Voluntarism, Advocacy, and Community Enhancement Award Nominees
Roselyn Advincula and Perla Javate are among 56 women nominate in this year’s YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg is set to honour and recognize the many amazing and diverse contributions of women at its 38th annual Women of Distinction Awards Gala on May 7.
The 56 women are nominated in 13 categories including; Arts; Circle of Inspiration; Culture; Education Training & Mentorship; Leadership & Management; Public Awareness & Communications; Science, Technology & The Environment; Voluntarism, Advocacy & Community Enhancement; Wellness, Healthy Living & Recreation; Young Woman of Distinction; the Eira “Babs” Friesen Lifetime Achievement Awards; the Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise and the Prairie Award of Promise. The two Awards of Promise recipients will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
The YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards have a rich history of recognizing Manitoba’s women and their many accomplishments. The awards began in Winnipeg in 1977, and are now held in a variety of communities across the country.
Roselyn Advincula came to Canada with her family from Philippines in 2008 and quickly began to impact a lot of women and families in the community. Currently the Coordinator for the Neighbourhood Immigrant Settlement Program and a volunteer/co-founder for a grassroots group named Filipino Women’s initiative, her mentorship assisted settlement workers, women, and families find new opportunities. She assists many people despite the fact that she is also still adjusting in Canada. A social worker in the Philippines, she got accredited by the Canadian Association of Social Workers and has guided other internationally educated social workers on getting their accreditation. Roselyn has been involved with many projects such as developing a Newcomer Support Circle program at the Immigrant Centre. She was also able to find funding to run Wiggle, Giggle, and Munch, a program that has been very successful in providing literacy to families. She also ran a livelihood skills training program for unemployed and underemployed community members with the support of Neighbourhoods Alive. Roselyn is now an inspiration for many newcomers who are reaching for their dreams not only by the example she sets but from the friendships and strong relationships she has built with everyone around her.
As President of the Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba, Perla Javate works to preserve, promote and maintain Philippine culture. Under her leadership, the non-profit group became a council, currently works with 32 various Filipino organizations in Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba declares annually the week of June the 12th as Philippine Heritage Week. Perla is also the current Filipino Community Liaison Officer, providing open support to newcomer students and their families. With a vision to empower students and parents through mentorship and having mastered the process of integrating newcomers into Canadian culture by creating a welcoming atmosphere, she is now the person that everyone accesses for guidance. Winner of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of her contribution to peers, community and Canada. Perla continues her broad contributions to the Winnipeg and Filipino community by imbuing confidence and poise in her students and their families, who in turn pass along their knowledge and become mentors themselves.
