A North Shore resident and counsellor is a recipient of a 2020 Women of Distinction Award, it was announced this week.
Sharon Selby, a registered clinical counsellor and founder of Toddler to Teen Anxiety Solutions in West Vancouver, was the winning recipient in the Connecting the Community category at the 37th annual awards, which were held online this year due to the pandemic.
The awards, held Wednesday evening, were virtually attended by more than 800 guests. The annual event, which is organized by the YWCA and is the organization’s signature fundraising event, is meant to honour “inspiring women and organizations for their achievements,” according to organizers.
Selby was recognized for her curriculum, book and group facilitation which provides “resources for parents and educators to explain anxiety to children and practice strategies for managing it,” stated Rebecca Savory, spokeswoman for YWCA Metro Vancouver, in a press release. (Read the North Shore News' interview with her about children's anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic here. Some of the tips from her book, Surfing the Worry Imp's Wave, can be found here.)
The Connecting the Community award is the only category at the awards where the recipient is chosen based on a public vote, according to the release.
Event sponsor Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to a YWCA program area of the Selby’s choice, which this year will be early learning child care, according to the release.
In total, seven North Shore women were nominated at this year’s Women of Distinction Awards.
