2 Chilliwack women nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Awards

Two Chilliwack women have been nominated for the YWCA Metro Vancouver’s 2022 Women of Distinction Awards.

Amber Price was nominated in the ‘Community Champion’ category and Shirley Swelchalot Hardman in the ‘Reconciliation in Action’ category.

The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards honour individuals and organizations whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the well-being and future of their communities.

Price is referred to as a “passionate community changemaker” in her nomination bio.

“After two years of planning and advocating, Amber launched the Chilliwack Mural Festival, which brought 26 new works of public art to the community. Amber coordinated an art drive for Chilliwack General Hospital and leads hundreds of students and community members on guided mural tours. Amber is a passionate advocate and member of the LGBTQ2+ community, and helped found the Chilliwack Pride Society. Despite Council voting no for rainbow crosswalks, Amber mobilized the community and there are now 24 rainbow crosswalks in the community. She provides hundreds of free books to students every year, organizes Christmas hampers and donates photo packages for families.”

READ MORE: Price speaks about inaugural Chilliwack Mural Festival

Hardman is a member of the Shxwhá:y Village, a Sixties Scoop survivor and the senior advisor on Indigenous Affairs at the University of the Fraser Valley, guiding Indigenization and Reconciliation work.

“Swelchalot brought Halq’emeylem language credited classes to UFV, facilitated the development of an Aboriginal Culture and Language support diploma for Aboriginal support workers in the school system, facilitated the development of the Honouring Our Gifts certificate — a visual arts credential in carving and helped create the Lens of Empowerment project — a program where students work with photography and video production to examine topics related to women and identity in Stó:lō territory,” reads Hardman’s nomination bio. “Swelchalot is currently turning her experience as a leader of Indigenization into doctoral research at UBC.”

Hardman is one of six nominated in her category and Price is one of eight.

In addition to the 12 nomination categories, the individual nominees are eligible for the Connecting the Community Award. Nominees will select a YWCA advocacy area in which they are interested and use social media channels to promote votes.

From March 4 to April 13, the public can cast their votes online and the nominee with the most votes will receive the Connecting the Community Award. Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to the YWCA program area of the winner’s choice.

Award recipients will be announced at the Women of Distinction Awards Gala in Vancouver on May 26. Tickets will go on sale soon. To purchase tickets for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, visit ywcavan.org/women-distinction-awards.

Since 1984, YWCA Metro Vancouver has paid tribute to more than 340 award recipients and 2,025 nominees.