L-R: Emily Rutledge, Gaylene Carragher, and Barb McDowall gathered outside the Schoolhouse on the Glenaladale Estate for a photo together. (Missing from photo: Serena Smith)
Four members of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women will complete their maximum five-year terms on November 1, 2024. During the recent October meeting at the Schoolhouse on the Glenaladale Estate in Mount Stewart, Council members and staff presented service awards to outgoing Chairperson Serena Smith (virtually), Treasurer Emily Rutledge, and Council members Barb McDowall and Gaylene Carragher. These awards recognized their many contributions to Council’s work throughout their terms. We will miss them all very much!
For more information about their work on the Council, please read the individual award text below:
L-R: Jane Ledwell and Serena Smith at a recent Council meeting.
Service Award – The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women thanks Serena Smith:
Serena Smith of Summerside has served as a member of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women since 2019, as Vice-Chairperson from 2021 to 2023 and as Chairperson from 2023 to 2024. In her time on the Council, Serena’s unique knowledge of social work and the law contributed incisive perspectives on systemic policy change to improve the everyday lives of women across PEI. During her term, Serena led implementation of the 2022–2024 strategic plan and creation of the 2024–2027 plan, which helped define the focus for Council’s work. Serena contributed to Council’s Gender and COVID-19 project and the 2022 Equality Report Card. As Chair, she led development of the model for the 2026 Equality Report Card. She was an active participant in five Purple Ribbon Campaigns Against Violence and emcee of a Montreal Massacre Memorial Service.
Thank you, Serena, for your smart, strategic contributions to the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women to advance the status of women in PEI.
Barb McDowall
Service Award – The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women thanks Barb McDowall:
Barb McDowall of Charlottetown has served as a member of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women since 2019. In her time on the Advisory Council, Barb created collective enhanced awareness among Council members of the potential for revolutionary, peaceful change and new-paradigm thinking in the PEI community. Her faith in PEI as the place to make change happen inspired us all. During her term, she contributed to Council’s Gender and COVID-19 project, the 2022 Equality Report Card, and the model for the 2026 Equality Report Card. She was an active participant in five Purple Ribbon Campaigns Against Violence and made a transformative contribution to the project with the Town of Kensington, to develop a community action plan to end gender-based violence.
Thank you, Barb, for your holistic, steadfast contributions to the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women to advance the status of women in PEI.
Gaylene Carragher
Service Award – The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women thanks Gaylene Carragher:
Gaylene Carragher of Stanhope has served as a member of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women since 2019. In her time on the Advisory Council, Gaylene shared her passion for equality in education and opportunity as the basis of women’s empowerment. Her curiosity about others’ experiences and her desire to learn helped guide Council to deeper understandings of gender issues. During her term, she contributed to Council’s Gender and COVID-19 project and recommendations, the 2022 Equality Report Card, and the development of the model for the 2026 Equality Report Card. She was an active participant in five Purple Ribbon Campaigns Against Violence and made a special contribution to shaping the 2024–2027 strategic plan to be achievable and celebratory.
Thank you, Gaylene, for your caring, fun-loving contributions to the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women to advance the status of women in PEI.
Emily Rutledge
Service Award – The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women thanks Emily Rutledge:
Emily Rutledge of Charlottetown has served as a member of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women since 2019, in the role of Treasurer from 2023 to 2024. In her time on the Advisory Council, Emily shared her compassionate and informed perspectives on mental and physical healthcare for women and gender-diverse people. With a special gift for validating others’ voices, Emily used her own voice in support of work to eliminate poverty and gender-based violence. She put particular spotlight on the needs of caregivers. During her term, she contributed to Council’s Gender and COVID-19 project, the 2022 Equality Report Card, and development of the model for the 2026 Equality Report Card. She was an active participant in five Purple Ribbon Campaigns Against Violence and the guiding spirit of the 2024 Creating Collective Care conference.
Thank you, Emily, for your gentle, sensitive contributions to the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women to advance the status of women in PEI.
