Quick EscapeAward Recipients
Join YWCA Hamilton on Wednesday March 5, 2025 for our 49th annual Women of Distinction Awards, presented by ArcelorMittal Dofasco!
2025 Women of Distinction Recipients
Community Champion
Jessica Bonilla-Damptey
Jessica Bonilla-Damptey, a Latinx/Indigenous woman from El Salvador, has devoted her life to creating safer communities. As the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton & Area (SACHA), she has led numerous initiatives in Hamilton, all of which aim to build a city free of violence and oppression. With a comprehensive educational background from McMaster University as a graduate of the School of Social Work, Indigenous Studies and Health Studies programs, Jessica has forged these academic fields into public service and advocacy work in the not-for-profit sector. In addition to her role at SACHA, she holds key positions with the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC), the Woman Abuse Working Group (WAWG), and the Hamilton Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition (HAHTC).
Education | Training
Dr. Dina Brooks
Dr. Dina Brooks has made it her mission to make an impact on the emotional, spiritual, and physical health of patients through physiotherapy. Born in Lebanon during a period of intense warfare, she witnessed a physiotherapist working with war-injured patients. This experience inspired her career choice, and since then, she has achieved a lifetime of superior accomplishments that have advanced the field of rehabilitation science in Canada and around the world. Dr. Brooks’ title is Executive Vice-Dean and Associate Vice-President, Academic, within McMaster University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, but at her core, she is a passionate rehabilitation professional, researcher, educator, mentor, and a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion.
Health | Wellness
Linda Varangu
Linda has been empowering healthcare to improve environmental stewardship since the 1980s. Thankfully, practices have improved since then! She has helped form and lead green healthcare organizations, developed projects and volunteered on initiatives to reduce waste, energy, water and use of toxic chemicals, enhance circular economy practices, provide healthy local foods, and save money. International awards have recognized her contributions to help healthcare organizations prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Linda was Founding Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, a national not-for-profit supporting healthcare organizations transition to low-carbon, climate resilient and sustainable facilities and systems, and Co-Founder and Climate Lead of PEACH Health Ontario, which is provincially focused on greening healthcare organizations.
Innovation in Business
Evangeline Chima
Evangeline Chima is a recognized leader and advocate for workforce inclusion, equity, and diversity, with over 25 years of experience in information technology. As the founder of Black Mentorship Inc., she empowers Black professionals, fostering change and ensuring all individuals, regardless of race, can achieve their career goals and feel a sense of belonging. She believes, “empowering one individual creates a ripple effect, inspiring others to pursue self-fulfillment.” Evangeline’s efforts have garnered prestigious honours, including the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Community Service Award, the National Defence Service Award Coin, and the Woman of Inspiration and Power of Inclusion awards. Her leadership in EDI has been praised by prominent figures like Hon. Anita Anand, Premier Doug Ford, and other community leaders.
Public Service
Lina El Ali
Lina El Ali is a Hamilton-based expert practitioner in the field of newcomer resettlement. She has used her knowledge, experience, networking, and leadership skills to assist thousands of newcomers including Syrians, Ukrainians, and others to settle in Hamilton. She encourages women to pursue education to build a strong future for themselves and their family. Lina grew up in a camp in Lebanon where her family faced great difficulty but still valued education for women, in a time and place when that was rare. She has lived in Hamilton for 32 years and currently leads Wesley’s Asylum-Seekers Support Program (ASAP) one of the few such programs in Canada to find stable housing for asylum-seekers and refugees, including parents and children.
STEM | Trades
Catherine McKenzie
Catherine McKenzie, OCT, has broken new ground and created enormous impact for girls and gender-diverse youth in science, technology, trades, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) via her work with CAGIS, Canada’s largest and longest-running STEM club for girls and gender-diverse youth aged 7-17. This award-winning club supports interest in STEM with virtual programming and local clubs that visit labs, workshops, and field sites to meet mentors and do fun, hands-on activities. Catherine has played an instrumental role in developing, launching, and running several of CAGIS’ impactful programs for girls and gender-diverse youth, including CAGIS Chapters, CAGIS Virtual, and the CAGIS Teen Ambassadors Program. Her mentorship and guidance have propelled numerous youth to discover new fields and follow their dreams.
Young Trailblazer
Shelby Amponsah
Shelby Amponsah is a passionate advocate and trailblazer in STEM education, dedicated to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion. As Outreach Team Lead at McMaster Engineering, Shelby has reached 32,000 youth through innovative programs, including the Black Outreach STEM Series (BOSS), which has engaged over 5000 Black youth since 2023. Her culturally relevant workshops, like the Kente Cloth Design Series, inspire young minds while breaking barriers in STEM fields. Shelby’s efforts were instrumental in McMaster Engineering receiving the 2024 Actua Experience Award for its Black Youth in STEM Program. A true change-maker, Shelby envisions a future where every young person, regardless of background, can thrive in STEM and become a role model for the next generation.
Lifetime Achievement
The Honourable Justice Sandra Antoniani
The Honourable Justice Antoniani is a trailblazer, changemaker, and all-around force for good. From freeing a wrongfully convicted man after six years in prison to running a powerhouse law practice in Hamilton for 16 years, Justice Antoniani has spent her career championing justice. Not content with the status quo, she co-founded Hamilton’s Drug Treatment Court in 2013, a life-changing program giving individuals a second chance. Justice Antoniani’s passion for community shines beyond the courtroom. She’s served on the Mission Services Board, tackled pro bono cases, and even opened beloved local cafés like My Dog Joe and Mulberry. A first-generation university grad, proud mom, and mentor to many, Sandra’s legacy is one of bold ideas and lasting impact.
Honourary Women of Distinction
