In his official Canada Multiculturalism Day statement, the Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, made note of our country’s cultural communities that “have contributed to our rich and diverse heritage.”

“Since Confederation, more than 15 million immigrants have arrived in Canada and our multicultural model of unity-in-diversity, which gives our country such strength, has taken shape.”

One example of such unity was evident at the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s Newcomer Champion Awards ceremony I attended earlier this week (I’ve been privileged to be on the Awards’ Selection Committee for the past three years).  The Awards “recognize individuals and organizations who foster a greater understanding of Ontario’s cultures and who support better economic and social integration of newcomers.”

So, in the spirit of the day, I’d like to make note of this year’s 2009 Newcomer Awards recipients (pictured above with Minister Michael Chan):

• Dr. Yamil H. Alonso
• Mario J. Calla
• Dr. Balliram Chadee
• Ian Jones
• Nora Melara-Lopez
• Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)
• Fani Papadopoulos
• Aurelia Tokaci
• Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)
• Ann Welsh

The process of reviewing the nominees, myself and my committee colleagues — Jehad Aliweiwi (Chair), Hamlin Grange, and Saeed Selvam — found it to be an extremely positive and uplifting experience.  To know that dedicated Ontarians were truly going ‘above and beyond’ for the betterment of immigrant integration was inspiring.  We congratulate all of the nominees.

I hope you will read a little more about this year’s recipients, outstanding individuals, by clicking here.

To read Ministery Kenney’s entire Canadian Multiculturalism Day statement, you can click here.