OTTAWA – Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) chair Sylvie Courtemanche has been named Woman of the Year by Women in Communications and Technology (WCT).
Prior to joining CBSC in January, Courtemanche (pictured) was a senior executive at Corus for both regulatory matters and government relations. She has also held roles as EVP policy and regulatory affairs for the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, legal counsel at the CRTC, and had her own consulting practice related to broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
Cogeco Connexion was named company of the year, and WCT also named 9 other recipients of its annual awards, which recognize women, men and organizations committed to diversity and closing the gender gap in Canadian communications, media and technology industries.
The 2017 Leadership Excellence Award recipients are:
– Trailblazer: Zainul Mawji, Vice-president, Home Solutions and Complementary Channels, Telus
– Innovator: Willa Black, Vice-president, Corporate Affairs, Cisco
– Mentor: Bonnie Brownlee, Executive Director, Communications, Marketing, Brand and Research, CBC
– WCT Leader: Laurie Hause, Chief Information Officer & Director of Marketing, McKenzie Lake Lawyers, LLP
– Technology Innovator: Mina Chan, Director, Technology Development Video, Rogers
– Rising Star: Fatima Khalid, Developer, Digital Echidna
– Diversity Champion: Geoff Poulton, President, Vista Radio
– Public Sector Leadership: Brigadier-General Frances Allen, Department of National Defence
– Empowerment: Techsploration
“We cannot let the burden of equality fall solely on the shoulders of women,” said WCT executive director Joanne Stanley, in the news release. “It takes champions and a network of support to truly effect change and close the gender gap. For this reason, it is important to recognize organizations that encourage girls to go into STEM, companies that demonstrate inclusiveness, and men who advance and promote women.”
The awards will be presented at WCT’s Annual Awards Gala on April 16 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. The event draws over 400 high-profile public and private sector leaders for a night of celebrating diversity in Canada.
