Women recognized for dedication to communities in northeast.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Brief Article

Two dynamic and Socially conscious businesswomen in northeastern Ontario were recognized for their achievements, success and dedication to their community at the annual Influential Women (IW) of Northern Ontario awards luncheon.

A capacity crowd of 300 attendees, almost triple the number in attendance last year, gathered at Sudbury's Laurentian University to honour the recipients of this year's awards.

Blind River's Lila Cyr and North Bay's Tracey Vigars were added to the growing honour roll of women who are increasingly making their mark in the region's economic wealth and diversity.

The May 29 ceremony, the second of two such events staged by Northern Ontario Business, delivered inspirational messages from keynote speaker Simone Desjardins, a senior vice-president with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and from the testimonials offered by the two award winners selected for the northeast region.

Both recipients thanked family, friends, co-workers and mentors who shaped their involvement in civic activities and allowed them the freedom to pursue their projects.

"I'm often asked why I'm so involved, and the only answer I can give is that I'm receiving so much more than I can give," explains Lila Cyr, a well-known Blind River politician and business owner for 25 years. Cyr has been instrumental in spearheading a number of local initiatives.

Cyr has championed a multitude of quality of life efforts such as obtaining grants to open a seniors cultural facility, developing a proposal for a youth drop-in centre and lobbying for 22 additional long-term care beds for the Regional Health Centre.

With Blind River Mayor Bob Gallagher looking on from the crowd, the mother of two and grandmother of five, says she religiously adheres to her mantra of "giving till it makes a difference, and then give some more."

In her 19-year tenure on Blind River town council, she says dealing with people issues represents the best part of the job as well as keeping busy with a full plate of activities.

"If I can say I made a difference in someone's life...then it was all worthwhile," Cyr says.

Tracey Vigars, a community and fundraising event expert with North Bay's Benjamin James Integrated Marketing Communications, explains her road to civic prominence followed a "long and painful path."

The Sudbury native and Marymount Academy graduate admits she grew up with little respect for education and had few aspirations for a career until finding her niche...