Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 29, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba 27 Phil Fontaine the Sage eng first nation resident has been at the Centre of Manitoba a and Canadas native leadership Over the past three decades. In july Fontaine easily won re election As the head of the Assembly of first nations. But with the liberals out of Power in Ottawa and the tories having different priorities on aboriginals Fontaines ability to get things done is now in question. Last year 23. 28 Holly and Paul Mcnally the husband and wife team that beat chapters to the big Box game a decade ago Are champions of Canadian writing and local authors through their Book of the year award. Winnipeg a intelligentsia congregate at their two stores and Coffee shops. New. 29 Annitta Stenning the highest paid civil servant in Winnipeg has been overseeing the City a massive bureaucracy and planning since coming Over from Centre Ven Ture in 2003. With the mayor still a relative Rookie she wields considerable clout at City Hall ? when she a not butting Heads with the mayors office or vice versa. Last year 10. 30 Don Plett a year before Stephen Harper became prime minister the Farmer from land Mark won a second term As president of the conservatives party. Coincidence Well think of it this Way Plett has been a Central player in not Only the creation of the unified conserva Tive party but also in readying it to fight two elections within its first three years of political life. New. Frank Gunn / Canadian press archives John Woods / Winnipeg free press archives Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg free press archives handout ten to watch Ida Albo and Richard Bel the owners of Winnipeg a oldest and most grand hotel hotel fort Garry know of what they speak when it comes to downtown revitalization having revitalized the historic railway hotel on Broadway. Any decisions on serious downtown issues go through them. Bobbi Ethier the effervescent former president of the Manitoba Liberal party a Federal Wing is currently running for its nation Al presidency. Aside from her political aspirations the staff officer at the Manitoba teachers society is also influential in other circles including president of the Winnipeg humane society. Albert Friesen no single person has had a bigger hand in the development of the provinces biotech Industry than him. He has either launched or marshalled into Commer Cial state the likes of medicare Mirac Ulins and Kane biotech. Susan Lewis As the president of United Way Winnipeg Lewis raises millions of dollars every year for people who need a Little bit of help. This year her goal is to bring in More than $14 million and she is said to be planning major changes to the Campaign which will change Winnipeg forever. Angela Mathieson a City planner by training Mathieson was recently hand picked by the pre Mier to head up the economic develop ment committee of his Cabinet. Just 34, Mathieson replaces the highly powerful Eugene Kostyra becoming one of the chief decision makers in the doer government and a senior advisor to doer in the process. Her position is unarguably powerful but what she does with it will Tell her tale. Marilyn Mclaren the Only female ceo among Manitoba a biggest corporations the head of Mani Toba Public insurance recently increased her profile by criticizing the Winnipeg police a focus on Auto theft. How she handles a growing surplus and addresses one of the biggest crime prob lems in the province in the coming year will be important factors influencing her reputation in this province. Theresa Oswald if you Are looking for a fast rising Polit ical Star look no further than Manitoba a first female health minister. Oswald a big new Post has already sparked speculation she could emerge As a potential successor to nip Leader doer. Brian Postl head of a nearly $1.6 billion entity tasked with delivering health care on time and on budget to Winni Eggers Postl wields considerable influence. The top doctor at the Winnipeg regional health authority Postl was on the Power 30 list last year but has dropped somewhat since delivering his report on wait times to the Federal government. Carole Vivier whatever claim Manitoba has to the title of Hollywood North has a lot to do with Vivier who is the head of Manitoba film and sound. The making of Oscar win Ning movies like capote does to happen by Accident in Manitoba. Whether the destination is . Or the he of Bolly Wood films in India Vivier does what Ever it takes to help grow this increasingly important part of the provinces Economy. A Long Way to go the free press Power 30 list includes just six women pointing to a significant gender imbalance among influential Manitoban by Mia Rabson m Manitoba Public insurance Marilyn Mclaren is the Only female ceo on Manitoba business Maga Zines top 100 list. She oversees a company that in 2004 made $745 million has 1,600 employees and such a Good investment record its not sure what to do right now with the extra Cash. She is outspoken and influential triggering a Public debate recently with a complaint that the Winnipeg police service want pulling its weight in the fight against car theft. But none of that was enough to put Mclaren 52, onto the Winnipeg free press Power 30 list. And in that regard she in to alone. There Are just six women on the list which ranks the Power Ful and elite in Manitoba based on their ability to influence things such As Public policy and economic growth. Mclaren did make the Sec Ond string and is among 10 Manitoban to watch in the next year As their influence rises or Falls. There Are six women on that list. But the gender imbalance raises serious questions about the existence of a Glass ceiling in this province or at the very least the Way we View Peoples contributions to society. People tend to have fairly narrow definitions of Power says Mclaren who Rose to her current position from a starting position with the Crown corporation As a temporary data clerk in 1979. If Power Means corporate or political leadership women have a Long Way to go. Women make up 50.3 per cent of the Manitoba population and 47.2 per cent of the workforce. But they account for less than 10 per cent of both the executives and Board members in Manitoba Stop 10 companies As defined by Manitoba Busi Ness Magazine. The Only female senior executive to make the list is Gail Asper the corporate Secretary for can West global who Man Ages the Asper foundation. She is also on the boards of both great West life co and can West global. Both Mclaren and Asper said companies have to make an extra Effort to recruit women to their boards. Companies who truly made it a priority they be done it said Mclaren. There has to be a willingness to make it a in Manitoba 99 per cent of the provinces top cos Are men Asper Points out making it difficult to fill Board positions if names and titles Are All that matter. We have to be More creative said Asper. If we do not proactively try to get women appointed to boards and pro Mote them women will eventually move up but it will happen Way too women Are somewhat better represented at political Levels accounting for 22.8 per cent of Manitoba Las 21.4 per cent of Manitoba members of Parlia ment and 13 per cent of Winnipeg City Council. But Manitoba senator Sharon Carstairs says attitudes towards women in government still make it difficult to attract More females to the profession. She said the offensive treat ment of Liberal my Belinda Stronach has certainly not helped. She a a perfectly Beautiful woman and that should be an asset but its a liability said Carstairs. Asper noted that a lot of women Are doing wonderful and important things in Manitoba but they re not seen As pow Erful because they re not High profile. The natural tendency is to assume visibility is importance and that a not necessarily True she said. The president of the United Way in Winnipeg Susan Lewis has been honoured around the country said Asper and is doing groundbreaking work. In terms of transforming the City what Susan is initiating is enormous said Asper. But we Don to Brand it As then there is Elaine Ali who insists on remaining in Manitoba while maintaining her Job As senior vice president at ctr in charge of the company a 27 local affiliates. She has quietly become the vice president of the second largest broadcasting company in Canada said Asper. She a hugely it took just a few hours for Barbara Bowes ceo of Bowes leadership group to produce a list of almost 15 powerful and influential women in Manitoba. Bowes list includes Ashleigh Everett president of Royal Canadian properties University of Winnipeg foundation ceo and former Winnipeg mayor Susan Thompson influential Volunteer and former first lady of Manitoba Janice Filmon and Assiniboine Park ceo Patti sul Livan. All have influence beyond their positions in poli tics or business or both but they re apparently not influential enough to make the Power 30. Bowes noted an interesting phenomenon in which women Are actually taking themselves out of Contention for powerful jobs. ? they Are deciding they Don to want the stress associated with the Job said Bowes. Instead they Are starting their own smaller enterprises at an extremely fast Pace she noted. Bowes also said she frequently sees women who want to move up the corporate ladder but Don to have the financial or operations background required. Being charming is just not enough.?. ;