2023 Award recipients

Career and Academics Contribution Award

Elisabeth Richardson

An assistant professor of cellular and molecular biology at Mount Royal University, Elizabeth’s innovative reclamation research in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region has been provincially and federally recognised.

Gideon Christian

A lawyer and law professor at the University of Calgary, Gideon is the creator of eLitigation, an innovative course to help law students conduct litigation virtually. The idea was driven by courthouse closures during the pandemic and was the first of its kind in any law school in Canada.

Josephine Naicker

Josephine’s professional experience spans the public and private sectors, working in academia, government, multinational corporations and the United Nations. She is also one of only 7 Canadian industry experts selected to be part of an international team tasked with developing the industry's first Global Cloud Audit Credential.

Kene Ilochonwu

Kene exemplifies leadership, achievement and positive change in the legal profession. He was elected first Black Bencher in the Alberta’s Law Society’s 113-year history, and the youngest Alberta called lawyer elected to the Bencher Table. He is also a passionate volunteer and advocate for diversity.

Liza Choi

Liza, an associate professor at Mount Royal University, has made a significant mark as an educator and advocate for students of English as an additional language and BIPOC. She also created and championed a successful English as additional language program, supporting nursing students through workshops, networking and leadership development.

Trushar Patel

Trushar is an associate professor and biomedical researcher at the University of Lethbridge. His work is helping to develop targeted therapies for a range of viral infections, including Hepatitis B and COVID-19.

Zahra Abbasi

Zahra is assistant professor of Electrical and Software Engineering at the University of Calgary. Her research lab has developed a wide range of novel sensing technologies, including oil and gas harsh environment sensing, a non-invasive glucose monitoring device, and an in-car system to identify high risk driving behaviours.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

Guillermo Aceytuno

Through his company OnSite Auto, entrepreneur Guillermo has changed the way customers engage with automotive maintenance. His innovative approach to solving customer problems, and his mentoring of apprentice mechanics, has proven him to be a leader in accessibility and inclusivity in Lethbridge’s business community.

Harriet Tinka

Harriet's 'EmpoweredMe School Program' helps empower Alberta’s youth. Run in schools across Alberta, her program bridges the gap between school and communities and helps youth build essential life and personal development skills, build self-esteem and better equips them to navigate life’s challenges.

Popoola Akande

Popoola is an entrepreneur and consultant in banking and finance. An advocate for entrepreneurial development and newcomer integration, he was recently nominated for Canada’s Volunteer Awards in the Business Leader category.

Inclusive Workplaces Award

Benazir Ahmed

Benazir has made significant contributions in the field of childcare with an emphasis on Islamic values and diversity. She is committed to supporting new immigrants and has achieved great success for newcomers entering the workforce by providing mentorship, guidance and training.

Charles Osuji

Charles Osuji is a lawyer and CEO of Calgary’s Osuji & Smith law firm, one of Canada’s largest Black-owned law firms. He is also founder and director of Foot-in-the-Door initiative, which supports and mentors young law students, including internationally trained and Black students.

Robert Suraki Watum

Robert is project coordinator at the Alliance Jeunesse-Famille de l’Alberta Society. He coordinates several integration programs such as 'Fiesta Musica', which brings together musicians from many communities including Indigenous Peoples, and people of African and Latino descent, to share and co-create new music together.

Newcomer Champion Award

Avininder Aulakh

A psychiatrist and addiction specialist, Dr. Aulakh works to improve addictions and mental health supports in Alberta’s South Asian community. He also facilitated a project to provide accessible addiction and mental health support in a culturally respectful way to reduce the stigma of addictions.

Larisa Hayduk

A former English language teacher, Larisa volunteers with language training organizations to help newcomers develop English skills. In her “day job” at MacEwan University’s Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre, she has helped thousands of Ukraine evacuees arriving in Alberta.

Milton Ortega

Milton is a leader in the settlement and integration sector and an advocate for vulnerable populations. He has helped drive policies to improve newcomers lives, and currently serves as chief operating officer at Accessible Housing, where he provides programs and services for people with limited mobility.

Stephen Tsang

During Stephen’s tenure with Edmonton’s Chinese Bilingual Program, student enrollment soared and an additional site was opened. He actively shares Chinese culture and language with the broader community, and has inspired many students to volunteer, lead and perform for diverse multicultural and inter-generational communities.

Sunil Phool

Sunil is devoted to making positive changes in his community. For him, diversity, equity and inclusion, culture, family and friendship underpin his community-building passion. He is an active member in his community, arranging podcasts, panel discussions and weekly food hamper drives through a non-profit he founded.

Senior Spirit Award

Peggy Yu

Peggy puts her passion for arts and culture into action through her role as Edmonton Beijing Opera Association president. With over 40 years as a Doctor of traditional Chinese Medicine specializing in acupuncture, she has also shared her passion for health and healing with the community.

Rajiv Ranjan

Founder of the Alberta Hindi Association and Hindi School, Rajiv has taught the Hindi language for over 25 years. A tireless volunteer for over 40 years, he has held leadership positions in many Edmonton organizations. Rajiv has been a mentor, counsellor and advisor for troubled youth groups and organized youth career fairs and workshops.

Thomas Mathew

Thomas supports newcomers settling in Alberta by helping them in find accommodation, furniture, register for school and find work. Thomas’ passion for house building led him to take on the challenge of training others how to renovate homes, including renovating an old house from the ground up.

Xiaoying (Mary) Xu

Mary’s dedication and leadership in preserving and promoting traditional Chinese apparel, fostering cross-cultural understanding and nurturing young talent is exemplary. Also being recognized is her effort to promote women's roles in multicultural exchange.

Small Community Enhancement Award

Clement Esene

Clement created a program to help underrepresented and newcomer entrepreneurs overcome socio-economic barriers. In 2020, he created the BIPOC Foundation to create entrepreneurship opportunities for diverse communities, foster economic empowerment, and financial inclusion and representation.

Dharmesh Goradia

Dharmesh established the Hindu Cultural Society of Central Alberta to foster a space where the East Indian community could celebrate their culture, build connections and socialize. His approach of combining cultural celebrations with skills development workshops, equips individuals with the tools needed for success in their new environment.

Ted (Seon Koo) Lee

An inspiring presence in his community of Bashaw, Ted advocates for supports and donates to local charities, the food bank, seniors' groups, 4-H, town beautification projects and special events. In so doing, he makes Bashaw a welcoming and inclusive place to live and work.

Student Inspiration Award

Muhammad Ibrahim Qasim

Muhammad is an active volunteer working for the betterment of disenfranchished people, as well as a prominent leader in his high school. By embodying the principles of giving back, equity and fairness, he leads by example and is an inspiration to his peers.

Mustafa Abdiaziz Osman

Mustafa’s strong work ethic and determination to succeed is an inspiration to all who know him. An exemplary young leader, he volunteers with Edmonton Police Service and in his community. When he finishes school, he wants to join the Canadian Armed Forces, before following his dream of becoming a police officer.

Women’s Newcomer Impact Award

Chand Gul

As a clinical psychologist and community developer, Chand has made significant contributions to the community by helping immigrant women integrate into Alberta life. Her participation in grassroots organizations has had a positive impact by advocating for and addressing the needs of marginalized communities.

Marija Pavkovic Tovissi

Marija is the definition of a community builder as CEO and co-founder of MaKami College. The college helps newcomers to achieve their dreams for a better life and new career. The small college has grown to employ hundreds of people and help thousands of students annually.

Young In Kim

Young is a recognized promoter of multicultural activity and vibrancy in her community. She started the 100% volunteer-driven Korean Social Services Centre that has developed and delivered many programs to support community members – from new arrivals to seniors – and has provided cultural and multiculturalism events to promote anti-racism to rave reviews.