At the 92nd Annual Conference, Shirley Stewart, Governor-Elect of the Soroptimist Western Canada Region, presented the region’s highest honour – the 2025 Frances Wagner Woman of Achievement Award – to Carell Wingrave, member and Advocacy Chair of Soroptimist International Canada West Online.

In her remarks, Shirley described this year’s award recipient as “a strong, determined woman.”

She continued by sharing Carell’s inspiring story:

“She walks the walk. She leads by example. She is a true and loyal friend. She has made her community a better place, mindfully. She never says never. She is your go-to person when you need to get the job done.”

A lifelong learner, Carell has always prioritized education, especially for women and girls. She continues to encourage them to become independent—through both her advocacy and her own example.

While living in Yellowknife, she served as Campaign Manager for a candidate in the 1979 federal election. After the candidate’s victory, Carell was employed by the House of Commons as the MP’s Constituency Assistant. Her responsibilities included responding to constituent concerns, assisting with government forms, and referring cases to appropriate government offices.

In the early 1990s, Carell became the Canadian Project Manager for PACE (Peace Arch Crossing Entry), a pilot project that served as the predecessor to the NEXUS program.

An avid hiker and nature enthusiast, Carell has visited 41 of Canada’s 47 national parks. Her goal was to see them all, but she notes with humour that “age and finances got in the way.” She proudly proclaims, “As a rabid Canadian, I have seen so much and love it all.”

In 2003, she and her daughter opened a boutique-style store in the historic Carvel General Store. In 2010, they led a hamlet beautification project, aiming to instill pride in the area and deter vandalism. They engaged local residents to install seven historical signs, welcome signs at both ends of the hamlet, a hitching post, a notice board, and a shelter for trash and recycling bins. Carell believes that people must remain in rural areas to act as custodians of the land and uphold a peaceful way of life.

In 2008, she combined her love of walking and activism by raising $4,000 for Soroptimist International’s “Project Sierra: A Family and a Future” in Sierra Leone. She walked 194 miles across England—from St. Bees on the west coast to Robin Hood’s Bay on the east—turning a personal trip into a purposeful journey.

A Soroptimist for 36 years, Carell has attended most Western Canada Region conferences from 1990 through 2017 and served as Chair of the 2017 WCR Conference in Edmonton. She has also attended five SIA Conventions and two SI Conventions.

After years of encouragement from a friend and fellow Soroptimist, she joined SI Abbotsford-Matsqui in 1989 and quickly stepped into leadership roles, including Vice President and President. In 1996, she was nominated and selected as WCR Secretary, following the motto she was told: “A good Soroptimist never says no.”

In 1998, after relocating to Alberta, she transferred her membership to SI Edmonton, where she served twice as President.

It was during this time that she became actively involved in combating human trafficking in Canada—at a time when the issue was little known, and no formal legislation existed. Also in 1998, she was elected as Western Canada Region’s first Governor-Elect, following a structural change from Vice Governor to Governor-Elect.

In 1999, she was invited to observe the Soroptimist International Board’s pre-convention deliberations. That same year, she created a lexicon of Soroptimist acronyms and expressions to help new members, and compiled a biography of all WCR Governors since its inception, presented at the 1999 Edmonton conference.

She served as WCR Governor from 2000 to 2002, demonstrating outstanding leadership and the ability to bring the Region together around key issues.

In 2009, WCR hosted a fundraising and awareness event to benefit the Salvation Army’s first home for trafficked women. While the main event took place in Vancouver, Carell organized a simultaneous event with 90 participants at the University of Alberta, live-streaming the keynote speech by Victor Malarek—an impressive technological feat at the time.

Under her leadership, SI Edmonton took a prominent role in raising awareness and gathering over 2,000 signatures on a petition in support of MP Joy Smith’s private member’s bill. This bill sought to change Canada’s prostitution laws in accordance with the Nordic model. In 2014, the Criminal Code was amended to adopt a version of that model.

In 2022, Carell became a charter member of SI Canada West Online, where she continues her passionate advocacy for women. She now serves as Co-Chair of the WCR Advocacy Committee.

Words from Carell

Things I wanted to say:

I wish to acknowledge my 3 children, Kristine, Angela and David whose support, indulgence and encouragement allowed me to pursue my ventures and adventures.

Great gratitude to the late Rose Jenkins of Abbotsford/Mission, who pursued me relentlessly until I became a member. What a gift!

I am a product of all Soroptimists. You are my village and inspiration. We can do together what we could never do alone.

I want to give a shout-out to my 3 sisters who went with me on a journey to Churchill where we delivered 7 cartons of menstrual supplies, some baby items and ladies underwear to the local food bank. Funded with $500 from SIEdmonton, we shopped at the dollar store in Winnipeg then schlepped all these boxes to our hotel and then to the train station. It was mercilessly cold. Each of us was allowed to cargo items free. This is just the bare bones of the adventure and again, was only possible with the indulgence of my posse.

I have 3 loves: my family, Soroptimist and our extraordinary country of Canada with a special affinity for the North. My bucket list still has the last 6 northerly parks on it and, God willing, I will get to them.

Sincere thanks to my club, Soroptimist Canada West Online for nominating me for this award. When I think of the past recipients, I am humbled and honoured to be counted among them. There is still so much more to do for gender equality for women and girls and we seem to be living in time when our gains are particularly threatened. More than ever we need to be “Elbows Up” and Fly into the future.

See you next year on our 100 anniversary.

Carell Wingrave

PS. I’m writing this on the plane and am again overcome with emotion. Love.