5 alumnae named most powerful women

5 Mount A women named among 2007 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100!!

Mount Allison University is pleased to announce that four of its distinguished alumnae and one of its honorary degree recipients will be recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as Canada’s most powerful women.

Alumnae Brenda Robertson ('50), Annette Verschuren, and Flora MacDonald (honorary degree '04) in the Trailblazers & Trendsetters category, and Lynn Loewen ('82) and Jane Craighead ('80) in the Professionals category, will be named among Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre today, November 21, 2007.

Under the leadership of the Women’s Executive Network, the Top 100 awards celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Canadian women who are making a difference and breaking new ground in the public and private sectors, through arts and communications, and within their communities.

Paving the way for Canadian women in politics, the Honourable Brenda Mary Robertson, became the first female in the New Brunswick legislature when she was elected in 1967. In 1970 she became the first female cabinet minister in New Brunswick, serving as Minister of Youth and Social Services and subsequently as Minister of Health New Brunswick during her term. In 1984 she was appointed to the Senate of Canada where she served until her retirement in 2004 and was appointed to the Order of Canada in April of 2007. Brenda graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Science in 1950 and served on Mount A’s Board of Regents from 1952 to 1953.

Having learned the value of hard work on her family’s Cape Breton dairy farm, Annette Verschuren has gone on to become the first woman to be named president of The Home Depot. As Canadian president of Home Depot’s Asian and Canadian divisions, Annette has led the chain’s expansion from 19 stores in Canada to 144 in her first 10 years and is now leading a major expansion in China. Annette has received honorary degrees from Mount Saint Vincent and St. Francis Xavier universities, and was honoured as Wilfrid Laurier University’s 2006 Outstanding Business Leader. She is a recipient of the Canada 125 Medal, the Retail Council of Canada’s Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award, and the Women on the Move Award. Annette holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University and also attended Mount Allison.

Far beyond hard work and dedication, Lynn Loewen’s success can be attributed to her unwavering passion for her profession and her community. After 15 years with Air Canada Jazz and its predecessor, Air Nova, Lynn is currently vice-president, finance and operations, for Bell Canada. Also recently named chair of Mount Allison’s Board of Regents, Lynn holds the distinction of being the first female board chair in Mount Allison’s 168-year history. Lynn graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University in 1982 and in 2003 was recognized as a Mount Allison Business Network Honouree. In 1999 she received the prestigious honour of being named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™.

As vice-president, compensation and benefits, for Alcan Inc., Jane Craighead is responsible for compensation and benefits on a global basis for Alcan’s 66,000 employees based in 62 countries. Throughout her career, Jane has shared her vast knowledge in management and accounting with Canada’s future leaders as a full-time faculty member at McGill University, Concordia University, and Queen’s University. She has been the recipient of such prestigious awards as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Award and a McGill Major Graduate Fellowship. Jane holds a PhD in Management, and in 1980 graduated from Mount Allison with a Bachelor of Commerce. She is still actively involved at Mount A, and currently sits on the University’s Board of Regents.

A politician and humanitarian, the Honourable Flora MacDonald served as executive director of the Progressive Conservative national headquarters from 1957 – 1966. In 1966 she became the national secretary of the Progressive Conservative Association of Canada, a position she held until 1969. From 1972-1988 Flora served as a Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. Throughout her political career, she held three prominent cabinet portfolios: Secretary of State for External Affairs from 1979-80; Minister of Employment and Immigration from 1984-1986; and Minister of Communications from 1986 to 1988. From 1990-1994, she was the host of the popular television series, North South, on Vision TV. Flora was awarded an honorary degree from Mount Allison University in 2004.

Now in its fifth year, Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ list has also included several Mount Allison graduates on past lists including Karen Radford, the Honourable Catherine Callbeck, Dr. Ruth Goldbloom, and the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain as well as Mount Allison honorary degree recipients Madam Justice Rosalie Abella, Dr. Roberta Bondar, and Judith Maxwell.