Women of Impact

The 2nd Annual Kerri Wynne MacLeod Women of Impact Awards were presented in March. Each year during International Women’s Week, as a tribute to Kerri Wynne’s legacy, Stingray presents five awards to PEI women who are making remarkable contributions and having an impact on the province. 

The 2025 Awards recognized women in five categories: Women in the Arts, Reequal Smith; Women in Healthcare, Erin Kinnee Richard; Women in Music, Yvonne Higgins and Joan Murchison; Women in Business, Juanita Leary; and Women in our Community, Candy Gallant. 

Women in the Arts Award winner, Reequal Smith, is the founder and artistic director of Oshun Dance Studios in PEI. Originally from The Bahamas, Smith blends her Bahamian heritage with Canadian dance culture, celebrating and evoking the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean. She is a multidisciplinary artist with over ten years of performance experience, and as an alumna of Holland College’s School of Performing Arts, she is deeply involved in community initiatives and cultural arts. Smith is also the program and events coordinator for the Black Cultural Society of PEI, and the administrator/outreach coordinator for the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network in Ottawa, ON. She champions diversity and inclusion in the arts serving on boards like The Fringe Festival, Fusion Charlottetown, and Kinetic Studio Dance based in Halifax, NS. Her artistic contributions span festivals, community events, and media, including music videos and documentaries. Through her work as a fire dancer, choreographer, and educator, Smith fosters inclusivity and empowerment—creating spaces where diverse artists and youth can unite to celebrate the Caribbean spirit in PEI’s artistic scene.

Visit ocean100.com/women-of-impact-awards to learn more about the awards and this year’s recipents.