. All applicants were excellent, and three judges finalized four students to be awarded this year: 1st Place: Shaheema Nalir – served at “Boys and Girls Club of South Coast BC” – $350 award 2nd Place: Paige Ingram – served at “Be the…

Originally from Japan, Chigusa immigrated to Canada after high school. Now a single mother to a grown son that was born with severe autism. Chigusa started a support group for Japanese parents with special needs here in Vancouver – the first of its kind in Canada. Her future career goal is to attend college to become a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) to design and implement behaviour support services for children with autism.

Proud to represent her First Nations people, she is a single mother with 3 children. Davena has embraced education as the way to support her family and live her dreams, she has been focused on her education completing her secondary school and starting courses at a local college as well as volunteering in her community. Davena is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing to become a Registered Nurse in the Downtown Eastside. Her passion is to work with high-risk mental health patients that desperately need assistance.

A newly single mother of 3 children, Mariska started taking a courses at BCIT. She is excited to now be a carpentry apprentice and will be pursuing a career in trades! She even inspired her oldest son to also go to BCIT for the trades after he finished high school! Mariska wants to teach her children that you are never too old to learn new skills. She knows her dreams and actions will ensure that her family is financially stable. Her long term goal is to purchase a home of her own.

“Education is the pathway to empower women and girls.” Our Soroptimist club of Vancouver is pleased to award $5,000+ this year to recognize 3 outstanding and courageous women who have risen to succeed in this year’s awards. We look forward to introducing our award winners at a later date. The Live Your Dream program is a unique education grant for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. When Women Learn – Families live healthier lives When Girls Go To School – They are more likely to get paying jobs…

I believe that nursing represents social justice and the reduction of health inequities that exist both within Canada and globally. My goal is to reduce the stigma transgender patients experience within the health care system. My education will allow me to develop leadership and nursing skills to advocate for this vulnerable population. There is a paucity of trans-affirmative health care services, and I hope that I can help reduce existing health inequities.

My career goals are to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Science for Psychiatric Nursing and work with youth and young adults recovering from mental illness. I want to gain psychiatric nursing experience in a hospital setting and/or out in the community. I then plan to go back, complete my Master’s in Psychiatric Nursing, and teach at a College or University during or after completing my Masters.

I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field since I was very young as the human body fascinated me and human biology was my favorite subject in high school. I am a highly motivated and hardworking individual. I am consistently trying to exceed in my nursing studies to build my knowledge-based practice to apply in my nursing practice. I do so in hopes to become the best nurse I can possibly be and to give the best care to my patients and their families.

I enjoy working one on one with clients, developing therapeutic relationships, and coming to know them so that I can anticipate their needs, accommodate their preferences, and provide education that is individualized to their specific needs and preferences. I am passionate about providing clients with the knowledge and tools necessary to aide in empowering them in the management of their health as they transition from the hospital environment to home.

Five years of volunteering at the Royal Columbian Hospital in the emergency department and intensive care unit has truly inspired me to become a nurse. While studying to become a registered nurse, I have learned to advocate for patients and empower them to be active participants of their own care. I also learned to advocate for equity and justice for vulnerable populations and to collaborate interprofessionally and intersectorally to implement strategies in achieving equitable healthcare.