Women who have shown amazing heart, leadership, courage, promise and determination were honoured on Friday at the 2017 Amazing Airdrie Women awards.

The finalists for the five awards were selected based on a combination of votes from readers of airdrielife, and editorial, past recipients and sponsor votes.

The Pharmasave Amazing Heart award went to Nancy McPhee who in ten years has helped her son Stephen change the world.  

At age five, Stephen, who has autism, wanted to help homeless children and Stephen's Backpacks was born.  Ten years later, the registered society has delivered thousands of backpacks, helped less fortunate families furnish homes, and so much more.  Stephen is the face of the charity but Nancy is the driving force behind it.  Nancy says they won't stop "until every child has the opportunity to 'dream out loud'," something Stephen told her to do.

Other finalists for the Amazing Heart award were Wendy Contant and Erica Hatch. 

The AWBA Amazing Promise recipient is Elena Mitevska, a grade 12 student at W.H. Croxford where she always strives to change things for the better.

In 2014 Elena was recognized with the Leader of Tomorrow award from Volunteer Airdrie.  In 2015 she won President of the Year when her Junior Achievement of Canada team finished in the top three in southern Alberta.  Along with her volunteering duties, Elena teaches piano in her "spare" time.

Aleeyah Qureshi and Sarah Rinke were the other award finalists.

The McKee Homes Amazing Leadership winner is Lisa Mundell-Lawrence, the President of Sales and Marketing for PMA Brethour Realty Group in Western Canada.

Lisa is mother to a blended family of six, a public speaker, owns several businesses along with her husband and is a two time cancer survivour.  She was diagnosed with cancer on the same day she found out she was pregnant.  She made her unborn son a priority and refused cancer treatments until after he was born.  Balance in her life became a priority after that.  

Other finalists for the Leadership award were Becky Diebolt and Sarah Hissett.  

The Hassett & Reid Amazing Determination award went to Amanda Delahay.  Amanda is the mother to her second daughter Carmen, who was born with a rare disorder called Central Core Disease.  Only 80 cases of CCD exist in the world.  The condition affects mobility, weight gain, swallowing, breathing and play.  Amanda says she has to stay strong for her daughter.  "Camen has never given up.  Neither can I."  

Cassandra Graham and Tracy Laxten were the other finalists.

Finally, the Pureform Amazing Courage recipient was 35 year old Lovepreet Deo who fights back against cerebral palsy through cycling.

Lovepreet has raised thousands of dollars for the Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta through three races she rode in during 2016.  She has won several awards including being named the 2015 International Day of Persons With Disabilities Calgary, Athlete of the Year.  Lovepreet admits living with cerebral palsy is hard, but as she puts it, "I have two choices.  I could give up or I could keep moving on.  I just keep moving on."

The awards were presented at a sold out luncheon at The Woods in Airdire.  This is the 7th year the Amazing Airdrie Women awards have been awarded by airdrielife.

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com