Nine inspiring local women honoured on 'Rose Day'

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, the Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area honoured nine extraordinary local women by presenting them with a yellow rose.

The annual Zonta Rose Day recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to our community.

“We have been honouring people in our community since 2006 and are always amazed at the variety of experience, ages and strengths of these community leaders. Presenting each of these wonderful individuals with a yellow rose on International Women’s Day is a simple act of recognition for the contributions they have made to Sault Ste. Marie and area and/or globally. The Zonta Club is proud and privileged to do this,” said Joanne Atkinson, chair of the Rose Day Committee, in a news release.

The following women were honoured for 2024:
    •    Renee Buczel - Renee is an activist and advocate promoting awareness of cardiovascular disease in women of all ages. Renee promotes Wear Red Canada held every year on Feb. 13.
    •    Karen Bird - Karen is the founder of the not-for-profit, Nakehndan: Knowing Your Truth, whose goal is to support sexual abuse survivors and their families through Indigenous culturally-infused programs and services.
    •    Jill McPhee - Jill is a tireless advocate for people struggling in all areas – food insecurity, lack of cold weather apparel, homelessness and addiction. Jill also volunteers for SOYA (Saving Our Young Adults) collecting donations and facilitating deliveries to recipients. This past holiday season Jill prepared over 200 individual packages.
    •    Vi Sharp - Vi has been a volunteer for Harvest Algoma since 2019 where she prepares meals and helps out in all areas usually five mornings every week. She also makes quilts with the East Korah Maxwell United Church.
    •    Vicky Young-Sharabura - Vicki started Quilts for Kids, Sault Ste. Marie, the first chapter in Canada in 2014. Volunteers create handmade quilts to comfort children in need. Approximately 2,000 quilts have been donated since the inception of Quilts for Kids Sault Ste. Marie.
    •    Robin Kennedy - A volunteer with the Salvation Army for decades, Robin has created quilts for fundraisers, for Quilts for Survivors and was also part of the founding group that started Quilts for Kids, Sault Ste. Marie in 2014.
    •    Jane Vienneau - Our current president, Jane is a vibrant leader who is passionate about Zonta issues and is deeply involved with many of our current projects. Jane leads by example and inspires us all.
    •    Lorie Springall and Sharon Buehner - Lorie and Sharon are co-founders of the Women’s Hockey League in Sault Ste. Marie which started up in the fall of 2001. There are currently over 400 players in the league with 31 teams in four divisions. In 2020, Lori and Sharon were inducted into the Sault Ste. Marie Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder Category.