The YMCA of Western Ontario has announced the eight women being honoured in a variety of different fields this year.

London is home to many accomplished women, from law and medicine to finance and athletics, and the list of honorees in the 2015 Women of Excellence awards was released Tuesday.

The women will be recognized at a gala event on May 7th. The event is held every two years and acknowledges the accomplishments of women in their chosen fields.

The 2015 YMCA Women of Excellence are:

  • Dr. Colleen Hanycz, Arts, Culture, Education & Training, recognized as an outstanding visionary leader who has transformed Canada’s only women’s university into a vibrant, bold and innovative community
  • Sgt. Lorna Bruce, Business and Professions, recognized for her accomplishment of a number of “firsts” for female officers and for leading the Persons and Risk (PAR) project which provides assistance and support for women engaged in the sex trade
  • Kathleen Murphy, Community & Volunteerism, recognized for her passion, leadership, and drive to make a difference in the world. Her philanthropic efforts are diverse in the organizations she helps and in the parts of the world her involvement extends
  • Tina Bax, Entrepreneurs, recognized as a leader in the Canadian international education industry, and the founder of Culture Works ESL, Inc,, the first private school to teach ESL to international students on Canadian university campuses contributing millions to the local and Ontario economy
  • Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, Health, Science & Technology, recognized for her collaborative style of leadership, progressive leadership and bold vision
  • Dr. Lisa Fischer, Sport, Fitness & Recreation, recognized locally, provincially and nationally as an expert in the management of sport related injury and specifically in the area of sport concussion
  • Caroline Ehrhardt, Young Woman of Excellence, recognized as one of the top; track and field athletes in the country and a model of what a student-athlete should represent and strive to be
  • Madam Justice Lynne C. Leitch, Outstanding Achievement, recognized for her contributions to the practice of law, her involvement on numerous judicial committees, judicial education, international project work and international conferences.

In a statement, Women of Excellence co-chairs Ruthe Anne Conyngham and Jill Wilcox said, “We are delighted that so many accomplished and passionate women with such distinct and compelling backgrounds have been selected...This is a sincere tribute to the talent and hard-working contributions of women in London and the surrounding community.”