WOMEN'S EXECUTIVE NETWORK ANNOUNCES CANADA'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN FOR 2010

Top 100™ Awards Recognizes Top Female Achievers From Across Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 29 /CNW/ - The Women's Executive Network (WXN)™ announced today the recipients of the prestigious 2010 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Awards, representing the top women across Canada.

The Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, Co-presented by Scotiabank Group and KPMG, is Canada's most recognizable award for the country's highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

"Every year, we honour the exceptional female leaders of Canada," said Pamela Jeffery, Founder, Women's Executive Network.  "They each have remarkable achievements and Top 100 is a mark of their success and how they have supported their communities, companies, and organizations. Our Top 100 community is a powerful group of women who are at the top of their game, exemplify success and empower the next generation of women to take their careers to the next level."  Pamela is hopeful that more individuals will nominate women from Québec and the Maritimes next year.

This year's winners will be celebrated November 29^th at an Awards Gala Dinner at the Allstream Centre in Toronto.  The gala is the finale of a full-day celebration that offers Top 100 Winners an exclusive morning of networking and professional development.  The morning session will be followed by a Summit which allows participants the opportunity to meet Award recipients and enjoy an afternoon of professional development.  The theme of this year's Summit is the Power of Collaboration and Connectivity.

The Awards cover eight categories: Sun Life Financial Arts & Communications, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Champions, Scotiabank Corporate Executives, Franklin Templeton Investments/Fiduciary Trust Entrepreneurs, TELUS Future Leaders, KPMG Professionals, Cisco Public Sector Leaders, and Xstrata Nickel Trailblazers & Trendsetters.

Sun Life Financial Arts & Communications Award:

• Manon Gauthier, Executive Director, Segal Centre for the Performing Arts (Montréal, QC)
• Karen Kain, Artistic Director, The National Ballet of Canada (Toronto, ON)
• Ann Lewis-Luppino, President and CEO, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (Calgary, AB)

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Champions Award:

• Caroline Andrew, Director of the Centre of Governance and Professor for the School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa (Ottawa, ON)
• Margaret-Ann Armour, Associate Dean of Science, Diversity, University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta)
• Tatiana Fraser, Executive Director, Girls Action Foundation (Montréal, QC)
• Rhona Levine Ruben, President, RLR & Associates Inc. (Fredericton, NB)
• Barbara Orser, Deloitte Professor in the Management of Growth Enterprises, University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management (Ottawa, ON)

Scotiabank Corporate Executives Award:

• Marie-Claude Boisvert, Chief Operating Officer, Desjardins Venture Capital (Montréal, QC)
• Brenda Brown, SVP, Human Resources, Compass Group Canada and ESS North America (Mississauga, ON) 
• Lesley Conway, President, Hopewell Residential Communities Inc. (Calgary, AB)
• Jacquelyn Cyr, Chief Executive Officer and Owner, Espresso Brand Infiltration (Toronto, ON)
• Kristine Delkus, Deputy General Counsel Pipelines and Regulatory Affairs, TransCanada Corporation (Calgary, AB)
• Nora Duke, President and CEO, Fortis Properties Corporation (St. John's, NL)
• Debra Hewson, President and CEO, Odlum Brown Limited (Vancouver, BC)
• Zabeen Hirji, Chief HR Officer, Royal Bank of Canada (Toronto, ON)
• Audrey Ho, SVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, TELUS Corporation (Vancouver, BC)
• Sue Hutchison, SVP, Head of Commercial Banking, BC Region, HSBC Bank Canada (Vancouver, BC)
• Lynn Jeanniot, SVP, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, National Bank Financial Group (Montréal, QC)
• Debra Kelly-Ennis, President and CEO, Diageo Canada Inc. (Etobicoke, ON)
• Linda Kuga Pikulin, President, PepsiCo Beverages Canada (Mississauga, ON)
• Christine Magee, President, Sleep Country Canada (North York, ON)
• Isabelle Marcoux, VP Corporate Development and Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Transcontinental Inc. (Montréal, QC)
• Anne Martin, President, United Van Lines (Canada) Ltd. (Mississauga, ON)
• Lorraine Mitchelmore, President and Canada Country Chair, and VP Exploration Americas Onshore, Shell Canada Ltd. (Calgary, AB)
• Loreen Paananen, EVP, Retail Development, Shoppers Drug Mart (Toronto, ON)
• Susan Paish, CEO, Pharmasave Drugs National Ltd. (Langley, BC)
• Bev Park, President and CEO, Couverdon Real Estate, a Division of Timberwest Forest Group (Vancouver, BC)
• Kerry Peacock, EVP, Retail Distribution, TD Canada Trust (Toronto, ON)
• Tracy Redies, President and CEO, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union (Surrey, BC)
• Launi Skinner, CEO, First West Credit Union (Surrey, BC)
• Jennifer Tory, Regional President, Greater Toronto Region, Royal Bank of Canada (Toronto, ON)
• Mary Ann Turcke, President- Field Services, Bell Canada (Toronto, ON)
• Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO, Vancity (Vancouver, BC)
• Benita Warmbold, SVP and COO, CPP Investment Board (Toronto, ON)
• Mia Pearson, President and Senior Partner, Fleishman-Hillard Canada Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Elaine Wong, EVP, Strategic Development, Westport Innovations Inc. (Vancouver, BC)

Franklin Templeton Investments / Fiduciary Trust Entrepreneurs Award:

• Eve-Lyne Biron, Présidente et chef dela direction, Biron Groupe Santé (Brossard, QC)
• Susan Gallacher, President & CEO, DirectCash Bank (Calgary, AB)
• Ann Kaplan, President and CEO, Medicard Finance Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Lakshmi Raj, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Replicon Inc. (Calgary, AB)
• Aileen Reid, Chief Executive Officer, A.P. Reid Insurance Stores Limited (Dartmouth, NS)
• Marion Witz, President, Elizabeth Grant International Inc. (Toronto, ON)

TELUS Future Leaders Award:

• Claudine Labelle, President and Founder, FitSpirit (Ste-Adèle, QC)
• Gwennaelle Madiba Moubouyi, Student, University of Ottawa (Ottawa, ON)
• Anna Murray, Senior Advisor, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Xstrata Nickel (Toronto, ON)
• Michelle Rempel, Director, Institutional Programs Division, University of Calgary (Calgary, AB)

KPMG Professionals Award:

• Nathalie Bernier, Associee Directeure, KPMG LLP (Montréal, QC)
• Anne Doig, President, Canadian Medical Association (Ottawa, ON)
• Mary-Lou Donnelly, President, Canadian Teachers' Federation (Ottawa, ON)
• Margaret  Franklin, Chair of Board of Governors, CFA Institute; and President & CEO, Kinsale Private Wealth (Toronto, ON)
• Leslie Galway, CEO, Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (St. John's, NL)
• Anne-Marie Hubert, FCA, Managing Partner, Advisory, Ernst and Young LLP (Montréal, QC)
• Rosemarie T. Leclair, President and CEO, Hydro Ottawa Group of Companies (Ottawa, ON)
• Harriet Lewis, University Secretary and General Counsel, York University (Toronto, ON)
• Shannon MacDonald, Managing Partner, Atlantic, Deloitte & Touche LLP (Halifax, NS)
• Mary Lou Maher, Chief Administration Officer and Chief Financial Officer, KPMG LLP (Toronto, ON)
• Marianne McKenna, Founding Partner, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (Toronto, ON)
• Karen Meades, President, Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. (Ottawa, ON)
• Dale Ponder, Managing Partner and Chief Executive, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Toronto, ON)
• Dawn Tattle, P.Eng, President and Partner, The Anchor Group (Toronto, ON)
• Dr. Lynn Tomkins, President, Ontario Dental Association (Toronto, ON)
• Lisa Vogt, Practice Group Leader and Partner, Real Property and Planning, McCarthy Tetrault LLP (Vancouver, BC)
• Dr. Ruth Wilson, Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University (Kingston, ON)

Cisco Public Sector Leaders Award:

• Karen Branscombe, Superintendent, NB School District 02 (Moncton, NB)
• Ann Buller, President & Chief Executive Officer, Centennial College (Toronto, ON)
• Janet Davidson, President & CEO, Trillium Health Centre (Mississauga, ON)
• Marilyn Emery, President & CEO, Women's College Hospital (Toronto, ON)
• Laura Formusa, President and CEO, Hydro One Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO, Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, ON)
• Hilary Jaeger, Brigadier General, Department of National Defence (Ottawa, ON)
• Karen Kinsley, President and CEO, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Ottawa, ON)
• Irene Lewis, President & CEO, SAIT Polytechnic (Calgary, AB)
• Cairine MacDonald, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment (Victoria, BC)
• Laura Nashman, CEO, BC Pension Corporation (Victoria, BC)
• Kathy Okpik, Deputy Minister of Education, Government of Nunavut (Iqaluit, NU)
• Catherine Riggall, VP, Business Affairs, University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)
• Anne Sado, President, George Brown College (Toronto, ON)
• Gail Stephens, City Manager, City of Victoria (Victoria, BC)
• Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Regina (Regina, SK)
• Bev Van Ruyven, Deputy CEO and EVP, BC Hydro (Vancouver, BC)
• Carol Wilding, President and CEO, Toronto Board of Trade (Toronto, ON)

Xstrata Nickel Trailblazers & Trendsetters Award:

• Dr. Sonia Anand, Professor of Medicine, McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
• Barbara Barde, President, Up Front Entertainment (Toronto, ON)
• Sally J. Daub, President and CEO, ViXS Systems Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Allison L Dent, CEO, Global M&A GmbH (London, UK)
• Michelle DiEmanuele, President and CEO, The Credit Valley Hospital (Mississauga, ON)
• Dorothy Engelman, Executive Producer, Get Involved, and Partner, Q Media Solutions (Toronto, ON)
• Patricia Graham, Editor-in-Chief, The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, BC)
• Katherine (Kathy) Gregory, Founder, President and CEO, Paradigm Quest Inc. (Toronto, ON)
• Josée Kurtz, Commanding Officer, Her Majesty's Canadian Ship, Halifax, Department of National Defence Canadian Fleet Atlantic (Halifax, NS)
• Aldéa Landry, President, Landal Inc. (Moncton, NB)
• Janet Longmore, President and CEO, Digital Opportunity Trust (Ottawa, ON)
• Heather McGregor, CEO, YWCA Toronto (Toronto, ON)
• Arlene Ponting, CEO, Science Alberta Foundation (Calgary, AB)
• Vivian Prokop, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (Toronto, ON)
• Rose Reisman, President, The Art of Living Well (Toronto, ON)
• Jacqueline Shan, PhD, DSc., Chief Scientific Officer, Afexa Life Sciences (Edmonton, AB)
• Laurie Simmonds, President and CEO, Green Living Enterprises (Toronto, ON)
• Carol Stephenson, Dean, Richard Ivey School of Business (London, ON)

The list of the 2010 Top 100 is available at www.top100women.ca

To date, 522 women across Canada have received this distinction. Each woman is selected for recognition by an independent advisory board. This year 11 women have been inducted into the Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame™. They join a list of 73 women who have received the Top 100 Award more than three times.

WXN Hall of Fame Inductees

• Janice M. Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer, City of Mississauga (Mississauga, ON)
• Sonia Baxendale, Senior EVP of CIBC and President of CIBC Retail Markets (Toronto, ON)
• Francine Blackburn, EVP and Chief Internal Auditor, Royal Bank of Canada (Toronto, ON)
• Sherri Brillon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Encana Corporation (Calgary, AB)
• Connie Clerici, Chief Executive Officer, Closing The Gap Healthcare Group (Mississauga, ON)
• Sandra Hanington, Executive Vice President, Product Operations & Process Simplification, Technology and Operations, BMO Financial Group (Toronto, ON)
• Wendy Hannam, EVP, Sales and Service, Products and Marketing, Scotiabank (Toronto, ON)
• Shelly Jamieson, Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Ontario Public Service, Government of Ontario (Toronto, ON)
• Annalisa King, Executive Vice-President and CFO, Best Buy Canada Ltd. (Burnaby, BC)
• Barbara Mason, EVP, Wealth Management Canada, Scotiabank (Toronto, ON)
• Christine Power, President and CEO, Capital District Health Authority (Halifax, NS)

Award Winners and Hall of Fame inductees will also be honoured in their own communities of Vancouver on February 1 and Calgary on February 16.

The sponsors for Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards Gala and Summit are Co-Presenting Sponsors Scotiabank Group and KPMG; Platinum Sponsors TELUS, Cisco, Xstrata Nickel, Sun Life Financial, and Franklin Templeton Investments / Fiduciary Trust; Gold Sponsors TD Bank Financial Group, Richard IVEY School of Business, The Oakes Group, and Ogilvy Renault; Official Media Sponsor the National Post; Official Car Mercedez-Benz; Official Jewellery Sponsor Birks & Mayors; and Official Gala Keynote Sponsor TD Bank Financial Group.  The Official Beneficiary is the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

About the Women's Executive Network

The Women's Executive Network (WXN) is Canada's most influential female audience and the country's leading organization dedicated to advancement and recognition of executive-minded women in the workplace. Since 1997, WXN has expanded rapidly to meet the needs of the growing number of female managers and executives across Canada. In the fall of 2008, WXN launched in Ireland, a first step in creating an international community of women leaders. WXN now delivers innovative networking, mentoring and professional development to 16,000 members across Canada and Ireland. WXN is also a founding member of The Canadian Board Diversity Council, dedicated to increasing the diversity on corporate and federal public sector boards. More information details are available at www.wxnetwork.comor www.top100women.ca

For further information:

or interview requests please contact:

Sarah Thompson
Women's Executive Network
Direct: 1.416.361.1475 x235
Cell: 416.457.4461
[email protected]

Anna Robinson
NATIONAL Public Relations
Direct: 416-848-1401
Cell: 416-892-9447
[email protected]

Matt McNamara
NATIONAL Public Relations
direct: 416-848-1377
cell: 416-994-2258
[email protected]