Meritorious Service Medal

• Awarded on: May 25, 1998
• Invested on: September 10, 1999

Sharon Wood, M.S.M., Canmore, Alta.
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)

An unassuming individual, Sharon Wood has excelled in the male-dominated world of mountain climbing. She is the first North American woman to reach the 8,848-meter summit of Mount Everest and the first woman to become a Canadian Climbing Guide. Her achievements have gained her admiration in the elite International Association of Mountain Guides. Ms. Wood continues to share her experience through public speaking, encouraging Canadians to strive for their own personal "Mount Everest".