COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake Agricultural Society was filled with inspiration and celebration on March 7 as the community gathered for the 2025 Cold Lake Women of Influence Awards.
The annual event, held in recognition of International Women’s Day, honoured six women from across various fields for their contributions to the Cold Lake community.
The evening featured keynote speaker Jelena Mrdjenovich, the most decorated Canadian female professional boxer of all time, as well as a performance by Titan Boxing.
Stephanie Oleksyn, a lawyer and partner at Drake and Todd, opened the event.
She reflected on the event’s long-standing history, emphasizing its impact over the past 11 years.
She provided background on how the awards came to be, crediting Audrey McFarlane, the former Executive Director of the Lakeland Center for FASD, for inspiring the initiative.
"Audrey really had the view that for women to succeed and to overcome their struggles, they need to be able to look around and have something to strive towards. They need to be able to look around and see other women in the community who are doing really well."
The awards, designed to recognize women beyond the business world, highlight contributions in arts, volunteerism, health, technology, and leadership.
The evening saw seven women recognized for their dedication and accomplishments:
Overall Women of Excellence Award - Audrey Poitras was honoured for her lifelong leadership, advocacy, and impact on advancing opportunities for women and the Métis community.
Arts and Cultural Leadership Award - Aimee Alger was recognized for her contributions to the drama department at Cold Lake Junior High School.
Business and Professional Award - Darah Blandford was recognized as the 2025 Student Trustee of the Year.
Community and Volunteerism Award - Jesse Heisler was honored for her work as the Prevention and Community Engagement Manager at the Dragonfly Centre.
Health and Wellness Award - Andrea Papalia was recongized for her contributions to mental and physical well-being in the community.
Science and Technology Award - Maria Slavik was recognized for her innovation and contributions to the STEM field.
Older Women Award: Heather McFarlane was celebrated for making an impact on the community later in life.
Inspiring the audience
Jelena Mrdjenovich took the stage to share her journey as a champion boxer, overcoming obstacles and defying expectations.
Mrdjenovich expressed honour in addressing the Women of Influence Awards gala, celebrating strength, resilience, and authenticity.
She recalled the challenges she faced early in her career.
"When I first stepped into the ring for my first world title, I wasn't just fighting my opponent, I was fighting expectations. I was fighting voices that said, boxing isn't for women, or you'll never make it. But I didn't listen. Because deep down, I knew I wasn't just fighting for myself. I was fighting for every girl who was told that she couldn't."
Mrdjenovich shared personal stories from her upbringing in small-town Alberta, emphasizing the importance of role models and perseverance.
Mrdjenovich plans to fight for another world title this year and encourages others to keep pushing, dreaming big, and proving doubters wrong. She said she fights for future generations of women and urges them to break barriers and write their own stories, as her own journey is far from over.
