The Pepper Pod’s ELLE-vation Awards recognize women in the Canadian veteran, military and RCMP community who uplift the women around them.
This spring, many beautiful and heartfelt nominations flooded our inboxes for the inaugural Award. In August, the diverse ELLE-vation Awards Committee met to review the nominations and select our three recipients.
Congratulations to all nominees and to our three award recipients!
ELLE-vation recipients 2024
We’re so pleased to introduce the 2024 recipients of ELLE-vation Awards:
Chief Warrant Officer
Micheline Bertrand
Paving the way for future generations of female aviators
Micheline is a dedicated supporter of women in the RCAF and the broader aviation community. As Chief Warrant Officer at 2 Canadian Forces Flight Training School, Micheline cultivates a positive and inclusive environment in which she mentors young officers.
Through her involvement with Elevate Aviation and the Canadian Women in Aviation conference, Micheline shares her experience and provides invaluable guidance to help aspiring female aviators navigate the field. She’s an uplifting role model who challenges stereotypes and promotes a more inclusive and diverse RCAF.
By championing women’s achievements, Micheline is paving the way for future generations of female aviators. And her achievements remind us that anything is possible—with hard work, perseverance and determination.
“I was always impressed by Micheline’s listening skills, positive attitude, and ability to uplift those around her. She always makes you feel like the most important person in the room.” says her nominator.
Marty Keates
Leading by example, with strength and compassion
Marty dedicated 36 years to the CAF and was a powerful force for uplifting women around her. Throughout her career, she inspired peers and reports with her strength, humour and wisdom. Marty’s leadership style focused on recognizing potential and helping others grow through constructive feedback and accountability.
Leading by example, Marty showed women how to excel as a fair and compassionate leader, and how to mentor others, creating a virtuous cycle that echoed through the ranks. Her influence encouraged women to take on leadership roles, giving them the tools to succeed.
Marty ability to mentor and inspire those around her, has left a lasting legacy in the lives of the women she guided.
“Marty was lifting women up before we ever talked about it,” says her nominator. “She taught me how to recognize injustices in the system and how to work to change them.”
Major Catherine Cabot
Creating open, collaborative spaces where all voices are heard
Throughout the course of her 16-year career, Catherine has inspired those around her with her openness and drive for change. She was recently recognized with the 2024 Concordia Alumni Benoit Pelland Alumna of the Year Award for her work advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the military.
As a mother of two in a dual service family, Catherine uses her personal experience to show what’s possible, humanizing it with raw honesty about the challenges she’s faced along the way. Her modern approach to mentorship—rooted in honesty and collaboration—empowers those around her to strive for success no matter what.
“Catherine is a changemaker both in and out of the CAF, within and outside our borders. With her inspirational style, she solves tough problems, provides a shoulder to lean on and makes real change in the world,” says her nominator. “She is one to watch.”
Go For It!
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If there’s one thing our incredible finalists have in common, it’s the attitude of going for it. Whether leading with empathy, creating a safe haven, or sparking discussions about inclusion and women in the trades, our 2024 ELLE-vation Award recipients are blazing trails for our community.
We’re honoured that these three remarkable women are members of The Pepper Pod tribe—and that you are too!
Thank you to everyone who nominated extraordinary leaders, mentors, allies, coaches—everyday heroes who ELLE-vate others, every day. We’re looking forward to celebrating the incredible women in our community again next year.
Be sure to sign up for our SitRep newsletter to be the first to find out when nominations for the 2025 ELLE-vation Awards open next spring!
