Perrin receives second annual Evelyn Hannon Award for Solo Travel

by JourneyWoman Staff

For International Women’s Day 2025, JourneyWoman CEO Carolyn Ray has announced that Canadian solo traveller Joyce Perrin, 88, as the 2025 JourneyWoman Evelyn Hannon Award recipient.  Perrin has travelled solo to 156 countries and 31 territories and says it’s never too late to get started in solo travel.  Announced in 2024 for JourneyWoman’s 30th anniversary, the Evelyn Hannon Award is an annual award that honours a woman in the JourneyWoman community who personifies the values of JourneyWoman founder Evelyn Hannon, helping to extend her legacy. The first Award was given to Scottish-born Canadian Joy Fox, 89, in March 2024.

“I had the opportunity to meet Joyce several years ago and interview her about her memoir, “Ants In My Pants”, which shares her adventures across seven continents,” says Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman CEO. “Not only was I inspired by her energy and positivity, but also her invitation to invite women to fulfill their dreams at any age. She is proof that it’s never too late to follow your passion.”

Perrin says: “It is an absolute honour to receive an award named for a remarkable woman who changed the landscape of travel for women worldwide—Evelyn Hannon, the pioneering founder of JourneyWoman. Evelyn was more than a traveler; she was a trailblazer. At a time when solo female travel was met with skepticism, she forged a path that empowered countless women to explore the world on their terms. She built JourneyWoman as a website and a movement that encouraged independence, curiosity, and, most importantly, connection.”

She continues: “Today, JourneyWoman continues to thrive under the leadership of Carolyn Ray, who has expanded Evelyn’s vision into a global sisterhood of travellers. Carolyn has not only preserved the spirit of JourneyWoman, but she has strengthened it—offering new opportunities, mentorship, and inspiration for women of all ages to embrace adventure. Her dedication has been recognized with numerous honors, a testament to her commitment to ensuring that Evelyn’s legacy lives on.”

Words of wisdom for other women who think they’re too old to travel/travel solo?

How do you get started in solo travel?

Take time to write out a long-range plan to visit specific countries.Then indicate the locations to see over time, starting with the most physically demanding and difficult ones. Travelling solo means you make your decisions and plans and are responsible for your choices, right or wrong. You grow and develop over time. Start with groups to get your feet wet; then, you can travel alone when you feel comfortable.

What is your most memorable experience? 

There are many, but one taught me that different cultures have many unique responsibilities for women. I lived with a Shona Family in Zimbabwe, where I undertook the manual labour and duties of the Shona women in the family. I washed the clothes in the river and cooked in a smoky hut on a wood fire circled by stones. I lived a Shona woman’s life, and it was hard manual labour. I experienced how these women are under a burden in this society.

Do you have any regrets?

I am proud to say I have no regrets about how I spent my life. I have touched many lives one person at a time, whether it be the clients at the Panama Hospice and Respite Foundation I co-founded, the many healthcare professionals  I taught for the World Health Organization and other programs, the students I spoke to at my grandchildren’s school and, of course, my family. Touching lives and making connections around the world is my legacy.

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