MOOSE JAW — An awards program that recognizes the contributions of women in various industries in the community is making a comeback after a five-year hiatus.
For the first time since 2020, the PRISM Awards are returning to Moose Jaw to honour ladies who show Perseverance, are a Role Model, are Influential, are Successful or act as a Mentor — hence the name.
The program also honours women under age 19 with a youth award and ladies who have achieved significant success in three or more of the five categories for more than 20 years with a lifetime achievement award.
The Business Women of Moose Jaw (BWMJ) announced the return of the PRISM Awards during its February luncheon. The awards luncheon — catered by High Regard Artisanal Catering and Kitchen — will be on Wednesday, March 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dance Images at 177 Iroquois Street West on South Hill.
The deadline to submit nominations — which can be done online — is Saturday, March 15.
“We’re really excited to be able to bring these (awards) back,” said Crystal Froese, the BWMJ president.
The event won’t have the same magnitude with pomp and ceremony as before the pandemic, but it will still play a significant role in elevating women and highlighting the great things they do that sometimes go unnoticed, she continued.
Women serve in many different vocations, from health care to the military to the non-profit sector to farming to volunteering, so they don’t need to be in the business industry — or own a business — to be honoured, Froese said.
The BWMJ president highlighted the achievements of now-deceased Christine Boyczuk, who received the lifetime achievement award in 2016. She pointed out that Boyczuk was “super involved in so many different things” that many people never knew about and wouldn’t have known about if not for the PRISM Awards.
Froese was excited to honour women because before the pandemic hit, the awards were one of the best attended events in Moose Jaw. The program was held as a gala — in partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic — that sold out almost immediately.
However, because the women’s group is restarting as an organization, the event will be a luncheon.
“The Business Women (of Moose Jaw) itself is gaining more momentum than we even expected, so we’re really excited to see what this event will be like,” said Froese, adding that the organization will have Seven Stones by Kimberly design the necklaces for the winners.
Froese has been involved with the PRISM Awards since they began in 2013, and after being elected group president this past December, she began fielding calls from people asking when the program would return. She noted that having a full executive now makes it easier to organize the event.
With a laugh, the BWMJ president said it’s a “joyful pressure” to organize the awards in just a month, while it’s been wonderful to see who’s been nominated so far. She pointed out that the process has been made easier since people can now submit names and photos online.
Meanwhile, Froese said it was exciting to return as the president — she’s been involved since 2012 — since it’s been great to meet women from different industries. Many are eager to form friendships and could not have connected without a group like this.
“(Women) are getting the opportunity to network and meet new people, enhance their businesses, but also learn a little bit (from speakers) … ,” she added. “When you’re selling out luncheons, you really are fulfilling a need … .”
