Zonta Club recognizes 8 residents for community contributions

Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area gifted yellow roses to eight residents on March 8 in celebration of International Women’s Day and Zonta Rose Day.

The eight individuals have made valuable contributions to the community.

Read the news release below to learn more: 

As a celebration of International Women’s Day and Zonta Rose Day on March 8, the Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area presented yellow roses to eight individuals who have made outstanding contributions to our local community. The following were honoured:

• Arlene Hunter: Hunter is well-known as a valued and active volunteer in the Desbarats community, whether it is in the Desbarats United Church, Desbarats Community Nights, Women’s Institute or helping individuals in the area.
• Heather Littleton: A volunteer extraordinaire in Richard’s Landing, Littleton is involved with 4H, Harmony St. Mark’s United Church, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 374 and Girl Guides.
• Debbie Tonon: Tonon is being recognized by Zonta as the driving force behind the creation of Breaking Away, a charitable non-profit that provides physical, mental and social opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities in our community.
• Adia and Blythe Ingram: At ages six and seven, respectively, Adia and Blythe understand the importance of giving back to the community, as did their Grammy, well-known Sault Star columnist, Heather Ingram. They started a campaign to collect money for ARCH over Christmas and donated $4300 in memory of Grammi.
• Suzanne Evoy: A volunteer in the Bar River/Laird community for 48 years, Evoy is an active participant in all community events and key to the success of these events, everything from the Bar River Winter Carnival to the North Shore Agricultural Fair to name two.
• Connie Raynor-Elliott: Raynor-Elliott started SOYA (Saving Our Young Adults from Prescription Overdose), which is a grassroots addiction support and advocacy group which operates out of a storefront on Gore Street. Services include referrals, Hygiene, clothing, harm reduction and food security.
• Naomi Sayers: Sayers is a well-known Sault Ste. Marie Indigenous lawyer who has advocated for change, particularly for women, the vulnerable and the marginalized. Sayers inspired many when she volunteered to run for office in the last provincial election.

“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 Kathy Rydall, president of the local club.

Zonta is a global organization of members working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. Zonta International celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2019. The Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area has served the Sault Ste. Marie area since 1978.