Denise Deschene, the city’s well-known Tai Chi instructor and longtime advocate for youth and women, is the recipient of the Contact Women’s Society’s 2015 Women With Heart Award.
The award was presented to Deschene during the society’s annual International Women’s Day Celebration held at Thompson Rivers University cafeteria Friday evening.
“We were very pleased with the evening on all fronts, 72 women and girls attended,” says society executive director Irene Willsie.
In addition to the award presentation the evening included entertainment, several speakers, and a game to highlight individuals who have been advocates for women over the years.
“The speakers were all very inspirational and demonstrated that there are many paths to success,” Willsie says. “I believe it is very important to take the time each year to reflect on women in history and celebrate the women of Williams Lake.”
She says Deschene is the fifth recipient of the Women With Heart award, and that each of the recipients have contributed to the community in very different ways.
Deschene was nominated for the award by Pam Herman, who was there to read her nomination and present it with two of the youth who have been positively impacted by Deschene’s work.
Herman says she has worked with Deschene in many capacities for more than 15 years in her work with School District 27.
Deschene works with Addictions Services and is the school prevention worker and long-time co-ordinator of the Beauty From the Inside Out program which brings community members and peer helpers from the high school to spend a day with Grade 7 girls helping them to learn and celebrate their beauty within.
Deschene also teaches the Safe, Strong, Solid program in district schools which helps girls learn how to stay safe, be strong, be able to say no and to be assertive.
The program also has a male component so boys learn about themselves as well and to respect women, Herman says.
In addition to her work with youth, Herman says Deschene volunteers much of her time to support community activities.
“I do not know of all the things she does, but I know she often drives the van and rides with the Sprockids biking program out of the Boys and Girls Club and often attends events at the club outside of her work hours,” Deschene says.
Deschene also teaches Tai Chi in schools and at the Seniors Activity Centre.
“The practices of Tai Chi are deeply ingrained in Denise and I often think of her as zen,” Herman says.
Deschene makes a very positive impact in our community and is an advocate for both youth and women and believes strongly in helping girls and women to be the best version of themselves.
“I believe that Denise is the epitome of someone who lives what she believes and shares her beliefs and knowledge willingly and generously with others,” Herman says.
“She is a leader in our community and I am blessed to be able to work with her and call her friend.”