2015 Irene Poelzer Award recipients

Shelly Clouthier and Dylan Lambi-Raine

Students share award honouring feminist scholar

Shelly Clouthier and Dylan Lambi-Raine are the recipients of the 2015 Irene Poelzer Award, presented annually by the Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) program to a female student or students majoring in women-centred studies. The award was created to honour Poelzer (BA’50, BEd’64, MA’69), who was instrumental in establishing WGST and a pioneer in the field of feminist scholarship at the U of S. In addition to a financial award, the students were presented with two books written by Poelzer, Saskatchewan Women Teachers, 1905-1920: Their Contributions and Women of Exodus II, a poetry collection.

Shelly Clouthier is pursuing a double major in women's and gender studies and drama (acting). A volunteer at the USSU Women’s Centre, she plans to work for a non-profit organization doing community outreach in the queer community after she completes her studies.

Clouthier is currently touring Saskatchewan schools in the anti-bullying play The Shape of A Girl by Joan MacLeod, a monologue inspired by the death of bullying and murder victim Reena Virk in 1997. Both she and the play’s director were victims of bullying as children. “It is rewarding to see that we’re helping kids in the same situation,” she says.

Dylan Lambi-Raine, a double honours student in women's and gender studies and social work (at the University of Regina), works as the coordinator for the USSU Women's Centre. A dedicated volunteer on behalf of women, Lambi-Raine also serves on the board of the Saskatoon Women's Community Coalition, the President's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, and is part of the Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CASA). Her goal after graduation is to continue her studies and her work with the queer, feminist and environmental community.