Her family describes Crysta Westoby as a talker.
Being named Armstrong Empowering Women in Business’ Inspirational Woman of the Year for 2013 left Westoby speechless.
Westoby, a supported child care worker who volunteers for many events and is involved with youth in the community, was named Woman of the Year at a recent ceremony at the Armstrong Curling Club.
“It’s one of those things you hope you win but the other women nominated have been volunteering and involved in the community for years and years and years and have made enormous contributions to the community,” said Westoby, 27, who also works for Nor-Val Event Rentals in their Vernon office.
Westoby is involved in many youth-oriented activities as a soccer coach, skating assistant, scouting leader and a volunteer locally as well as with the Scout Jamboree held in Alberta with 5,000 young registrants and 1,500 volunteers.
“I have two nieces and a nephew and my oldest niece was born when I was 13 so I decided then that I wanted to be a good role model for them and involved in their lives,” said Westoby.
“I do a lot of the stuff I do with them and it’s cool somebody else noticed but I don’t do it to be noticed. I do it because instead of just being their taxi and taking them to their programs and dropping them off, I’d rather go do it with them because it’s much more fun.”
Westoby was involved in the Olympic activities and other community events as well as attending college and graduating with a master in arts– interdisciplinary studies with a major in anthropology and a minor in English.
Also nominated for the award were Janice Brown, mayor and former councillor of the Township of Spallumcheen; Barbara Hodder, registered nurse, volunteer firefighter and owner of Monashee Medi Spa; Patti Noonan, executive director of the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce; Gail Salter, volunteer on various committees, among them the City of Armstrong’s Heritage Advisory Committee; and Rea Smith, organizer of the community garden and head of the horticultural building at the Interior Provincial Exhibition.
“It was a most difficult decision as all of the nominees are winners and exceptional community minded and inspirational, devoted, busy ladies,” said Donna Harms of the event’s organizing committee.
“All of the nominees more than met the listed criteria and the judges had to really find an inspirational way to name one lady for the night.”
The evening entertainment was exceptional with the PVSS dance group performance, an inspiring speech from City of Armstrong Administrator Patti Ferguson and a song by Empowering Woman in Business’ own Joyce Taguchi.
“It was truly an elegant, decadent event that showcased the innovative and inspirational women of Armstrong and our business community,” said Harms.
