BUSINESS Two firms up for YWCA award

Two organizations from Richmond have been nominated for YWCA Metro Vancouver’s 40th women of distinction awards

The Steveston Arts Connection (SAC) and the Dupuis Langen Group are two out of 78 individuals and organizations nominated for their contribution to the community

SAC is a woman-led organization offering fine arts and daycare programs for children and youth in Richmond It hires a diverse range of employees in terms of age and cultural background, supports flexible work schedules, of- fers before- and after-school care and provides training opportunities A registered clinical counsellor is on-site to provide mental health support for employees, and SAC also contributes to an RRSP program and provides mortgage assistance

Dupuis Langen Group is a femaleowned insurance and employee benefits company It offers a 24/7 employee and family assistance program and virtual health care access, and its paid sick leave includes both personal and family-related needs It’s dedicated to pay equity, promoting diversity and supporting employees with train- ing and a flexible work environment

It also provides an extensive benefits package for women ’ s mental health

The public can vote for their favourite nominees online from now until April 12 Winners will be announced at the Women of Distinction Awards Gala on May 9, and tickets will be on sale soon on the YWCA website

The nominee with the most votes will also get the Connecting the Community Award, which allows them to pick a YWCA program area to receive a $10,000 donation from Scotiabank Vikki Hui/Richmond News