It’s the month of May. It’s the time of the year where looking good is inferior to actually being good. It’s that special time that we give a pad on the shoulder to Albertans who have worked hard to move forward diversity and inclusion in their communities, municipalities, organizations, and at an individual level.
After its launched in the fantastic city of Edmonton in 2016, the great city of Calgary in 2017, and the lovely city of Red Deer in 2018, we are back this year in Edmonton, sponsored by NorQuest College and the City of Edmonton, we will host hundreds of Diversity and Inclusion Champions from across Alberta at the welcoming atrium of NorQuest College on Friday, May 17, at 5 PM, at 10215 108 St. Edmonton.
In addition to handing out 12 beautifully designed awards to CEOs, EDs, politicians, professionals, community builders, organizations, and many more Diversity and Inclusion Champions from 10 cities across Alberta, there will be a keynote presentation from the exciting Dr. Wanda Costen, the Dean of the School of Business, MacEwan University, on the recognition of foreign credentials, hiring, respecting foreign trained professionals.
New this year, there will be a panel discussion on recognition of foreign credentials and the respect and hiring of foreign-trained professionals into the Albertan industry, municipalities, communities, and universities. Panel participants have been drawn from different industries to educate participants and share a summary document with those who cannot attend.
The panelist will include; the exciting Dr. Wanda Costen; the dynamic Doug Piquette, Executive Director of EREIC; the new fantastic Hyder Hassan, Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant Services Calgary; and the nice Dr. Sally Zhao, Chief Executive Officer of Calgary Immigrant Educational Society; the corporate change maker Mia Talavera, Equity Specialist-Senior Consultant, Global Talent Engagement at Stantec; and the hardworking Mazhar Butt, a CPA, CGA, PMP MBA, who arrived many years ago from Pakistan and spent his first couple of years doing contract work with Robert Half before he joined SPAR Aerospace. They started to go down the tubes and closed. He then went to Flint and the economy hit and he went back over-seas to work for 5 years and when he came back it was like his whole Canadian work history went out of the door and he went back to being a new immigrant. He now has his own business. He has one of the most interesting stories.
The panel will be facilitated by the supportive Tonya Holowitski a Career Advisor working with foreign trained Accountants at the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Alberta. Diversity Awards 2019 will be hosted by the wonderful Debra Kasowski, speaker, certified executive coach, and author.
You are honoured. Join us at the welcoming atrium of NorQuest College in Edmonton, at 5 PM on May 17, 2019. The address is 10215 108 St. Edmonton. Oops! Did I say it’s FREE ENTRY? Well, yes it is!
Please click here to see all Diversity Award 2019 Nominees.
Diversity Awards 2019 Agenda
5:00 Welcome of Diversity and Inclusion Champions from Across Alberta by NorQuest College after introduction by Tonya and Debra.
5:10 Keynote by Dr. Wanda Costen on recognition, hiring, and respect of foreign trained professionals
5:20 Presentation of panelists by Tonya
5:25 Brief presentation by panelists; Doug Piquette, Executive Director of EREIC; Hyder Hassan, Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant Services Calgary; Dr. Sally Zhao, Chief Executive Officer of Calgary Immigrant Educational Society.
5:50 Q & A
6:10 A word from Diversity Magazine and dignitaries present
6:15 Presentation of Organizational Diversity Awards
6:20 Presentation of Friends of Diversity Awards
6:55 Presentation of Peace and Justice Awards
7:00 Networking and refreshment
