Page 55 - 03_April-2025

Arts & Culture
Award
DIANNE
MEILI
DIANNE MEILI
From her pottery to her publishing and journalism career, Dianne
Meili weaves storytelling and community-building into everything
she does.
The great-granddaughter of Cree Elder Victoria Callihoo, Dianne
is also the driving force behind the Skydancer Indigenous Cultural
Centre in Spruce Grove. The centre, which opened in 2022, is a hub
for Indigenous arts and culture and Truth and Reconciliation efforts.
Spruce Grove Mayor Jeff Acker wrote that Meili’s “sincerity and
authenticity make people feel seen and heard.”
ARTS & CULTURE AWARD Honouring those who enrich Edmonton’s
cultural landscape through artistic expression, performance, and creative
leadership.
MAUD BOWMAN (1875-1944)
Her fans are affectionately called the “Maud Squad.”
Maud led the AGA until 1943, remaining its only
female director until 2000. Her successor, R.W. Hedley,
wrote: “No credit is too great, much of the very existence
of [AGA] is due to her energy and single-minded
determination.”
THE BELLAMY AWARD Honours YWCA
Edmonton’s first president, Lorinda Bellamy, by
posthumously celebrating an extraordinary historic
Edmonton woman – this year recognizing Maud Bowman
(1875-1944), founder and visionary behind the Art Gallery
of Alberta. Visit our website for her complete bio.
YWCA Edmonton is a powerful voice
for equity, dedicated to building safer,
stronger and more inclusive communities
through leadership, education and
empowerment. As part of YWCA Canada,
the oldest and largest women’s social
service organization in the country,
we’ve been proudly serving the capital
region since 1907 through a variety of
programs and initiatives.
2025 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION JURY
SU-LING GOH Senior communications
advisor and former Global Edmonton
journalist
SCOTT GRAHAM Community convener,
human rights advocate and former
founding executive director of the Stollery
Family Foundation
SANDRA MUCHEKEZA Alberta Council
for Global Cooperation Executive
Director and former YWCA Edmonton
board member
SITHARA NAIDOO University of Alberta
Student and Community Volunteer
TINA THOMAS Edmonton Community
Foundation CEO
SPONSORED FEATURE 4