Sarah Amyot
University of Winnipeg Students’ Association President Sarah Amyot was awarded the prestigious Young Woman of Distinction Award at the 28th Annual YWCA-YMCA Women of Distinction Awards presented May 5, 2004.
“This award means a lot to me. I’m happy to be acknowledged for the work I’ve done, but it’s also important because it signifies that advocating for women’s rights is being publicly recognized” said Amyot BA ’02, currently completing her Honours degree in Women’s Studies at The University of Winnipeg.
At 24, Amyot has spent much of her young life empowering and educating women and advancing women’s rights. She is a founding member of New WAVES (Women Acting Against Violence for Equal Status), and is a strong supporter of events such as Take Back the Night, the December 6th Academic Amnesty Campaign at UWinnipeg, and the No Means No Anti-Date Rape Campaign.
Amyot is one of the main organizers of Sugar and Spice: Women’s Film Festival scheduled for May 28-30, 2004 at Cinematheque. As well, she is writer and cohost of the CKUW 95.9 FM weekly radio program Say it Sista! which provides opportunity and a forum for discussion on the status and rights of women and girls.
“Manitoba has a strong women’s community and I’ve tapped into that through The University of Winnipeg and received key support from professors, other students, and the services of the UWSA,” she said. “The University of Winnipeg is a place that has allowed me to grow as an activist.”
Bennetta Benson and Loa Henry are two other University of Winnipeg alumni who won Women of Distinction Awards this year. Benson ’80 was honoured in the Recreation, Sport and Active Living category for her creation and administration of the non-profit Winnipeg Optimal Health Early Years Sports Club for children with autism spectrum disorder. Henry ’76, former artistic director of the Nellie McLung Theatre and founding member and director of the Winnipeg Labour Choir, was recognized for her contribution to Arts, Culture and Heritage.
