WXN Reveals Full List of 2015 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - November 25, 2015) - Women's Executive Network (WXN) has announced the 2015 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners, who will be recognized during a gala celebration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 26.

Launched in 2003, the Top 100 Awards celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canada's top female executive talent as well as their organizations and networks. The Awards serve to recognize talented leaders and to inspire the current and next generations to push the boundaries of what's possible.

"For these highly accomplished women, receiving a Top 100 Award means much more than recognition or a chance to share the spotlight with other remarkable Winners, it's an opportunity to pay it forward," says WXN founder, Pamela Jeffery. "WXN Top 100 Award Winners are powerful women both in their careers and their potential to transcend boundaries to have a greater impact on the communities around them."

Co-Presented by Scotiabank and KPMG, the Top 100 Awards span the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Among the incredible women receiving Top 100 Awards this year are Sabrina Geremia, managing director, integrated solutions, Google Canada; Colonel Josée Robidoux, Colonel Commandant, 35 Canadian Brigade Group; and Helene Weir, president and chief executive officer, YMCA Calgary. This year, 12 women will also be inducted into the WXN Top 100 Hall of Fame, including Lisa Lisson, president, Federal Express Canada and Laura Dottori-Attanasio, senior executive vice president and chief risk officer, CIBC.

Past Award Winners include some of Canada's most iconic women trailblazers, including Margaret Atwood, best-selling author; Dr. Roberta Bondar, astronaut; Arlene Dickinson, chief executive officer, Venture Communications; Christine Magee, president, Sleep Country Canada; Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada; Heather Reisman, founder and chief executive officer, Indigo Books & Music; and, Kathleen Taylor, chair of the board, Royal Bank of Canada.

The Top 100 Awards Gala caps off the WXN "Collective Impact" Leadership Summit, which delivers collaborative learning from keynote speakers and panelists with the objective of connecting the community of smart women and men and identifying innovative solutions for effective leadership. The Gala also marks the launch of the WXNWisdom Top 100 Mentoring program, providing opportunities for Top 100 Award Winners to mentor, inspire and develop future leaders.

WXN's 2015 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winners:

BMO ARTS & COMMUNICATIONS
Wende Cartwright, President & CEO, Savira Cultural + Capital Projects - ON
Patricia Gagic, Artist, Patricia K. Gagic - ON
Sabrina Geremia, Managing Director, Integrated Solutions, Google Canada - ON
Joanne MacDonald, VP, CTV News; Nominated as: VP, CTV News & General Manager, CP24, CTV - ON
Janice McDonald, President, The Beacon Agency - ON
Shahrzad Rafati, Founder & CEO, BroadbandTV - BC
Eleanor Wachtel, Host, CBC Radio's Writers & Company and Wachtel in the Arts, CBC Radio - ON

RBC CHAMPIONS
Jane Allen, Partner & Global Leader - Renewable Energy, Deloitte - ON
Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia, President & CEO, Digital Nova Scotia - NS
Lisa Borsook, Executive Partner, WeirFoulds LLP - ON
Debby Carreau, CEO & Founder, Inspired HR - AB
Caroline Codsi, SVP & General Manager, Eastern Canada, SCM Health Solutions - QC
Carol Osler, SVP, Head of Financial Crimes & Fraud Management & Enterprise Project Management, TD Bank Group - ON
Brigitte Parent, SVP, Individual Insurance & Wealth, Sun Life Financial Canada - ON

ACCENTURE CORPORATE DIRECTORS
Micheline Bouchard, Corporate Director, TELUS; International Women's Forum; PSP Investments - USA
Sophie Brochu, Director, BCE & CEO, Gaz Métro; Nominated as: Director, BCE - QC
Christine Hand, Chairman of the Board, Home Hardware Stores Limited - NL
Sarah Kavanagh, Independent Corporate Director & Chair, Audit Committee, Hudbay Minerals - ON
Margaret McKenzie, Corporate Director, Bonavista Energy Corporation - AB
Eileen Mercier, Chair, Canadian Payments Association; Nominated as: Chair of the Board, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan - ON
Kathleen O'Neill, Board Director, Chair of Audit Committees, Finning International; ARC Resources; Cadillac Fairview; Invesco Canada - ON

SCOTIABANK CORPORATE EXECUTIVES
Carol Banducci, CFO & EVP, IAMGOLD Corporation - ON
Christiane Bergevin, Past EVP, Partnerships and Business Development, Desjardins Group - QC
Kristina Boyce, CEO, Greenwin - ON
Norie Campbell, Group Head Legal, Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering, Financial Crimes and Fraud Management, Enterprise Projects and General Counsel, TD Bank Group - ON
Isabelle Côté, Managing Director, Corporate Banking, Citi - ON
Cindy Forbes, EVP & Chief Actuary, Manulife Financial Corporation - ON
Mary Forrest, President & CEO, North America (Life), Munich Reinsurance Company Canada (Life) - ON
Diane Giard, EVP, Personal & Commercial Banking, National Bank of Canada - QC
Cynthia Hansen, SVP, Operations, Enbridge Liquids Pipelines - AB
Marianne Hasold-Schilter, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer, International Banking, Scotiabank - ON
Jennifer Maki, Chief Executive Officer, Vale Canada; Executive Director, Vale Base Metals, Vale Canada - ON
Gianna Manes, President & CEO, ENMAX Corporation Group of Companies - AB
Shelley Martin, President & CEO, Nestlé Canada Inc. - ON
Linda McCurdy, President & CEO, K-Bro Linen Systems Inc. - AB
Sandy McIntosh, EVP, People & Culture & Chief Human Resources Officer, TELUS - ON
Ellen Moore, President & CEO, Chubb Insurance Company of Canada - ON
Maarika Paul, EVP & CFO, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec - QC
Charlene Ripley, EVP & General Counsel, Goldcorp - BC
Linda Seymour, EVP & Country Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC Bank Canada - ON
Patti Perras Shugart, Managing Director & Head - Corporate Banking & Global Credit, RBC Capital Markets - ON
Marcia Smith, SVP, Sustainability & External Affairs, Teck Resources - BC
Louise St-Pierre, President & CEO, Cogeco Cable Canada - QC
Jennifer Tory, Group Head Personal & Commercial Banking, RBC - ON
Mary Turner, President & CEO, Canadian Tire Bank and Canadian Tire Financial Services - ON
Benita Warmbold, Senior Managing Director & CFO, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board - ON

CIBC ENTREPRENEURS
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, CEO, The Bouchier Group - AB
Karen Flavelle, Owner & CEO, Purdys Chocolatier - BC
Allison Grafton, President, Rockwood Custom Homes - AB
Natasha Koifman, President, NKPR - ON
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia, CEO, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa / Absolute Spa Group - BC
Mandy Rennehan, Founder & CEO, Freshco - ON
Geeta Sankappanavar, President & COO, Grafton Asset Management - AB
Martha Zenker, Founder & President, Lisgar Commercial Real Estate - ON

TELUS FUTURE LEADERS
Ikram Al Mouaswas, Senior Manager, Deloitte - ON
Caitie Drewery, Producer & Director of Client Services, Q Media Solutions - ON
Giovanna Mingarelli, CEO & Co-Founder, Mcrowdsourcing Canada Inc. - ON
Kirsten Poon, Business Development Associate, TEC Edmonton; Nominated as: CEO, KP Consulting - AB
Siobhan Robinson, Project Engineer, Kerr Wood Leidal Associates - BC
Sarah Saska, Co-Founder & Partner, Feminuity; Doctoral Candidate, Western University; Nominated as: Co-Founder & Partner, Feminuity; Doctoral Candidate, Western University; Fellow, MaRS Discovery District - ON
Shelby Walsh, President, TREND HUNTER - ON

KPMG PROFESSIONALS
Sara L. Austin, Champion for Women and Children & Non-Profit Advisor; Nominated as: Director - President's Office, World Vision Canada - ON
Joëlle Boisvert, Managing Partner, Montréal, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP - QC
Dr. Heather Bryant, VP, Cancer Control, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer - ON
Kristen Carscallen, Canadian Managing Partner, Audit, KPMG LLP; Nominated as: Chief Human Resources Officer & Partner, KPMG LLP - ON
Cindy Clarke, Partner & National Group Head, Specialized Litigation, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP - ON
Elizabeth Hamilton-Keen, Director of Investment Counselling, Mawer Investment Management Ltd. - AB
Samantha Horn, Partner, Stikeman Elliott LLP - ON
Ann Mellema, Director, Programs Governance, Irving Shipbuilding - NS
Miriam Pozza, Partner, Quebec Deals Leader and Quebec Transaction Services Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - QC
Victoria Prince, Partner & National Practice Group Leader, Corporate Commercial, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP - ON
Elise Rees, Partner, Transaction Tax, EY - BC
Judith Robinson, Partner, National Practice Head of Canadian Intellectual Property Practice, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP - QC
Asifa Samji, VP, Environmental Services, Stantec - BC
Jeanette Southwood, VP, Strategy and Partnerships, Engineers Canada; Nominated as: Urban Development & Infrastructure Sector Leader - Canada, Golder Associates - ON

PWC PUBLIC SECTOR LEADERS
Shereen Benzvy Miller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Small Business, Tourism and Marketplace Services, Industry Canada - ON
Bonnie Boretsky, VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Canada Post - ON
Michelle d'Auray, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); Nominated as: Deputy Minister, Public Works & Government Services Canada, Government of Canada - QC
Stacey Daub, CEO, Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre - ON
Marni Dicker, EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Infrastructure Ontario - ON
Dr. Blaize Horner Reich, Dean; RBC Professor of Technology & Innovation, Beedie School of Business - Simon Fraser University - BC
Kathy Kinloch, President, British Columbia Institute of Technology - BC
Dr. Rhonda Lenton, Provost & VP, Academic, York University - ON
Judy McKellar, SVP, People & Culture/Health, Safety & Environment, Hydro One Networks - ON
Cheryl Regehr, VP & Provost, University of Toronto - ON
Marian Walsh, Associate CEO & Chief Transformation Officer, Sinai Health System - ON

SUN LIFE FINANCIAL TRAILBLAZERS & TRENDSETTERS
Jodi Abbott, President & CEO, NorQuest College - AB
Sue Abu-Hakima, Co-Founder & CEO, Amika Mobile Corporation - ON
Cathy Beehan, Founding CEO, Action Canada - BC
Martha Billes, Chairman Emeritus, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charity; Nominated as: Director, Canadian Tire Corporation - ON
Nathalie Cook, VP, Brand Partnerships, Bell Media; Nominated as: Vice-President, Sales & Brand Partnerships, TSN, Bell Media - ON
Ilona Dougherty, Youth Engagement Expert & Co-Founder, Apathy is Boring; Nominated as: President & Co-Founder, Apathy is Boring - QC
Catherine Karakatsanis, COO, Morrison Hershfield Limited - ON
Dr. Sabine Mai, Professor, Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science, College of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Manitoba - MB
Colleen McMorrow, Partner, Canadian Leader Strategic Growth Markets, EY - ON
Akela Peoples, President & CEO, The Learning Partnership - ON
Jennifer Reynolds, CEO, Women in Capital Markets - ON
Colonel Josée Robidoux, Colonel Commandant, 35 Canadian Brigade Group; Nominated as: Chief of Staff, Army, 35 Canadian Brigade Group - QC
Rhiannon Traill, President & CEO, The Economic Club of Canada - ON
Helene Weir, President & CEO, YMCA Calgary - AB

WXN HALL OF FAME
Elyse Allan, President & CEO, GE - ON
Dr. Amiee Chan, President & CEO, Norsat International Inc. - BC
Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Senior EVP & Chief Risk Officer, CIBC - ON
Marilyn Emery, President & CEO, Women's College Hospital - ON
Judy Goldring, EVP & COO, AGF Management - ON
Lisa Kimmel, President, Edelman Canada; Nominated as: General Manager, Edelman Toronto - ON
Lisa Lisson, President, Federal Express Canada - ON
Fiona Macfarlane, Managing Partner, British Columbia & Chief Inclusiveness Officer, EY - BC
Karen Meades, President, Ottawa Health Services Network - ON
Monique Mercier, EVP, Corporate Affairs, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, TELUS - BC
Cybele Negris, Co-Founder & CEO, Webnames.ca - BC
Mia Pearson, Co-Founder, North Strategic - ON

Top 100 Awards Gala
This year's Top 100 Awards ceremony will be hosted by Anne-Marie Mediwake, co-anchor, CBC News Toronto, who is an accomplished communications leader in her own right as the co-founder, former managing director and head of institutional equities of North South Capital.

The keynote will be delivered by Dr. Samantha Nutt, founder and executive director, War Child, who is also a best-selling author and a 2009 Top 100 Award Winner. One of the most original and influential voices in the humanitarian space, Dr. Nutt has spent more than 15 years leading positive change, placing herself at the front lines of many of the world's major crises, in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Darfur.

Awards Categories
Top 100 Awards are given to remarkable women in nine different categories: BMO Arts & Communications, RBC Champions, Accenture Corporate Directors, Scotiabank Corporate Executives, CIBC Entrepreneurs, TELUS Future Leaders, KPMG Professionals, PwC Public Sector Leaders and Sun Life Financial Trailblazers & Trendsetters.

About the Women's Executive Network (WXN)
At WXN, we inspire smart women to lead. WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to inform, inspire, connect and recognize our community of more than 19,500 smart women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence. WXN enables our partners and corporate members to become and to be recognized as employers of choice and leaders in the advancement of women.

Founded in 1997, WXN is Canada's leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles. WXN is a founding member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council, dedicated to increasing the diversity of Canada's corporate boards. In 2008, WXN launched in Ireland, followed by London, UK in 2015, creating an international community of female leaders.