Purpose and Rationale
The Woman of Distinction Award celebrates OSSTF District 21 women* who exemplify and demonstrate a positive impact on women and girls* in a variety of professional, public and personal capacities. The nomination process and criteria for the award are presented below.
* includes cis women/girls, trans women/girls and femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer and non-binary folks
Award Criteria
Successful award recipients will demonstrate excellence in some or most of the following areas:
1. LEADERSHIP: Award recipients act as formal or informal leaders who mentor, motivate, encourage, and support colleagues.
2. EQUITY AND INCLUSION: Award recipients create and model an inclusive learning and working environment.
3. POSITIVE ROLE MODEL: Award recipients act as a positive role model to staff and students in their workplace, demonstrating how to effectively deal with conflict and adversity.
4. STATUS OF WOMEN AT WORK: Award recipients work to improve the lives of women in their workplace.
5. STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY: Award recipients work to improve the lives of women and girls in the broader community.
6. PARTICIPATION: Award recipients demonstrate past and/or present active participation in OSSTF.
Nomination and Selection Process
● Both the nominee and nominator must be OSSTF District 21 Members.
● District 21 Status of Women Committee Members and Branch/Unit Presidents will receive the nomination form at their respective council or committee meetings. They will be asked to distribute these forms electronically to their members.
● Completed nomination packages are due by Monday, April 25, 2022. Please send to Brandie LeBlanc at district21@osstf21.ca
● The District Status of Women Committee will select Woman of Distinction Award recipients at its Status of Women Committee meeting in April, by assessing the applications based on the award criteria and through voting. The District Status of Women Committee regrets that only the successful winner will be notified (1 award per branch/unit).
● CE, ESL, PECW, and PSSP Bargaining Units will qualify each for one award/year. OCTU will qualify for two awards/year, and the T/OT unit will grant one award per branch/year.
● The Status of Women Committee recommends that awards are presented at each bargaining unit’s Annual General Meeting (except for the T/OT unit) by the unit’s Status of Women Representative or Branch/Unit President. Given the potential for numerous T/OT award winners, the awards will be not presented at the T/OT AGM. Each T/OT branch president will present the award at the May or June staff meeting during the union discussion session.
● The District of Women Committee will vet nomination packages in Executive Session to ensure confidentiality. With the winner’s consent, nomination information may be read as part of the award presentation at the branch or AGM of the recipient’s respective bargaining unit. Nominators are encouraged to keep a copy of the original nomination package as the original application will not be returned. All nomination packages will be archived at the OSSTF District 21 Office for a period of two years. After the two-year period, the nomination packages will be shredded.
