| Calgary is slowly losing its reputation as a city with a homogenous vanilla population. We may not have as many distinct faces as Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal, but 2002 welcomed 8,484 people from 115 different countries.
In recognition of the struggles, sacrifices and successes of beginning a new life in a new land, the Calgary Immigrant Aid Society (CIAS) will hold its seventh annual Immigrant Distinction Awards on March 21. This year, CIAS received 60 nominations for the awards, which celebrate immigrants and refugees who have made outstanding contributions to Canada in the categories of arts and culture, business, community service, distinguished professional and youth.
"The event is our way to be friend-making for immigrants," says Israeli immigrant Hadassah Ksienski, the society’s CEO.
"The success stories are real live stories that the public can understand better the diversity of immigration, the depth and breadth of the skills immigrants bring and… how much immigrants are appreciative of what Canada has to offer."
Educating the public about the benefits of immigration is an ongoing process, she says, and when coupled with post-9/11 security concerns, there has been a growing need to explain it. By raising the profile of immigrants at its annual event, the CIAS hopes the community, as well as employers, will continue to respond favourably.
The distinguished group of finalists hail from 13 different countries – Scotland, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Turkey, India, China, Malaysia and others. While all of them have had different experiences, one thing they share in common is that they’ve made a significant contribution to their new community. A sample of the achievements of the people nominated in 2003 includes:
· an artist whose paintings and pottery, harmonizing the philosophies and cultures of East and West, are displayed in cultural centres and with collectors worldwide;
· an accomplished dancer, director and instructor who was awarded a commemorative medal for the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 1993, and whose students have been accepted to the National Ballet School, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and professional ballet companies around the world;
· a bridge designer of more than 60 bridges in Canada, including Prince Edward Island’s 12.9-kilometre Confederation Bridge;
· an internationally acclaimed eye surgeon who devotes his time to restoring people’s vision and travels once a year with a volunteer medical team to perform cataract surgery in underdeveloped countries;
· an honours degree psychology student at the University of Calgary who volunteers at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, works part-time with autistic children and has been awarded several prestigious scholarships;
· a leading scientist in the fields of biochemistry and structural biology whose research specialty is in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, a technique using powerful magnets to study biological molecules;
· a businessman who scooped ice cream to earn the money to start his real estate development and management companies, contributes to the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta (he shaved his head for the 2000 fund-raiser event) and is actively involved with the Calgary Chinese Community Service Association
In addition, the Diversity Award recognizes an organization, group or company for its diversity initiatives in the workplace – the 2003 finalists include SAIT, the Village Square Leisure Centre and the Calgary Public Library.
Saturday’s event marks the 26th anniversary of CIAS, which is the city’s first settlement agency. In partnership with the government and other agencies, CIAS assists immigrants in becoming self-reliant through literacy programs, legal seminars, health education and career counseling. Both Canadian-born and immigrant, the staff members and 381 volunteers speak 72 different languages.
The Immigrant Distinction Awards is a colourful, festive event where guests are encouraged to wear their ethnic dress. This year’s entertainment showcases music from Central America, Africa and China, and a silent auction features artifacts from around the globe. The gala takes place Friday, March 21 at the Westin Hotel. For tickets, call Jaime Enachescu at the Calgary Immigrant Aid Society at 265-1120 ext. 240; or visit www.calgaryimmigrantaid.ca/. Funds raised at the gala event will go to the society’s Mosaic Centre to assist newcomer families. |
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