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IWN Woman of the Year

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In past years (1999 - 2013) this award was presented annually to an Irish woman who had made "an outstanding contribution to the Irish community or to the community at large".
2013 Recipient - Adrienne Sutherland
Image: Adrienne Sutherland; Eilis Courtney
_Adrienne, who hails from Dun Laoghaire, has spent over 3 decades in Canada supporting Irish culture in many ways and actively strengthening her adopted Canadian community. 
Daughter of the legendary Irish dancing teacher, Bunty Phibbs, Adrienne was raised with a respect for the rich traditions of her culture. In Canada, she worked in administration for Marian High School while she raised her two children, always involved in the local Irish dancing scene herself (Stewart School, Moore School, and De Danaan School) and through her daughter, and now her two grandchildren. She also volunteered at the De Danaan School of Dance in a weekly storytelling class, teaching the children the language, history and mythology of Ireland. She has been a member of the Feisworx team for over four years now, and she travels around doing tabulation at Feiseanna in BC and Alberta.
Volunteering and community building is a major part of Adrienne’s life.  For many years, Adrienne has been the secretary of the Irish Heritage Society of Canada, prioritizing her time in contributing her efforts to building a strong community for Irish people within the ethno mosaic culture of Canada.  Most recently, she used her excellent talents in running events from her experience in the hospitality industry, as Director of Protocol and Special Events for the 2012 BC Senior Games.
Previous recipients:
2012 - Betty Allen
2011 - Teresa McDonnell
2010 - Annette Savage
2009 - Eilis Courtney
2008 - Kathy King
2007 - Violet Moore
2006 - Catholine Butler

2005 - Geraldine Megannety
2004 - Ann Carr
2003 - Pam Glass
2002 - Deirdre O'Ruairc
2001 - Marie Morris
2000 - Maura McCay
1999 - Mary Hatch
Click here for brief bios of the previous recipients
Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Program
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