Zonta International celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 8, 2019. On that theme there have been many celebrations during our biennium 2018-2020 to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of Zonta. These words were offered at this week's Zonta Club of Owen Sound's presentation of its Centennial Champion Award.

"Our club celebrated in October our 33rd anniversary supporting, empowering and encouraging women locally and around the world.

As one of these celebrations Zonta International created a number of official awards including the Centennial Champion award to  recognize an outstanding individual in our city who has contributed significantly to empowering women. This award honours a champion in our community and someone outside of Zonta organization - Shirley John.

Shirley is an Ojibway Mohawk from Saugeen First Nation. She is also known as “Strong White Buffalo Woman”. She works as an elder – a Grandmother to all - and is a member of the Facing History On Line Learning Team. Previously she had a 20-year career as an Executive Secretary to our local police services.

Shirley’s helper is the Turtle and she has the spirit of the Grizzly Bear. She is reputed to be humble, peaceful, kind and charming. She is fluent in the Anishanaabe language and is a carrier of their ceremonies.

Shirley attended the Spanish Residential School of Northern Ontario for 1 year and knows the impact of how these times shaped her life and works to help people understand. She is a support person for Survivors Ontario. She continues to teach and talk about Residential Schools to schools, colleges and various programs.

Shirley led a two-week water walk from Cape Croker to Wiarton to Owen Sound, Collingwood, Arthur, Goderich, Saugeen Shores, Sauble Beach and Tobermory. This journey highlighted the responsibility of all to maintain our relationship and responsibility to our First Mother and all that she sustains.

In 2016 she was awarded the YMCA Peace Medal which recognizes participation, empathy, advocacy, community and empowerment.

Over the years she has been a visiting elder with many organizations throughout Canada and the USA sharing spiritual guidance and traditional teachings and is a long-time friend of the Friendship movement.

In her teachings and actions Shirley continues to be a strong role model and empowers the women and girls of her Nation, our area – and for all those women who have accompanied her in her water teachings across the country."