The challenges I went through from 2013 to 2017 were no secret but few know just how badly I was struggling most of the time.  I credit the 2016 WOMEN’s Woman of Influence award with being a turning point in my life.  I truly didn’t understand the impact it would have on me but remember waking up the next morning feeling just a bit better.  I’ve shared my speech below because I don’t think we say thank you enough to the people in our lives that are there no matter how tough life is.  I hope you’ll enjoy a bit of a walk down memory lane with me.

Hello everyone, I don’t typically put words to paper but tonight was such an overwhelming evening I thought it was probably a good idea! I hope you’ll indulge me for a few moments as I have so much to say and not very many opportunities to truly recognise those closest to me. If you’ve laid bets on the length of my speech, start the clock now! I want to thank the Women of Miramichi Entrepreneurial Network for this honour. To President Flora Sharpe and the Board of Directors I am humbled to be counted amongst the recipients tonight and those who have been honoured in the years before us. Thank you for all you do for us and the community, Flora, Samantha and Stephanie your friendship has brightened my world these last few months and I count myself very lucky, I am in awe of you all as you seem to do it all with ease, family, career, community, just like that. I will admit that I don’t see myself as a Woman of Influence. The last few years have been difficult and when you fail so spectacularly and so publicly as I have done it tends to kick you in the shins a bit. But I’ll thank you none the less for the honour as I know there were so many others you could have chosen. I want to congratulate our new mayor, His worship Adam Lordon, I look forward to the amazing things to come in our region as you and council get to work. Thank you to Minister Lisa Harris and Member of Parliament Pat Finnegan for being here tonight, I know how busy your schedules are and I know the recipients this evening are thankful you could attend.
There have been so many women who have had a profound impact on my life. Some of them you don’t know, they were the women who got up every day and got it done. I’d like to take a few moments to thank them now.
To my Grandmother Ada, my dad’s mum, she was a midwife in the 40’s with 7 children of her own at home. She taught me the importance of patience and time. I would visit her when I was a child and she would listen day after day to Super trooper by Abba over and over again. We played crazy eights and gin rummy from morning till night. But really have you ever heard the song “it’s like a supppper troooper dreams are gonna find me, but i won’t feel blue, like i always do, she must have wanted to throw the album in the river after the first 20 times. 
To my grandmother Margery or Margie as she came to be to me in my adult years. She was the essence of elegance and grace. She taught me to whom much is given much is expected and I’ve tried to live that every day. Most don’t know how fiercely loyal and determined she was. Once she stood with you, there was no swaying her. I value my time spent talking to her well into the night in her room.
My family was singularly gifted with outstanding women, I have to admit. To my mother’s sisters, Cynthia has taught me the value in the details, that all the small parts make up one incredible sum. Although she may drive me absolutely insane when we work on a project together because of that incredible attention to detail, time and again the end result is shear brilliance and that is her gift! Andrea has taught me that kindness can come in the most unlikely of packages and to embrace your life and make of it what you want most, she has raised 4 incredible children, all the while being brave as she charted her life far away from home in Alberta. To Judy, it is hard to express how much she has taught me. I wouldn’t have moved home all those years ago had it not been for her passion for our community and her kindness in sharing her gifts with the world, she has been a significant influence on my desire to do all I can for those around me, I’m lucky to count her as a beloved friend. My aunt Beth who taught me that no matter how busy you are, the most important thing you can do is open your doors to friends and family. She has a gift in making you feel like the most cherished of friends when you walk through the door. My “other” aunt Judy who is married to my uncle Robert, her love of family and love of animals is unparalleled. She married into our family and as she always says, we are hers, and she couldn’t be more right. Finally in the spectacularness that are the women in my family, I remember Carmie who left us much too soon. She was quick of wit, loyal to a fault, beautiful and strong. She taught me that, to be strong.
Each day I learn from incredible women around me. Sherry who taught me that no matter what is going on in your life you must make time to be a friend, she cried with me, laughed with me, hugged me until I didn’t feel so broken and loved me when I felt far from being lovable. She helped me through the darkest time in my life and I will forever be grateful. I am with her now as she walks her path. To Cara who has taught me that you have to love someone enough to nag, make sure they are ok, that sometimes you are just destined to be friends with someone, I’m so proud of you and your honour tonight. To Carrie who has taught me that Miracles really do happen, thank you for being the friend you have always been and I am truly honoured to be one of your girlies Godmothers. To Heather who is fiercely loyal, I don’t think she actually understand how lucky I am to have her in my life. To Audrey, your friendship over these last few years has meant so much, you are courageous and giving and our love our Mondays! Stacey, your incredible dedication to animals is something we should all strive to duplicate, thank you being my friend, but most importantly thank you for letting me sing on the air! Clarissa, your determination to see us all succeed gives me home and I strive to be as confident and brave as you seem to me. To two women who have no idea how they’ve impacted me, Paula Foley, her light shines brightest. I feel such love and joy each and every time I see her, her incredible hugs have healed a piece of my shattered heart each time and to Nancy Lordon who taught me that all you need is to love those around you, that its most important. Her hugs too hand a special quality to truly express how much she loved you while she held on a few extra moments. To my fellow Rotarians and I’ll ask you to stand for a moment, these women give so much to our community and live the motto of “service above self” day in and day out. Collectively you couldn’t find a finer group of women, more committed to our region and who get up and get it done every day! To the incredible women here tonight from NBCC, your dedication to our youth inspires me more every day.
Just in case you were wondering, I have incredible men in my life as well. My uncles, Robert, Arthur, Michael and Gerard, like seriously who could ask for better role models and community leaders. Two of them actually save lives on a daily basis and the other two have dedicated their lives to educating our youth and our community. My dad Roger who is literally off saving the world as we speak, I love you pops, I am so proud of who you are. 
I know you are wondering, how could I have left out my mum Jacquelyn. I don’t know how to explain to you all that my mum is in my world. She is the kindest women I know with a wicked sense of humour if you’re lucky enough to hear it. She is brave and strong, stronger that you could ever imagine. She truly doesn’t understand how incredible she is. She has been my guiding light as sappy as that sounds, I hope to grow up to be like her some day, she changes the world, person to person, day by day and to me that is the truest meaning of a super hero. She is my best friend and has taught me that if you just put one foot in front of the other you will get there, it may take you a while but you’ll get there.
I will leave you with this as you’ve all been so kind to listen, Ladies, to all of you in this room and beyond, be fierce in the pursuit of your goals, be fierce in your determination and be fierce in your loyalty to those who really matter. We need you, each and every one of you to stand for your men, stand for your sons, stand for your daughters, stand for your friends and but most importantly stand for yourselves, know that you are changing the world, that’s how powerful you are, seriously you are changing the world, own it, love it, be proud of it for I am proud of you. I know that whatever may come we will face it head on and we will triumph because we can do no other simply by the incredible examples we have in each of you here tonight and across our region. I thank you for this moment in my life, you all have blessed me beyond your ken.