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www.insidehalton.com |OAKVILLE BEAVER |Thursday, October 5, 2017 |18 Two Oakvillians up for Max Awards Woman of the Year by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver Two Oakville women are being recognized for their efforts to make the community a better place. Sarah Attia and Dr. Aliya Khan are nominated for Woman of the Year at the Muslim Awards for Excellence (M AX), which celebrates the professional, educational and charitable achievements of Canadian Muslims. The Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman, who has demonstrated significant achievement, leadership and commitment to serving her community. Founded by Aazar Zafar, and run by volunteers, MAX aims to recognize Muslims in Canada through their achievements. This year' s MAX gala will be held in Toronto Saturday, Oct.14. Sarah Attia Canada in August 2016. "I reflect back and can't even imagine that we went through that. We were a regular family who were thrown into a political mess. W ith the support of so many people, I had to stand up with my four young kids and really fight through so many barriers," said Attia. To be nominated for W oman of the Year is a "huge honour" for Attia, she said, as there are many like her who have done "tremendous things for our community." If she does win, the accolade will be a symbol for women who "stand up against all Dr. Aliya Khan odds" for their families and to make life safe for them, the Oakville woman added. "I took it as an opportunity to really be the voice for other women who are going through similar struggles and to show them that a story can have a happy ending," said Attia. "A family was reunited and came back to give back to the community that supported them." Al-Qazzaz' s imprisonment was an ordeal for Attia and her family, including their young children, who were seven, five, three and one at the time. Attia said she can't describe the moment when she first saw her husband free again. "I was incredibly distressed over him and the injustice he was suffering. W hen he was finally released, when we were finally reunited and able to come back to Canada, we were just extremely ecstatic to be back," said Attia. In October 2016, Attia and Al-Qazzaz launched the Al-Qazzaz Foundation for Education and Development (Q ED ), which fosters equity of access and outcome through innovative education and development projects, rooted in the values of human rights, democracy and social justice. "My husband and I both wanted to give back. We felt like the three years was lost time for us. We had to catch up and give back to everyone who stood up for us and others who are suffering. That' s what led to the birth of the QED Foundation," said Attia. Sarah Attia Attia is an educator, community activist and human rights defender. In July 2013, Attia' s husband, Khaled Al-Qazzaz, was illegally detained in Egypt, suffering human rights violations. She spearheaded an international grassroots campaign, calling for her husband' s freedom. Al-Qazzaz was released a year-and-a-half after confinement and then returned to Dr. Aliya Khan Khan is an internationally-recognized medical professor at McMaster University and has published more than 150 scientific papers on osteoporosis and parathyroid disease and given more than 4 0 0 international lectures. She has received numerous awards for research, teaching and patient care. see Women on p.19 S t. M ild r e d 's - L ig h t b o u r n S c h o o l Halton's premier school for Girls, Preschool - Grade 12 coi Discover how your daughter will benefit from an SMLS education for her whole life. Visit us at our October Open Houses! Thursday, Oct. 12, 9am - 11am Tuesday, Oct. 17,1pm - 3pm Saturday, Oct. 21,10am - 2pm Tuesday, Oct 24, 9am - 11am Go to www.smls.on.ca for more information.