A panel comprising three board members, one former board member, and one community member review the nominations and select the recipients of two awards.

The recipients are celebrated at the Ban Righ Foundation Inspiring Women evening at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, and this year’s edition will be held Thursday, Oct. 25. The event is open to the public and includes a talk from Penguin Random House CEO Kristin Cochrane (Arts’94), poets Alyssa Cooper and Linda Stitt, and songs from the Cantabile Women’s Chorus and by musicians Kris and Dee.

The annual “Inspiring Women” awards ceremony brings us together to celebrate women’s accomplishments and recognize the ongoing professional and personal contributions of community members. This year, the Ban Righ Foundation is honoured to recognize the exemplary work of the late Kim Renders and of Mara Shaw. 

The Ban Righ Foundation Mentorship Award recognizes a Queen’s University faculty member who identifies as a woman and has demonstrated mentorship and knowledge-sharing, has supported or continues to support women in achieving their goals, and has inspired a student or students.

The Ban Righ Foundation Leadership Award is given to an individual who identifies as a woman and whose leadership has built capacity and fostered opportunities for others, made positive contributions to the Kingston community, and has been inspirational.

This year’s honorees are Kim Renders, who is receiving the Mentorship Award posthumously, and Mara Shaw, who is receiving the Leadership Award.

Ban Righ Foundation 2018 Mentorship – Kim Renders (posthumous)

Kim Renders is remembered by her nominators as a theatre pioneer and activist who used her art to address political and social issues. First and foremost she was passionate about inclusion and community theatre. She was keenly aware of the challenges facing female performers and was a role model who fought for more opportunities for women on stage. The award nomination describes her "inspirational qualities as a theatre professional, feminist, and award-winning teacher." Ms. Renders mentored not only students and performers, but her colleagues as well.  Through exceptional mentoring, she also empowered others to make waves and create needed change.

A colleague, Martha Bailey of the Faculty of Law, said “Kim has always provided thoughtful advice on teaching problems. Our subjects are totally different, but her ideas on how to engage and challenge students have helped me tremendously.”

Former students praised Ms. Renders, saying “Kim Renders’ mentorship has been invaluable to me as a student, an emerging artist and as a woman…. As Kim’s student I felt heard, valued, challenged, and inspired to make change.” 

Ban Righ Foundation 2018 Leadership Award – Mara Shaw

Mara Shaw has been Executive Director at Loving Spoonful since 2012. She is a cellist, parent council member, and community activist. The qualities that come through loud and clear in the nomination is that she leads with compassion and encouragement.

Ms. Shaw’s nominator said, “Mara brings passion and boundless energy as a leader, cheerleader, and activist to building a strong and sustainable community.” She is also considered creative and innovative, and has obtained grants for the program and brought many people together for this cause.

“Summing up, Mara is the kind of creative, caring and ethical leader who serves as a role model for others to be caring and ethical in their own right”. “She is constant. Her needle is always pointed in a caring direction.”

To learn more about the Ban Righ Foundation Inspiring Women Event, visit the Queen's University Events Calendar.