The Alberta Women's Entrepreneur Awards reception took place last Wednesday with three of the nominees being from our very own Okotoks.

The annual event aspires to honour inspirational women achieving growth and success in business, and has several different categories where their accomplishments can be recognized and rewarded.

Julie Boake, local nominee, says it was an honour to be recognized, and it's important for women to be empowered through recognition as they juggle many things such as family, building a business and being active in the community.

"Women, generally, will carry a lot more responsibilities, so to recognize their efforts to growing their business and doing new and innovative things in the community, I think makes a difference," she said.

Boake founded Awedity Creative, a design and marketing company, back in 2007, but has experienced other industries in different capacities where being a female was no cake walk.

"It's not true in every industry, but I'll definitely tell you that working in oil and gas, being a woman, you do have to work twice as hard to prove yourself."

The awards were held at the Sutton Place hotel in Edmonton on April 25th. Among the 75 applicants, locals Caitlyn Zietz of Complete Health Chiropractic and Massage and Vanessa Hernandez of War Baby Cosmetics were also nominated.

Okotoks is comprised of many female entrepreneurs from different ventures who inspire each other and contribute to the community daily.

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