Three decades after she helped establish a landmark award for women in business, Windsor advocate Loretta Stoyka has once again been honoured with the very prize she brought to the city. The Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce has named Stoyka the recipient of its 2026 Athena Leadership Award, recognizing her decades of mentorship and community service.
Overcoming Resistance to Recognize Women Leaders
Stoyka is the architect behind Windsor becoming the first city in Canada to adopt the Athena Award, which spotlights women for professional achievement, service, and mentorship. She recalled facing initial skepticism when she proposed the idea in the mid-1990s. "The 'old boys' at the time said there's no reason to have a special award for women," Stoyka told The Windsor Star.
Undeterred, she contacted Athena International, the organization that administers the award globally, and persuaded the local chamber to embrace the concept. "I felt the need for women that were doing so well to be more respected," she said, highlighting the different professional landscape for women at the time. "Today, women are equal and they weren't in those days, even though they talked about equality."
A Legal Pioneer and Community Builder
Stoyka's own career path exemplifies the trailblazing spirit the award celebrates. After starting as a teacher, she entered law school at age 37, when only one woman lawyer practiced in Windsor. She faced direct discouragement, recounting how an older lawyer once told her, "You don't know what you're doing. You're going to fail." She proved him wrong, building a successful corporate law practice with 50 companies in her first year.
Her commitment extends beyond recognition. To foster the next generation, she established the Athena Scholarships, funded by local donors and named in memory of her parents, Loris and Michelle Macor. The scholarships support young women with high potential to contribute to the Windsor-Essex community.
Chamber Celebrates 150 Years with Gala Honours
The Athena Award announcement comes as the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce prepares for its Business Excellence Awards gala on May 14, which also marks the chamber's 150th anniversary. In a news release, the chamber praised Stoyka as a "trailblazer whose vision and advocacy have empowered emerging leaders."
Stoyka now holds the distinction of being the first woman to win the local Athena Award twice, having previously received the honour in 2015.
The chamber will also honour the Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation at the spring gala for its "transformative philanthropy and dedication to strengthening Windsor-Essex." The awards ceremony promises to be a significant event, gathering a who's-who of the local business community to celebrate excellence and a major institutional milestone.
