Woman in Work
Debby Warren                                                                       

A woman who has made an outstanding achievement in a private, public, or a not-for-profit company.

Debby is currently the executive director of SIDA/AIDS Moncton Inc. The agency develops and delivers prevention initiatives, provides programs, and gives support to people infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. She serves on the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee and the Moncton Needle Distribution Advisory Committee. She is involved in SIDA/AIDS Moncton’s African/Canadian partnership which works on projects to address the devastating effects the HIV/AIDS has brought to the small community of Nkamazi. Debby has lived in Riverview for over 30 years and is a past councilor/deputy mayor. Her community involvements include the Riverview Community Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities; Victorian Order of Nurses; Coverdale Recreation Centre; Boy Scouts of Canada; and the Greater Moncton Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Debby and her husband Peter are proud to have two adult children and two grandchildren.  

Lifetime Achievement 
Mary Brachaniec 
     
A woman who devoted many years of her life to women’s issues or to her community.

Mrs. Mary L. Brachaniec grew up in Moncton, is a physiotherapist, and has been a volunteer patient advocate and leader within the arthritis community for more than a decade. She founded and led the Nova Scotia Spondylitis Support Group and since returning to Moncton in 1997, she has been an active volunteer with The Arthritis Society, NB Division, as an Arthritis Self Management Program Leader/Master Trainer and Chair of the Programs and Services Committee.  She serves as Vice Chair of the NB Board of Directors and has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Moncton Codiac Branch of The Arthritis Society since its inception.  She helped to develop programs with the YMCA and the UNB Faculty of Nursing, Moncton Site.  She recently coordinated the Moncton “Go Blue and Give Too” Awareness Campaign for Juvenile Arthritis and participated in The Foresters Big Swim for Arthritis.  Ms. Brachaniec is an active member for the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA), a national advocacy group for persons with arthritis.  She represents CAPA and The Arthritis Society on the Knowledge Exchange Task Force (KETF) for the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  She is a consumer collaborator for the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group and acts as a Consumer Peer Reviewer for The Cochrane Library.  Ms. Brachaniec also contributes to the Action Atlantic Advocacy Group.

Woman in Art & culture

Lynn Daigle                                 

A woman who has enriched the cultural life of our community through her work in the arts.

Lynn is talented musician who works diligently managing, performing and promoting. She has helped bring Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew international acclaim in the touring sector, she has organized the logistics of MNB Week 2006 & 2007, and she is also considered one of the most intricate and skilled performers in Canada. Her ability to “rock both roles” as a performer and a music manager (president of her own company) make her an outstanding representative of achievement in the arts. Lynn has Degree in Commerce from Mt. Allison and  can often be found writing grant, sponsorship or business proposals at a Fortune 500 level to secure funding for music initiative. She has been recognized with a nomination for both ECMA Manager & Company (Malkin Music) of the year for both 2006 & 2007.

Woman in Public & Community Service
Connie Melanson Savoy         

A woman who through her involvement and participation has made her community a better place to live.

Connie is a fervent advocate of inclusive communities and their ability to enhance and empower individuals and families. She has a Bachelor of Physical Education from UNB and Post Grad Studies in Psyc. Education through McGill and Acadia. She has 30 + years in the advocacy & disability field which includes several years with the YMCA and 14 years as Director of Recreation at Centracare Saint John.  Currently she is Executive Director of the Greater Moncton Association for Community Living, is part of NB PATHers, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Greater Moncton Downs Syndrome Society; Autism Resource Centre; Early Childhood Stimulation; and the Moncton Accessibility Committee. She has been actively involved with the education system since 1992, with duties on the Home and School and for the past three years on the District Education Council for District 2. She and her husband raise 7 children who range between the ages of 27 and 11.

Woman in Volunteerism
Anne Robichaud

A woman who has contributed to making a difference in the lives of others through community service.

Anne is an advocate for individuals who have an intellectual disability in New Brunswick. She has promoted the rights of these people to have quality inclusive education in their neighborhood schools as well as opportunities for meaningful lives in their communities after school. Anne has fought for the right of people with a disability to have access to the services and supports they need to live lives of dignity. She was a teacher and has been involved with NBACL and GMACL for many years. She is a dedicated and loving parent to two boys and a daughter who is afflicted with a learning disability. Anne and her husband live in Richibucto.

Woman in Wellness
Brigitte Brown

A woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the well being of women in our community.

Brigitte is a Certified Fitness Instructor, who holds a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Thomas University. She teaches Yoga and Pilates to hundreds of women and gives meditation and relaxation workshops. She is totally dedicated to her students health and well being and has a talent for guiding everyone she touches in taking care of their mind, body and spirit. Prior to starting this business, Brigitte worked for many years for the youth organization Katimavik. Born in Germany, Brigitte moved to Canada at the age of 18.  She is a proud mother of daughter Lisa who is happily living in British Columbia.  Brigitte is strongly motivated and committed to principles of social justice.  Her personal interests include the ongoing research of mental and physical health.  She has been actively involved with Crossroads for Women, The Canadian Cancer Society, The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and The YWCA of Moncton.