Pinder-Walter in contention for 2024 Inspire Award

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

By Heather Cameron
Commentator/Courier

Carrah Pinder-Walter of Redcliff, Alta. is a nominee for the 2024 Inspire Award offered by the Women in Business Committee of Medicine Hat and Region.

“The Women in Business- Medicine Hat and Region Chapter hold an Annual Inspire Award Ceremony,” said Pinder-Walter. “The luncheon provides an opportunity for business-minded women to connect and network as well as celebrate achievements other women have accomplished. Nominees could be a woman who is a mentor or role model, trendsetter, and risk taker. Someone who contributes to the business community. Nominated by their peers and I was nominated by fellow coworker Katelynn Hanson. I am very honoured and have been filled with a strong sense of pride to be nominated in this group of women who are very remarkable in their achievements.”

Pinder-Walter says that she has been a part of Redcliff Family Dental for five and a half years. 

“As a Dental Administrator at Redcliff Family Dental Centre, the office is growing in a wide selection of procedures offered to patients,” said Pinder-Walter. “From the regular restorative, orthodontics and hygiene, to now offering same day crowns, implants, botox, sleep apnea appliances as well as intravenous sedation. I have had to learn and be able to clearly explain procedures and answer questions in a way that is easiest for patients to understand.”

On top of her work as a Dental Administrator, Pinder-Walter says, she has also been part of the Redcliff Family Dental Kinder Visits for the past two years. 

“Together with a dentist and a dental assistant, we have been able to go into Kindergarten classes as part of the health and wellness curriculum,” said Pinder-Walter. “We enhance learning through fun, interactive dental health activities to help instill life-long dental health habits. It gives me an emotional and inspirational feeling to be able to share my knowledge with children to help improve their health.”

In addition to her work within dentistry, Pinder-Walter says she helps organize the Redcliff Family Dental Annual Golf Invitational Tournament.

“Three other dental offices in the Medicine Hat area, join our office in some friendly golf and then we gather for supper,” said Pinder-Walter. “It is a fun way for us and other dental teams to get involved in our community and have fun in the process.”

Pinder-Walter considers herself fortunate that Dr. Abdel Bendary, owner of Redcliff Family Dental, is involved with her communal endeavors and is proud to be part of the programs that she is involved in that benefit the community.

One of the very important endeavours Pinder-Walter says she is involved in is spreading awareness about organ and tissue donation.

“Spreading awareness has become part of my personal life and at Redcliff Family Dental Centre, we are able to provide bone grafts for dental implant patients and have been able to register for continued education courses where donors have chosen to donate to science and education,” said Pinder-Walter. 

Pinder-Walter says she does this work in memory of her late son, Beau.

“In August of 2022, we lost our oldest son, Beau, in a tragic car accident,” said Pinder-Walter. “As he is an organ and tissue donor, I find comfort in knowing the number of recipients that he has been able to help restore the quality of life with either one of his organs or parts of his tissues. As of today, he has been able to help 35 people. His tissues can be stored for five years, and I look forward to the University of Alberta organ coordinators to update us with Beau’s new recipients. I have been able to share his story and our family’s journey on the importance and awareness of becoming an organ and tissue donor. I recently had the opportunity to work with Alberta Health Services and the new program “Give Life Alberta” to help increase the awareness of donation, to communicate with your family and inform them of your decision to be a donor. Then the most important part is to register to be a donor with Alberta Health Services. April 21-27 was National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. Not only were we able to raise awareness at Redcliff Family Dental, but we also got to celebrate our donor heroes like my son, Beau.”

Both her grandparents and parents, Pinder-Walter says, volunteered a lot in the community and she just grew up with their guidance of giving back, hence why she has been a volunteer for many years. Her work, Pinder-Walter says, includes being the President of Redcliff Santa for Seniors and putting together gift baskets for seniors in the community, and volunteering for her son’s sports including Little League, Southern Alberta High School Baseball, American Legion Baseball, and also in Medicine Hat and Northern Montana. 

Pinder-Walter says on top of all of that, she is part of the Firekeeper’s Women’s Society.

“Firekeepers, in Indigenous cultures, refers to the sacred role of women at the centre of their homes and communities, who keep the fire burning and support others in their healing and growth,” said Pinder-Walter. “I have been able to work/volunteer with the Medicine Hat College Indigenous Support Office, as an Indigenous woman, to help not only the students at the College, but community women and families to embrace our diverse cultural teachings and create opportunities for our future and future generations. Although, I am learning myself, I love to continue to learn and promote my culture to share with my community.”

Pinder-Walter states that some of her greatest achievements are maintaining a happy and healthy family life, raising her two boys, having a career, and going back to college and graduating at the age of 37 as a Medical Office Assistant. She was born in Medicine Hat, Pinder-Walter says, raised in Redcliff, and when she got married to her husband, Johnny, and had her two sons: Beau and Brody, she knew she wanted to return back to her hometown. Her parents, Pinder-Walter says, are also very proud of how hard she works, her sisters say that she is amazing, and her aunts send their love and are very supportive. She, Pinder-Walter says, has a very close family and loves that they are able to help her out with each task that she asks of them when she volunteers and needs assistance.

“I acknowledge that life might take turns and twists on me. Today, tomorrow, and the day after next are a promise of hope and possibility,” said Pinder-Walter. “No matter the outcome, I am proud to be a woman, and am honoured that my coworkers appreciate my work, and my achievements motivate me to bring new ideas to the table and do it with a positive attitude. After losing our oldest son, I have learned to take one day at a time, tomorrow is not promised and live life to the fullest. Make sure that you tell your family how much they are loved, take as many pictures as you can and that you can do anything and everything that you set your mind to. My beliefs, values and perspective of life have helped me develop mental and emotional strength which in turn have a significant impact on the outcome of my work, job satisfaction and greater bonds with patients and community members. If we focus on the good, we not only benefit others but also ourselves. We expand our knowledge and skills, build goodwill, and trust and establish relationships that enhance our success and their sense of purpose.”

The Women in Business Inspire Luncheon will be held Friday, June 7, at 11:30 a.m. at Medicine Hat Lodge. Ticket sales have closed, but people can join the waitlist for tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wib-2024-inspire-luncheon-tickets-881065810557?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR114c9VOVPvuptgSyWutUq_5bURctaMASEUjK552t1vLA-jcmIXYtzI5gQ_aem_AdYxT9sf3jBhwlRdjkYZ4xHVtmdvzxqfbxMpaceg4L7cBaxC9WQZtIsOR8ERjSRBGdJ46LonJhC5SIkvPXu_EmdV.