Calgary Business Pioneer Bonnie DuPont Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
When Bonnie DuPont first learned she had won a lifetime achievement award as an influential Calgary businesswoman, her initial reaction was one of humble surprise. "I didn't expect it," she confessed, wondering aloud, "why me?"
A Trailblazing Career Recognized
DuPont has become the seventh woman in Calgary to receive the lifetime achievement honor from the Calgary Influential Women in Business awards (CIWB). This recognition comes after more than four decades of groundbreaking work in western Canada's energy and agriculture industries.
"I was, in a number of instances, the first woman in the role and in the position," DuPont explained. "That was an important way to open doors for other women."
Breaking Barriers in Male-Dominated Fields
Her pioneering journey began unexpectedly in 1981 when she became the first female superintendent at SaskPower. "I had never intended to be a 'pioneer,'" she noted, but found herself in that position nonetheless. It took another full year before another woman joined the corporation's ranks.
"In many instances I didn't apply for the job," DuPont revealed. "I was approached to join the company and I think that was in large part because of the recognition by some male leaders that changing up the energy in the organization was timely."
A Unique Perspective at the Table
As often the first and only woman in leadership meetings, DuPont brought what she describes as an evidence-focused perspective and asked questions that hadn't been considered before. "I was well qualified academically," she said, "but I think secondly, I was a good listener, and I think I had come to be known as a compassionate individual."
Opening Doors for Others
Once she gained access to traditionally male-dominated spaces, DuPont made it her mission to keep those doors open for other women. A prime example was her work with the Calgary Petroleum Club, which had long been a "boys club" where women were only permitted to enter through the back door.
When DuPont became president, she immediately recruited two other women to the board. "That was my strategy," she explained. "I used my position to find other competent women."
The Growing Significance of Women's Recognition
Reflecting on the CIWB awards that honor her and other women leaders, DuPont remarked, "It's a real celebration of women's accomplishments." Nuvyn Peters, CEO of Axis Connects, a non-profit focused on gender diversity in business, echoed this sentiment, noting that the awards "keep growing every year."
This year's awards gala, scheduled for April 23 at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, has sold out for the first time since its inception, with nearly 1,600 people expected to attend. The event honors six nominees across various business leadership categories:
- Lifetime achievement
- Small, medium and large enterprises
- Professional services
- Social entrepreneurship
- Male champion for gender diversity
DuPont's recognition serves as both a celebration of her individual achievements and a testament to the growing visibility of women's contributions in Calgary's business community.
