Muskoka Outstanding BusinessWomen’s Awards 2009 11
Nominees
hours per week working to sense of relief that they have a education and become a administration of justice on
make a living, yet only 11 plan mapped out to achieve lawyer. behalf of children under the
hours on average planning their personal goals and aspira- With her determination and age of 18. She also supports
their finances. tions,” she says. work ethic instilled by her family court in Bracebridge
As an educator, mentor and Aitken is a member of the parents, Ferguson is now a for Legal Aid Ontario.
coach at Desjardins Securities Bracebridge Chamber of Com- successful lawyer and accred- Ferguson finds satisfaction
in Bracebridge, Aitken helps merce and board member for ited family law mediator and in the professional and volun-
her clients tie their life issues YWCA Muskoka, helping on owns a busy family law firm teer work that she does, par-
to financial resources and the fund development and in Gravenhurst. ticularly when it assists
strategies. finance committee. “Working hard was always women.
“My focus is to provide Aitken, a busy woman and part of who I was,” says Fer- “I like being able to help
comprehensive investment expectant mother, is also pas- guson. “My parents taught and provide support for other
advice, creative solutions, and sionate about health and being me that you work hard before women who are in a really
sensible life planning strate- physically active. With a pas- you play.” chaotic time in their life,” she
gies to help clients achieve sion for running, she meets Despite starting her own says.
DANIELLE AITKEN financial peace of mind and with a group several times a VALERIE FERGUSON firm, Pro Law Solutions, in Ferguson’s positive spirit
Investment advisor, independence,” she says. week, runs half-marathons, Lawyer, Pro Law Solutions 2005, Ferguson still makes has served her well in her
Desjardins Securities A certified financial planner, and lends a hand annually at As a young teen, Valerie time to help community professional life and even
Investment advisor Danielle Aitken looks at a client’s life the Terry Fox Run. Aitken is Ferguson had her mind firmly organizations. She currently better in her personal life. As
Aitken is motivated to make a issues, concerns, and opportu- also an accomplished pianist, set on what she wanted as her acts as a personal rights panel a breast cancer survivor, she
difference as a woman in what nities first, rather than on spe- and is a big believer in lifelong future career. After express- lawyer with the Office of the realizes how important each
has traditionally been a male- cific products. learning through taking cours- ing her interest in becoming a Children’s Lawyer, a law day is and still continues to
dominated field. “Personally, it’s rewarding es, focusing on her personal law clerk to her Grade 8 office in the Ministry of the forge ahead, helping people
What drives her is knowing for me to have clients leave my growth and development teacher, she was encouraged Attorney General which in Muskoka, one family at a
that people spend about 40 office or our meeting with a through them. to go even further with her delivers programs in the time.
Relocating meant she had in financial aspects such as
LePage franchise to offer the team coach.
to start from the ground up, investment management,
service. “This is a great company,
but she has been successful financial planning, tax
As a broker and manager of and the people here make it
in establishing a rapidly issues, will and estate plan-
business development, she has what it is,” explains Furter.
growing clientele who appre- ning, insurance needs, chari-
played a key role in creating Seen as a positive and com-
ciate her professional and table giving, and business
new and innovative marketing passionate business profes-
discrete approach to manag- planning.
tools for the sales team. Her sional by her peers, Furter is
ing their financial affairs. “It’s very important to me
success has come naturally as known for reminding them that
As an investment advisor to give my clients the best
her love for real estate moti- operating a successful compa-
with RBC Dominion Securi- service and experience as
vates her to be the best she can ny means working with pride,
ties in Bracebridge, DeFran- possible,” she says.
be. and that you should always
cisco wants to help her Her hard work and deter-
“I love what I do,” says give back to the community
clients achieve a sense of mination has successfully
Furter. “My drive comes from whether it’s through business
peace about their financial integrated her into the local
my passion for real estate, and associations or volunteer
future. community, not only in the
everything that I do for it.” organizations.
CATHERINE “It brings such a sense of business realm, but on a per-
JANE FURTER She has been recognized for To that end, she is leading
DEFRANCISCO fulfillment to be able to sonal level as well. She is
Broker and manager her sales achievements by the the Lakes of Muskoka Realty
Investment advisor, affect people’s lives in such a part of the Muskoka Heritage
of business development, Canadian Homebuilders Asso- offices across Muskoka in the
RBC Dominion Securities meaningful way,” she says. Foundation as treasurer on
Royal LePage Lakes ciation in 2000 and 2001, fin- first annual Royal LePage
After a successful career “It’s a joy to be able to help the board of directors, and
of Muskoka Realty ishing as one of the top five in National Garage Sale for Shel-
in the financial districts on people and work with them also belongs to the Rotary
Since joining Royal LeP- both the Best Salesperson in ter. Proceeds from the event
Bay Street and Wall Street, and their families on a one- Club of Bracebridge, assist-
age’s management team in Canada and American Stan- will be donated to local
Catherine (Duso) DeFrancis- on-one basis.” ing with professional speak-
2007, Jane Furter developed dard Award for Sales Excel- women’s shelters and provin-
co and her husband Cory DeFrancisco, a chartered ing days and fund-raising
and launched Lakes of Musko- lence categories. cial grassroots violence pre-
moved to Muskoka. financial analyst, is an expert activities.
ka Realty’s New Homes Divi- Furter also devotes her vention programs for youth
sion, making it the first Royal time to colleagues as a sales and children.
Leslie J. McCann
Lic # 10217
Mortgage Broker
Lic # M08000661
705-645-8645 or 1-888-707-0883
leslie@summitmortgage.ca
www.summitmortgage.ca
No Credit History • Self Employed
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