Words Jamila Douhaibi
What does it mean to be fabulous? Is there a recipe for success in life and in leadership, or is it the hard work of years of caring for your community and going beyond the expected in work and relationships? Our Fabulous 5 Over 50 were chosen from an amazing group of local women. It was difficult to choose just five from those nominated, but when you hear from both the nominators and nominees, it’s easy to see why these women should be highlighted.
Alice Bacon, Brentwood Bay Village Empourium
Nominator: Martina Redman
Coffee shops, lantern festivals and an Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres! What all of these things have in common is the creative skills and energy of Alice. She says that growing up on a small farm up-Island and being an “under-parented kid of that time … made me independent.” She was also surrounded by artists and musicians, which means she has always been interested in finding ways to “follow some of my crazy ideas down the rabbit hole.” Included in this has been the Luminara Lantern Festival, which Alice produced for the Inter Cultural Association in 2000. She says “we hoped for about 2,000 people and ended up with 20,000.”
This labour of love could also be seen in what nominator Martina says was a “sparkly, imaginative, spooky but not scary Halloween event,” the first year being “a HUGE success.” Alice had been event planning for years when she and her husband John Carswell decided to apply their skills to starting the Empourium in Brentwood Bay. The café brings in musicians and artists in a space dedicated to the community. Martina says: “not a day goes by that I don’t talk to someone who knows Alice through some way and we all celebrate the mutual love we have for this incredible woman!”
Jude Wheeler, Will + Wheel Hair Salon
Nominator: Janis Jean
Many people speak about the importance of LGBTQ2IA+ rights, but not that many people go on to found Sidney Pride because they want to make sure their community celebrates everyone. The inaugural year was 2021, when Jude and business partner Karly humbly decorated their salon’s window and fundraised for Victoria Pride. Each year has progressed with more and more businesses in Sidney “showing their pride” through window displays. Jude understands the importance of representation and being an ally now more than ever. She says her work is “getting people together,” rather than wanting to be seen as the community leader that she is.
Nominator Janis says that over the past years Jude and Karly have transformed a “sidewalk bake sale to a 2,300+ waterfront festival” at the Beacon Bandshell with music, vendors, drag queens and a “powerful show of support for love and inclusion in our community.” In the beginning Jude says it was “cobbled together – will this work and how can we make this work?” But her dedication can be seen in the success of creating a more welcoming community. 2025 promises to be even bigger and is volunteer driven so become part of it! IG @pridesidney and FB: Pride Sidney.
Christine Culham, Chief Administrative Officer – District of Central Saanich
Nominator: Britt Burnham
Another leader who is passionate about representation and strengthening her community is CAO Christine. With a background in child and youth services, social services and affordable housing, she has dedicated her career to bringing people together, building strong, diverse teams, and making systems work better for everyone. “Being a female CAO is both a privilege and a responsibility,” says Christine, especially in a historically male-dominated field. She believes true leadership is about “integrity, resilience, a commitment to growth, and compassion.” Christine sees local government as the most accessible form of government, where people’s voices truly count. She approaches every decision with a deep commitment to serving the residents of Central Saanich and says she is grateful to be a settler on the traditional territories of the WSÁNEĆ people.
Outside of work, she shares her home with three generations of family, creating a place filled with connection and support – values that also shape her leadership. She draws inspiration from the people who work hard to strengthen their community, from part-time firefighters to local event organizers and those volunteering in schools and at the food bank. Nominator Britt describes Christine as a leader who “deeply cares about her staff and the people she serves,” adding that she “continues to champion initiatives that foster innovation, equity and resilience in public service.”
Leda Boyes
Nominator: Ashley Stelck
“When I think of fabulous women, Leda is top of mind,” says nominator Ashley. Leda has a passion for growing things, including flowers, businesses and supporting other women entrepreneurs. Not only has she grown prize-winning orchids, which she has been doing for many decades, she also looks at how she can “support younger women with families” through her flower business and volunteerism. Through the ABC Foundation, she supported Kitchen Connect in Esquimalt, fostering Local Food Businesses, and when she feels strongly about something she supports directly, like the Syrian Refugee Program. Her husband was always supportive of her ventures and started local sport’s programs with hockey and basketball for children. Leda’s daughter Vefele returned to the Peninsula from California a month before her father passed away, but his legacy lives on in the business acumen he taught both Vefele and Leda.
Vefele, a Federation Dressage International Gold Medalist, couldn’t find a safe and nurturing place for amateur riders to board their horses. Together the duo founded Equestrius, so they can support horses and riders, and Leda can still grow flowers. Leda grows rare lisianthus flowers and mainstays like dahlias and peonies. Nominator Ashley says that Leda “deserves to be celebrated, as a grower, as a mother, as a friend, and as a strong woman in business.”
Myrna Schwagly
Nominator: Anna Trelford
There’s no such thing as a retired nurse, because it’s “in your blood before you want to go into nursing.” Myrna started her career in labour and delivery but spent most of her time in extended care, which had lots of good memories. She says that she always tried to be cheerful, so much so that one patient she passed by several times said “hello smiling lady.” She continues to meet with other women she worked with and says there were “so many rewards” during her time at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital. She was there from 1985-1997, and only left because she was diagnosed with MS and was no longer able to perform her duties. But she didn’t give up, and worked hard so that she is no longer in a wheelchair.
Nominator Anna says “she has improved to the point you would never know she struggles – she doesn’t let MS define her.” Now supporting the husband that supported her during her health decline, Myrna says “if I end up in extended care, I hope it’s at Saan Pen.” Anna says that Myrna is the “most resilient, smartest, kindest and caring human I’ve ever met,” and a “kind force to be reckoned with.”
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for the 2025 Fabulous Five Over 50: Lori Appleton, Elizabeth Bean, Tracey Burns, Angela Echlin, Natalie Foley, Zoi Livia, Brenda MacFarlane, Karen McCoy, Marti Redman, Deborah Reid, Terry Stockus, Penny Stone, Sandy Terry, Janet Thompson, Anita Voorsluys, Misty Watson.
Photos Alice Bacon, Jude Wheeler & Christine Culham by Janis Jean
