Mom of the Year is back to
celebrate Canadian Moms.

Chantal Kreviazuk

Professional Singer, Songwriter and Pianist

Multiple Juno Award winner Chantal Kreviazuk never considered a career in music until she began writing what would become her Platinum-selling debut album during recovery from a serious motorcycle accident in 1994. Under These Rocks and Stones was released to widespread acclaim in 1997, and Chantal has since become one of Canada’s most beloved Artists. With a string of distinguished albums and singles, Chantal’s drive to expand her artistry has led her to become a highly sought-after songwriter, having penned hits for Pink, Avril Lavigne, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, and Drake, among many others. While her professional achievements are significant, Chantal receives the greatest amount of joy at home where she raises her three sons – Rowan, Lucca, and Sal – with her husband, Raine Maida, frontman for Our Lady Peace. For Chantal, motherhood has breathed an authenticity into her life that inspires her to achieve new levels of self-discovery. Having demonstrated an outstanding commitment to human rights causes – being avid supporters of War Child Canada among them – Chantal and Raine were the recent recipients of the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award for their longstanding dedication to the world community.

Sandra E. Martin

Editor-in-Chief, Walmart Live Better

Writer and editor Sandra E. Martin specializes in parenting and personal finance — two very hot topics that dovetail perfectly with what matters to modern Canadian moms, and that inform her editorial direction of Walmart Live Better in print, online and on tablet. Sandra is well known to Canadian moms from her previous post as Executive Editor of Today’s Parent magazine, as well as through her social media networks (including more than 4,000 followers on Twitter). Before joining Today’s Parent in 2005, Sandra worked double duty as personal finance correspondent for Global TV and as a reporter with the Financial Post. She also launched the National Post’s FP Weekend money section. Prior to that, she spent nearly five years at MoneySense magazine, where she developed a reputation with TV and radio producers as an approachable, understandable on-air source. In print, her byline has appeared in Chatelaine, More, Cottage Life, Reader’s Digest, MoneySense and, of course, Today’s Parent magazine, as well as the National Post and The Globe and Mail newspapers. Sandra holds a degree in journalism from Ryerson University and has also completed the Canadian Securities Course. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two young daughters.

Sophie Prégent

Comedian and Radio Host

Sophie Prégent is a familiar face on Québec television. After charming children as Cybelle in La Princesse astronaute, she was discovered by the general public in her role as Marielle from 1996 to 2001 in Le Retour, a popular television series. After graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1990, Sophie won roles in several television productions, notably in Jamais deux sans toi, Scoop, Tribu.com, Catherine and Les tumultueuses aventures de Jack Carter. More recently, she appeared in Lance et Compte (La revanche, le grand duel, la déchirure), Rumeurs (seasons 1 to 6), Nos Étés (seasons 1 to 6), Miss Météo, Grosse vie, Le Gentleman II and Rock et Rolland. Her performances earned her several Gala Artis nominations, from 2006 to 2008, and she won the “best actress in a television series” award for her role in Nos étés in 2009. Next fall, we’ll see her in Claude Desrosier’s new series, Un sur Deux. Sophie has extensive stage experience. At the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, she worked with seasoned directors such as Alice Ronfard in Tristan et Yseult and in Cyrano de Bergerac, playing the bewitching Roxanne. She had roles in Molière’s Misanthrope, also at the TNM, in Antigone, directed by Louise Laprade, and in La seconde surprise de l’amour, presented at L’Espace Go. In a change of pace, she participated in Normand Brathwaite’s Gala Juste Pour Rire in 2009, directed by Josée Fortier. Sophie’s cinematic experience includes a notable appearance in Un crabe dans la tête by director André Turpin and a brilliant incarnation of the quick-tempered boss in Miss Météo, a film directed for television by François Bouvier. She can also be seen in Patrick Huard’s first film, Les 3 p’tits cochons, an enormous box-office success. Recently, she played the pilot’s wife in Piché : entre ciel et terre, directed by Sylvain Archambault, and she’ll soon be seen in Pee Wee, Éric Tessier’s next film. Sophie has also worked in radio over the last few years. From 2009 to 2011, she co-hosted Tout un retour, a daily program broadcast on CKOI.

Katie Schulz

Mom, Physiotherapist, and Fundraiser

Katie graduated with her MSc in Physiotherapy in 2006 and quickly specialized in burns and chest therapy. Three years later she gave birth to Sophia, who was hospitalized for one month with a bowel obstruction and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Katie focuses her efforts and physiotherapy skills on her daughter, who requires 2 hours of life-sustaining chest therapy daily, and dozens of pills and supplements to digest her food. She also has a 2-year old son, Simon, who does not have cystic fibrosis. Katie is the President of the K-W & District Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and has written a children's book about cystic fibrosis for her daughter, available online and in libraries across Ontario. Katie believes in living each day to the fullest. In 2012, Katie became the first Canadian mother to be named Walmart Canada Mom of the Year.

Emma Fox

Chief Marketing Officer, Walmart Canada

Emma is the Chief Marketing Officer at Walmart Canada, having joined July 2011 from the UK business, Asda. At Asda she headed up the private label business, which accounts for approximately 45% of their sales and had responsibility for driving the company’s strategic quality initiatives. In 1999, Emma began her Walmart career in Asda were she held a wide number of key roles in the business including trading (merchandising); logistics; customer planning; modular planning, marketing and store design.  Emma has over 20 years of leadership experience in international retail and the beverage industry.  Emma began her career with COORS PLC in buying and held successive roles as International Brand Manager and Marketing Director. She holds a Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture and Food Marketing Studies from the University of Newcastle, UK and has been very involved in the improvement of our business and the community through her appointments as Trustee on the Board of the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), Trustee on the board for the Asda Foundation. In May 2009, Emma became an inaugural member of the President’s Global Council of Women Leaders and in Feb 2011, she was appointed as chair by Mike Duke. Emma also sits on the Board of Advisors for Catalyst and on the board of WEConnect International. Emma is married and has three young children.