The Saskatoon resident, who recently celebrated her 25th anniversary as the communications manager for Orano Canada Inc. (formerly AREVA Resources Canada Inc.), is well known for her many accomplishments as a professional and as a volunteer. For example, in 2018 Loewen was appointed to the board of directors of SaskEnergy. In 2019, she joined the board of the World Trade Centre (WTC) Saskatoon at Prairieland Park.

Loewen is originally from France and the French island of Martinique. Since coming to Saskatoon about three decades ago, she has been involved in many charitable and professional organizations, including the International Association of Business Communicators’ Saskatoon chapter and the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation board. She is also a founding member of the non-profit organization Women in Mining and Women in Nuclear Saskatchewan Inc. (WIM/WiN-SK), which is focused on connecting and inspiring a diverse workforce in Saskatchewan’s mining and nuclear industries. In 2017, she was awarded the Women in Nuclear Canada Award for her dedication to and support of the nuclear energy industry in Canada.

Women’s issues are also important to Loewen, who was honoured at the YWCA Saskatoon Women of Distinction Awards in 2017 when she was announced as the winner in the Leadership & Professions category. She is currently a board member with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan, a woman-centred, non-profit organization that is committed to working with women before, during and after incarceration and supports crime prevention through a social developmental approach. As well, she is a volunteer with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, previously serving as co-chair of the Jeans & Jewels Gala committee.

Loewen holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Royal Roads University (Victoria, B.C.) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in applied foreign languages from UPV Montpellier III (France), and is a certified Communications Management Professional from the Global Communication Certification Council. She is also currently pursuing the Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D designation. After a long career with Orano, a world-leading producer of uranium, Loewen is making the switch to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. She is now focused on ramping up her translation and communications business, Verolingo Communications.

Women of Saskatoon magazine caught up with Loewen to ask her some questions about her past, present and future.

Women of Saskatoon: You have had a long career in the uranium industry. How would you describe that experience?

Loewen: It has been challenging, frustrating, exciting, fun, and overall very rewarding. It has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the resource sector in our province, in Canada and internationally. It has also provided me with many opportunities to hone many skills and grow professionally and personally. It has been an amazing experience spanning nearly a generation, experiencing the ups and downs of the industry, learning to adapt and improve. It’s been a great ride.

Women of Saskatoon: You are one of the founding members of Women in Mining and Women in Nuclear Saskatchewan Inc. Why did you feel it was important to start that organization?

Loewen: Some of us were frustrated by the status quo in the industry in terms of gender diversity – the lack of “room” for women. We could see the potential for women to participate in this sector, but knew that there were many misconceptions and fears. We wanted to help women, and students, realize that the mining and nuclear industries are good career choices for them, too. And, we wanted to help men in the industry see the benefits of the increased participation of women in what had historically been their turf. Both organizations existed out East and were doing some important advocacy work, but there was no representation in Saskatchewan. So, three of us set out to do something about it. Since then, there have been many amazing women that have picked up where we left off and that have helped the organization grow tenfold. WIM/WiN-SK has emerged as a strong voice for women in these industries, providing both professional development opportunities and advocacy.

Women of Saskatoon: You are currently a board member with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan. Why did you want to get involved with the non-profit?

Loewen: When I consider volunteering with a nonprofit, I look for a win-win situation for the organization and me. A friend told me that E-Fry of Saskatchewan could use some governance, communications and public relations assistance. In turn, I wanted to learn more about women involved with the legal and justice system and maybe address my own biases and misconceptions. I firmly believe that by helping women be the best they can be and overcome tough situations, in many ways we can help the entire community be stronger and better. Many of E-Fry’s clients are mothers; if we can help them be productive members of the community and be role models for their children and others in precarious situations, then maybe we can help break the cycle of poverty and victimization. I wanted to be part of the solution and thought that maybe I could do that by contributing to strengthen the organization. I’m a big advocate of volunteering. It’s is a great way to make meaningful contributions to our community and to use your professional experience in a different setting. It’s also an opportunity to learn from and exchange with a whole different group of people.

Women of Saskatoon: In 2017, you were named a YWCA Women of Distinction Award winner in the Leadership & Professions category. How did it feel to receive that honour?

Loewen: It was unbelievable. Never in a million years, when I first set foot in Canada, coming directly to Saskatoon as a summer student over 29 years ago, did I ever think that one day I would be standing on that stage. I felt I represented the many immigrant women in our community who work hard to contribute in any way they can. I was also representing my colleagues in the mining and nuclear industries. It was a proud moment and it was also a humbling moment. Listening to all the nominees and other awards recipients’ biographies, I kept thinking about how much more I could do. I’ll never forget that day.

Women of Saskatoon: What advice do you have for other women who want to become leaders in their professions?

Loewen: I wouldn’t necessary label myself a leader, but I do aspire to be a good example for my kids, my colleagues and younger generations of professionals. I would say it starts with passion. If you love what you do, then continuously improving your skills, gaining more knowledge and seeking increasingly challenging experiences does not feel like work. Basically, you never want to stop learning. Reading, networking, participating in professional development opportunities and volunteering are excellent ways to refine your skills, enhance your knowledge and demonstrate your expertise.

Women of Saskatoon: Saskatchewan has been your adopted home for 27 years. What do you like about living here?

Loewen: The first time I came for a threemonth internship, I was struck by how vast and wide open this province is – and that feeling of openness and being close to nature has never left me. I was also impressed by how humble and welcoming people were. People here are genuinely interested in others and their culture; it is refreshing. I like the fact that my commute to work, and pretty much anywhere else in the city, is quite short – although I can see things are changing a bit. I appreciate that we can get our wholesome food directly from the producers here, that farming is still a strong driver of the economy. I take advantage of the fact that there are a thousand lakes and lots of nature to explore here. It is a beautiful province. I have been fortunate to travel in some pretty pristine places in northern Saskatchewan; when you go there and look up at the night sky and see the northern lights dancing, what’s not to love about living here?

Women of Saskatoon: In your opinion, how has Saskatoon changed over time?

Loewen: Saskatoon has become more cosmopolitan. I remember when I first moved here, I was one of three women of colour in my neighbourhood; people at the grocery store knew me by name because I was easy to spot. There were very limited amounts of non-North American foods; although I do prefer to purchase local foods, it’s nice to indulge occasionally in something more exotic. Today, there are entire sections of grocery stores dedicated to “international items.” You can also definitely tell that there are more people; the commute isn’t as fast as it used to be but, frankly, we still can’t complain. I think the most enjoyable and impactful changes for me are in the diversity and calibre of locally owned restaurants and the art and entertainment scene. We get great performances right here.

Women of Saskatoon: You are now transitioning from working at Orano Canada Inc. to being a fulltime entrepreneur with your own business, Verolingo Communications. Why is the time right for you to make this change?

Loewen: It’s something I have been thinking about for a while – but it was not an easy decision to make, so I took my time. The timing had to be right for my family. I also wanted to know that I wouldn’t be leaving Orano in a bind, because after so many years they are like family, too. I wanted to reach my 25-year milestone, but I also knew it was important for me to try something different at this stage in my career – I needed a new challenge. So, I decided that I’d be leaving in my 25th year of service. Here we are. Beyond the timing, I needed to be confident that I had something great to offer, and that there was a need for what I could bring to the community in terms of professional communications and translation services. I had many people approaching me to consult for them so, ultimately, I had to decide whether to continue with “side gigs” or go all in. I decided to take the plunge.

Women of Saskatoon: You are a busy professional who is involved in so many organizations in Saskatoon. What do you hope to be doing in five years?

Loewen: In five years I hope to have a flourishing business delivering impactful communication services to my clients to help them communicate more effectively. I wish to make my family as proud of me with this endeavour as they were when I received the YWCA award. And, of course, I want to be involved with some of the other non-profit organizations in our community. I am interested in so many things; I don’t think I’ll ever stop volunteering and learning. I want to continue mentoring young people, young professionals, so that they too see the value of community involvement and the benefits of finding something that they are happy to do everyday to make a living and to be the best they can be.

-Shannon Boklaschuk