Celebrating progress & recognizing excellence in cultivating equity

Each year we hold a Gala event to celebrate our work and recognize the acheivements of others. Taking place in early March, the Gala serves to kick-off the multitude of March 21 events taking place throughout the month of March.

The 2012 Gala will hold many new surprises and will promise to be a thrilling and enjoyable night for all those who come!  We will be posting details as soon as they become available.

ANNOUNCING: The 2012 "Key to Culture" Gala will be taking place March 17, 2012 at Edmonton's Petroleum Club. We will be launching a March for Understanding Campaign Micro-site very soon with detailed event information.

Anti-Racism Awards

For the past several years, we have honoured individuals and groups who have made significant contributions toward racial and cultural equity in Edmonton with our Anti-Racism Awards.  The awards are presented at our annual Gala event in four different categories:  Individual, Youth, Organization & or Business.   We take nominations from our membership, and have a committee that reviews nominations and decides who the award winners will be for the year.

DOWNLOAD THE 2012 AWARD NOMINATION FORM HERE

Congratulations to our award winners!

2011

Individual   Candy Khan 

Candy has been involved in the equity and anti-racism work for over 15 years.  As a Senior Consultant with the City of Edmonton, she was instrumental in making Respect in the Workplace training mandatory for all City employees.  She has always advocated for equity in the organizations she worked for.  She has published papers on equity and has presented them at several conferences.

Currently, Candy is pursuing a Ph.D. in the transfer of diversity knowledge.  She also started a Toastmaster’s Club for newcomers so they can improve their public speaking skills to advance their career in Canada. In 2010, she was nominated for the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Award.

Youth   Rabia Sheik and Maigan van der Giessen

There were 2 recipients because they are both actively involved in the Youth Working Group at the John Humphrey Centre, and together created a short documentary last year called “In Pieces” that they showed at International Week at the University of Alberta.

Rabia is involved with the Racism Free Edmonton Management Committee, part of the women's interfaith initiative, the Legal Empowerment Action Fund, is a youth commissioner, and on the UNESCO Youth Working Group. She has been involved in presenting on various forums such as the Other film series, which seeks to educate future teachers about racism and diversity.

Maigan is a mother, musician and filmmaker who has been involved in many community initiatives over the past decade. She has participated in Human Rights and anti-racism work that tackle injustice on both local and global levels.  Through music and spoken word projects, she addresses social justice themes, engaging youth through hip hop workshops that allow them to express their own stories and perspectives. Her other accomplishments include 5 albums and she is also a speaker and facilitator.

Organization   Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education & Action

Established in 1995, the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education & Action was founded by people of good will from many faiths who realized that only by working together could we create a community dedicated to friendship, harmony and understanding. Members of their organization are drawn from fourteen different faith traditions.  They are united in the celebration of the diversity found in our city, province and country. They continue to work to build bridges of understanding and respect between our diverse faith communities.

Institution   Edmonton Police Services

In partnership with citizens, the Edmonton Police Services build safe communities through leadership and policing excellence. Their vision is a safe, vibrant city, achieved in partnership through innovative, responsive community policing.

Business   Ledcor

Ledcor has incorporated employee/management/employee oriented success through intensive "respect in the workplace" customized training programs. As such, they train all managers and employees on what a respectful workplace is and what behaviour is expected. They also provide support to employees who have questions or concerns regarding this area and ensure that prompt attention is given to any concerns raised.

On October 15, 2010 they were proud to be acknowledged as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

2010

Dr. Smith’s research interests include critical approaches to race, gender and social justice. As the University of Alberta's appointed representative to the City of Edmonton's working group for the  Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racial Discrimination, her scholarship was integral to the development of the Racism Free Edmonton Action Plan approved by City Council. A former Board member of the Centre for Race and Culture, co-founder of the Anti-Racism and Decolonization Network, a Steering Committee member of the Researchers and Academics of Colour For Equality/Equity (R.A.C.E.) and  the vice-president for Equity Issues with the Canadian  Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and the 1998 recipient of the  Black Achievement Award Society of Alberta's Achievement Award.

Youth   Youth Restorative Action Project

The Youth Restorative Action Project  is a Youth Justice Committee sanctioned under section 18 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. It is the first committee of its kind mandated to work, in Youth Court, with Young People who have caused harm as a result of racism, intolerance, and significant social issues. In addition, it is the world’s only Youth Justice Committee made up entirely of youth members all of whom come from diverse ethnic, social and economic backgrounds, and share a common wish to make a positive impact for their community.

Organization   Zenev

Evelyn Hamdon and Zenobia Jamal have over twenty-five years of combined experience in consulting, teaching and facilitation, curriculum development, program planning, development and evaluation, backed by strong academic credentials in adult education and educational policy. We focus on applying our expertise and experience to help organizations to create inclusive and equitable work and learning environments.

Institution   Edmonton Catholic Schools

Edmonton Catholic Schools has grown as a school district from one school with 23 students in Edmonton to 84 schools with 33,441 students.  They are the fourth largest school district in the province and the second largest Catholic School district west of Metropolitan Toronto.

2009

Youth   Kristina de Guzman

Organization   Anti-Racism Initiative - Harmony Brunch, Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation

Institution   Edmonton Public Schools

2008

Youth   Samantha Joseph

Institution   Grant MacEwan College United Nations Committee