Click here for Southern Alberta Nomination

Alberta here are your AC Awards 2022 champions from northern Alberta.

Friends of Diversity: Jacky Foord (Edmonton)
Unsung Hero: Hawa Dumbuya (Edmonton), Carline Dugas (Edmonton)
Forward Moving Organization: La Frap (Edmonton), JANA (Edmonton)
Junior Achievement: Mariah Braun (Grande Prairie)
Artist of the Year: Yvan Touko (Edmonton)

6. BCW Women in Business: Andrea Bailey Brown (Edmonton)

7. Entrepreneur of the Year: Ahmed Ainab (Edmonton)

8. Community Leader of the Year: Funky Banjoko (Fort McMurray), Lyle Notice (Lacombe), Helen Agbonison (St. Albert)

9. Professional of the YearAlexandria Onyedika (Edmonton)

….and finally finally…

…..here’s a wholesale list of some of our most honoured AC/FOD Awards 2022 nominees across Nothern Alberta.

Coming up this Saturday, November 12, 5 PM to 8 PM, at the Four Points by Sheraton Gateway in Edmonton.

To join us network, try delicious dishes by local restaurants and catering companies, as well as, celebrate our most honoured nominees, please go to diversity membership

Meet your heroes

Entrepreneurs of the Year

Tarissa Woolaston (Edmonton)

LAYERED by Rissa (LBR) is a BIPOC-owned, entirely women-staffed, home-based business that operates in Edmonton, Alberta. Tarissa (aka Rissa), is the founder and Creative Director of LAYERED by Rissa. She is a qualified educationalist primarily pursuing her God-given passion for entrepreneurship! After five years of casually baking for family and friends, she officially launched LAYERED By Rissa in June 2020. Launching LAYERED By Rissa has allowed her to finally realize a long-awaited dream of hers – to bake beautiful bespoke cakes for weddings and special occasions. LBR cakes and desserts are made fresh, locally sourced, and with love. LAYERED, used only the best quality ingredients for our pastries. They believe that cakes and desserts should be as delicious as they are beautiful! They believe in working with our clients to create customized pieces to fit the individual needs of their special celebrations. They believe in using high-quality ingredients and fresh products to create and enhance the best flavours. Their values stand on integrity, excellence, and passion! LBR’s desire is that LAYERED will not only provide their customers with a beautiful, delicious luxury cake but that their story will lead people to fulfill their own God-given passion!

LAYERED by Rissa has changed the trajectory of how people celebrate their moments. In a time when most in-person entertainment was closed during COVID-19, people had no choice but to make the most of their celebrations at home. Luxury custom cakes became an important part of celebrations during the pandemic. Their customers recognize the value and quality that custom cakes have! Being a small business and donating financially to the local community can be challenging. LAYERED has been privileged to find unique ways to make an impact on our local community. Although they are a luxury business, their desire is for everyone to have their very own LAYERED experience by participating in local events and supporting local non-profits. In doing so they allot a yearly budget to donations. LAYERED by Rissa has donated over $600 in gift vouchers to the following organizations: Blacks Students Association at the University of Alberta, Not Just You, Africa Centre, YEG The Come Up, Cornerstone Christian Church of God, Women Empowering Women x Nisa Homes, Ribbon Rouge Foundation, For Our Sisters: Fundraiser & Initiative for Marsha P. Johnson Institute, Multiple Sclerosis Society of U of A, Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre, Women’s Intermission Retreat and Eritrean & Ethiopian Students Union. Furthermore, they have provided volunteering opportunities to four students. LBR has also had the privilege of being featured in two wedding magazines. Confetti Magazine in July 2021 and Rocky Mountain Magazine in November 2021. Their desire is to eventually expand into the wedding industry. This takes years of experience and numerous industry connections. In April of 2022, LBR moved closer to this goal when they were invited to be a vendor for the spring Blush Bridal Show, hosted at the Edmonton JW Marriott. This event allowed them to expand to their desired clientele, build connections with over 20+ vendors and establish a connection with the host JW Marriott. They made over 300 samples, created a luxury display featuring two modern cake displays, and met so many wonderful people!

You can check out LAYERED by Rissa at www.layeredbyrissa.com and on Instagram @layeredbyrissa

Shannae Delancy & Nathoya Smith (Grande Prairie)

As moms, Care in a Pinch Inc owners Nathoya Smith & Shannae Delancy, understand that life happens outside of the typical nine-to-five and sometimes you need childcare for purposes beyond going to work.

Based on this, the two developed Care in a Pinch Inc. Care in a Pinch Inc is revolutionizing childcare by setting up on-site childcare spaces at events such as workshops, conferences, job fairs, weddings, get-togethers and community events.

Ahmed Ainab (Edmonton)

Ahmed Ainab immigrated to Canada from Somalia in 1994 with his wife Laila. As a new immigrant, Mr. Ainab works in different jobs, just to ensure that his five Children attain the most gracious life they can. After various jobs, Mr. Ainab continued to encounter new immigrants who are struggling with language and trying to find jobs.

In 2006, he decided to establish his own company and help others get employed. He started his company called Ainab Cleaning Services. Mr. Aninab is the founder and owner of the company. Since then, he employed over 100 employees, predominantly from new immigrants with premigrationa and ma;gages disadvantages. Most of the demographics that he employed and continues to support our black women from continental Africa. Mr, Ainab lives in northeast Edmonton with his wife and his five children.

Due to his courage, and commitment to support black immigrant women in job placement and supporting them with employment during their first years in the country, I find Mr. Ainab is well deserving to be the Entrepreneur of the year.

Mariah Braun (Grande Prairie)

Mariah has owned and operated M3M Marketing for 5 years and a month ago, she took the leap into being a fully self-employed. Mariah loves helping technology-challenged entrepreneurs, those wanting to take their side hustle full-time, startups and nonprofits attract attention to their brands through honest, impactful communication. With a local focus, M3M Marketing offers a variety of services for small businesses including video production, website and graphic design, social media marketing, copywriting, marketing plans and content packages. Mariah finds joy in this work by giving business owners the support and freedom to concentrate on the parts of the business they love most, leaving the complex world of marketing to her and her capable team. In addition to marketing, she is also an Indie Filmmaker and has so far produced three original documentaries.

Andrea Bailey Brown (Edmonton)

I believe that Andrea should win the Entrepreneur of the Year Award because she has been buying, scaling, and building businesses since 1989. She has two companies of her own dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow their wealth, and is about to launch an online community so that she can be more accessible to and help a larger group of people. Andrea is also a multi-unit franchise owner with Jiffy Lube and has generated over 30 million dollars in revenue from franchising alone. Since she has achieved such success, Andrea is extremely passionate about helping others and uses her business knowledge and love of franchising to help transform the lives of her clients. I admire her dedication to helping her clients and don’t think there’s anything more honourable than wanting to share the knowledge and success you’ve achieved with other people.

Banyk Chia (Edmonton)

She’s not a lawyer but provides alternative legal services and works closely with lawyers….Lets introduce you to AC Awards 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year nominee,Sariette Banyk Chia based in Edmonton.Sariette is the founder of ALSF.Alternative Legal Service Firm Incorporated (ALSF) is a bilingual (English and French) firm providing assistance in self-representation, Virtual legal assistants service, legal drafting, Non-lawyer legal agent, mediation, commissioning of oaths, editing and proofreading, legal Marketing services and legal information to its valued customers. They have agents that are well trained in Family, Immigration & Litigation, Documents filing and drafting.They provide representation as legal agent before the Alberta Provincial Court, the Alberta Worker Compensation Board and the Alberta Human Right Commission. They’re an affiliate to an Immigration Consultant Agency and happy to be expanding their services to British Columbia.“….Banyk has been a blessing to the black community. She has helped companies and individuals to resolves many legal issues. Thank you Banyk for your readiness to make your community smile….”

Eric Mepong

Some know him as a DJ, others as an event organizer and community builder, and others as an entrepreneur. He’s all in one, a multi-talented guy, and a versatile individual.the DJ who always be there as a volunteer when the communities has an event. Being a multi-talented entrepreneur, he has provided employment opportunities to many newcomers in the community. What we call Canadians experience, those who often had difficulty finding a job, he worked in collaboration with the Host and Integration Program coordinator in SMP program to give this first work experience to newcomers. As a DJ, he has trained many DJ’s that today have made this job as their second income. Ladies and gentlemen, Eric Mepong, AKA DJ MepsEric is the CEO and founder of Meps Air Quality, a furnace, and HVAC maintenance company with a mission to help people breathe better and be healthy.

BCW in Action Black Women in Business

Mariah Braun (Grande Prairie)

Andrea Bailey Brown (Edmonton)

Banyk Chia (Edmonton)

Sariette is the founder of ALSF.Alternative Legal Service Firm Incorporated (ALSF) is a bilingual (English and French) firm providing assistance in self-representation, Virtual legal assistants service, legal drafting, Non-lawyer legal agent, mediation, commissioning of oaths, editing and proofreading, legal Marketing services and legal information to its valued customers.They have agents that are well trained in Family, Immigration & Litigation, Documents filing and drafting.They provide representation as legal agent before the Alberta Provincial Court, the Alberta Worker Compensation Board and the Alberta Human Right Commission. They’re an affiliate to an Immigration Consultant Agency and happy to be expanding their services to British Columbia.“….Banyk has been a blessing to the black community. She has helped companies and individuals to resolves many legal issues. Thank you Banyk for your readiness to make your community smile….”

Tarissa Woolaston (Edmonton)

You can check out LAYERED by Rissa at www.layeredbyrissa.com and on Instagram @layeredbyrissa

Shannae Delancy & Nathoya Smith (Grande Prairie)

Community Leader

Funke Olukude (Edmonton)

Funke is an energetic, innovative, and award-winning leader continuously delivering cutting edge collaborative practice by leading from the margins to promote a holistic approach to issues impacting individuals, systems, and policies to bring about transformative and equitable change.
She is an Executive Director, Intercultural Relationship Facilitator, and Educator working to highlight the complex intersecting realities of vulnerable and marginalized individuals and families. Funke has about two decades of extensive work experience in the social service industry working with diverse populations and sectors in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta where she has continuously promoted equity in policy and practice that have led to transformational relationships between individuals and within systems.

Through all her professional and volunteer endeavors, Funke makes the community a safe, equitable and just space for all individuals. Funke connects with community members, stakeholders, and policy makers to make visible the complex realities of those most marginalized.

This enhances the quality of life of community members to build their capacity and resilience in order to contribute meaningfully to the community.

Funke promotes great mental wellbeing, community support and engagement, non-partisan political engagement, and most importantly the interconnectedness necessary for individual to thrive in our community

Achievements

Influenced the Affordable Housing Strategy (2016-2025). The housing research findings were used to define the four goals to guide the City of Edmonton’s actions on the need for affordable housing in all areas of the city, transitioning people out of homeless as well as anticipate, recognize, and coordinate actions to respond to housing needs of individuals in Edmonton.
Trained and mentored about 350 frontline social services workers across Alberta to increase their capacity to serve over 45,000 families in Alberta.
Supported about 150 families and prevented about 550 children from entering the Child welfare system.
Established the Nigerian Leadership Circle in 2018 comprising of 25 individuals from who are ethnic, faith, thought and natural leaders within the Nigerian community. The Circle aims build economic, political and social capital of individuals in Edmonton. Since the inception of the group, communication within the Nigerian community has been improved there by leading to the ability for the leaders to collaboratively on actionable issues such as community-based fund-raising initiatives for individuals facing hardships. This in turn has increased the wellbeing of community members and provided a holistic approach to building community resilience and recovery from the pandemic.
Worked on a research project in partnership with the University of Alberta in 2019 that illuminated the disproportionate impact of COVID 19 on ethnocultural communities in Edmonton. This research was widely received and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Currently working on a research project in partnership with University of Alberta, NorQuest College, Mount Royal University and King’s University aimed at Black data governance, justice for people living with HIV, create awareness and provide information on sexual health, justice for black youth as it relates to mental health and interacting health/justice systems navigation. The hope of this project is to create a collaborative environment where knowledge, resources and connections are shared to close racial gaps.
Funke serves on the boards of the Bredin Centre for Career Advancement and Black Business Ventures Association (BBVA)
In 2020, Funke was named Top 40 under 40 for her continued work in influencing policy and practice across various sectors in Alberta.
Funke’s contribution in the teaching and education space has also earned her a Jaye Fredrickson Award for Teaching Excellence 2021 Nomination
She was recently awarded with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta)

Lyle Notice (Lacombe)

Lyle Notice recently completed PhD research in the area of Sociology, Sociology of Religion, Church and Society and Practical Theology.
His research is focused on trying to figure out why SDA churches within Alberta are racially segregated, and aimed to gain insight into how to create more intentional intercultural churches, starting with his idea of “Intentional Intercultural Small groups.”

Lyle is obsessed with finding out why racism still exists today and what can be done on a practical level to create more racial harmony and unity within Alberta.

He hopes that the outcome of his research will be that “Young Adults” will be more likely to want to gather in intercultural spaces and desire to change the narrative of racism within the SDA church and Canadian Society at large.

Biography:
“Lyle grew up in the city of Toronto. From a young age he had a passion for the stage and set his sights on becoming a Hollywood actor. He met a local actor by the name of Charles Officer from Toronto East who recommended him to an agent Lisa Burke.
Lyle began acting and was destined to be a star in Hollywood.

One day as he was practicing method acting auditioning for a movie role, he found himself in a spiritual conflict. After that experience he felt God calling him to ministry.

In 2001 he enrolled at Canadian University College and prepared for pastoral ministry.
Upon graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies/Minors in Biblical Languages and Philosophy, he then went on to Andrews University where he completed his Master of Divinity (MDiv).

In 2008 he accepted a call to become the youth pastor at the Ottawa, Orleans and Kanata Seventh-day Adventist Churches.

In 2012 he received a call to become the Associate Youth director of the Alberta Conference.

Since 2014 he has been serving as the Youth Director of the Alberta Conference where he works with adventures, pathfinders, urban ministry, community outreach, mission trips, disaster response and media ministry.

Lyle is a bit of a bookworm who defended his Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree in Urban ministry from Andrews University 2019.

His DMin dissertation is entitled, “A Cosmopolitan Theology For Creating an Urban Missional Small Group to Reach Postmodern Generations in The City of Lacombe, Alberta.” https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/724/

In 2019, Lyle started a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in the area of sociology of religion, focusing on Church and Society and Practical Theology.

It heavily focuses on racism, bias, discrimination and stereotypes, and how the Adventist church can become more racially inclusive.

His PhD dissertation is entitled, “A Practical Theological Reflection on Intercultural Small Groups and Race Relations Within The Seventh-day Adventist Conference in Alberta, Canada.”

He loves youth culture, skateboarding, fashion, social media, entrepreneurship, Venture Capital investing and Cryptocurrency.”

Lyle loves research, and has recently written a paper that will be published shortly entitled, “Hanging Out on The Block(chain): Decentralized Autonomous Organizations for Small Groups and Faith Communities.”

Funke Smith (Edmonton)

Funke is doing very great. She has developed programs for our youths in STEM so that they won’t be left behind. I think Funke is the type of community leader who deserves accolades because she is doing very much for our communities

Rudy Dongmo Kemtsa (Edmonton)

Mr. Rudy Dongmo Kemtsa is currently the chair of the Cameroonian Association of Edmonton. Since he started his first mandate last year, our association members have increased by roughly 150 members. He is working hard on improving the visibility of the association, its relations with other communities and relevant institutions, as well as reforming the internal system for efficiency and success.

As the founder of the founder of Serving My People (SMP) program, he is the initiator of successfull programs such as Welcome and Integration of newcomers (WIN), CAE-ACE Digitalization program, the “Taste of Cameroon” at Edmonton heritage festival. Under his leadership, four african communities came together for the first time to celebrate Christmas 2021 as a FOS (Families On Stage).

More recently, Thanks to his natural empathy and gathering skills, the community was able to turn out the drama of the untypical loss of a member into an opportunity for unprecedented solidarity demonstration. Mr. Rudy Dongmo Kemtsa leadership deserves to be honoured and shown as reference and inspiration.

Funke Banjoko (Fort McMurray)

Funky was born in Nigeria on October 21st, 1967. Funky is a mother of two amazing kids her first is an award-winning activist and a graduate with Law degree from Kent Uni England. Her son is a division one football player and currently studying at Princeton University.

Both her parents were in the Council at one point or the other so it’s seems normal that Funke will seek to serve her community in such capacity.

Funky obtained her first degree from the University of Jos, Nigeria in 1989 and she is now a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional of Canada.
She has been in Supply Chain profession for over 30 years and has worked mostly in the Oil industry and in different countries.

The commendable thing is that once Funky has her mind set on a task or goal, she will get it done. She does not know how to give up.

In 2009 she arrived in Toronto Canada alone with her 2 suitcases not knowing exactly what was ahead but with a strong determination to make Canada work. In July 2011 she got an offer to work for Nexen (now CNOOC) and moved to Fort McMurray.

Funky is unstoppable and with the strength and courage that is commendable. She would work anywhere to ensure there’s provision for her immediate family, support others and open her house to strangers. She says God has put her through a journey that prepared her for her role. Her love for community, people, and her family is incredible.

When Funky moved to Fort McMurray in July 2011 to begin working in the Oil & Gas industry as a Supply Chain Management professional. She started volunteering within the community shortly thereafter and by January 2012 she was working with the city on the Community Services Committee, where she served for the maximum number of years (6). This marked the beginning of her involvement. Additionally, she has sat on the Community in Bloom Committee, Immigration Advisory Table, held the position of the Social Director in the Nigerian Canadian Association of Fort Mc and is Secretary to the Board of Trustees for her church.

Through her involvement, she began to see the need for a leader in RMWB that would be the face of all peoples, address the needs to retain families, workers and to ultimately create a more stable community.

Funky noticed a conspicuous gap as multiculturalism was missing in RMWB governance, she stepped up to fill the gap. Determined that there is the need for younger generation to see someone like them. The audacity of Funky, audacity of hope.

In 2021 she ran for the RMWB Council. Her campaign, style and tireless campaigned paid off. She gained the support of people starting with her primary community – Africans, blacks, women, and strong amazing support of youths and young. She amassed supporters from different demographics and majority regardless of background. She won and described it as a “big win” taking the lead of the 24 candidates that ran for council in RMWB Ward 1.

On October 19th, 2021, Funky made history as she became the first Black person (man or woman) to be elected to RMWB Council.

Funky’s involvement in the community is amazing, she is loving, with infectious smiles and energy – she is described as having the strength of a man but with a tender heart. She is a strong voice that can not be drowned in any gathering. Her resiliency through challenges and tenacity is unparalleled. She has become an inspiration to all in RMWB especially for the people of color, youths, single moms, women etc. but also for all regardless of race or color. Politically, she has become a force to reckon with. She is not shy to share her story specially to steer up the strength in others. One of her favourite slangs is that “there is a Funky in every child”.

What keeps her going are God and the words of her late father “when you are in a race, run like your life depends on it, you will most likely win or at least you would have done your best”.

Funke is the epitome of community leader!
She is now the face and the voice of Fort McMurray. She is a pride to the people of African descent!
Her impact in her community is unmatched and unprecedented.

Alphonse Ahola (Edmonton)

Alphonse had successfully managed the negotiations to obtain funding for reception and settlement services from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A file that was not won in advance.
Moreover, Alphonse Ahola brings a strong expertise in community development and project management and coordination at la FRAP Throughout his career, Alphonse has successfully contributed to the development of the services at a many field of settlement as youth career development, open the new office at Red Deer and more

Helen Agbonison (St. Albert)

Helen Agbonison for the enormous work of starting the African Descent community in St Albert.

She has worked tirelessly since 2019 to come up with programs to keep the association running. Also ensuring that African cultures and history are projected and preserved through events in the City of St Albert.

Seeking for opportunities to support people of African descent living in St Albert

Unsung Heroes

Irene Brown (Edmonton)

Nigerian Canadian Association president for 4years.
Former Nigerian Canadian Association vice president for two years Offered 25 African community members job in health care systems as a director of nursing.

A committee member of African Centre helping through pandemic A member of African leaders Association of Edmonton representing Africa as a visible minority. Worked hard as a nurse in Emergency and other rural hospital to help through the covid pandemic.
A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth 75th jubilee award medal.

Hawa Dumbuya

Hawa Dumbuya is a selfless community member who gives her best in support of community members and events both within and out of her community (The Sierra Leone Community). Hawa is always seen actively participating at various levels (song leader, organizer, donor, sympathizer, promotor, patron, and celebrant) at various community events. She cuts across cultures and religion and is very accommodating to the many that she crosses path with. Hawa makes all of these great contributions without fuss. She is hardworking and committed to her volunteering services. In spite of her good job rendered to our various communities (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, etc. ) she has never received appreciation. I therefore recommend her for this award.

Alex Iseghohi (Edmonton)

Alex Iseghohi started True North Basketball Academy four years ago as a way to teach his love and passion for basketball to the youth of Edmonton. Today, more than 500 youths pass through his training facility every week.
Originally from Nigeria, Alex played professional basketball with the NCAA Division One Basketball at Rider University on a full basketball scholarship. He then played 6 years of professional basketball all over Europe, and coached intermediate basketball in Europe. He then settled into a career in oil and gas in Canada, before deciding that he needed to pursue a career that he was passionate about – and that was basketball.
Here are the specific reasons that I believe that Alex Iseghohi should be considered for this award:
1. He started the business with less than a dozen kids four years ago and now the facility caters to over 500 kids, ages 6 – 18, of all RACES, and ETHNICITIES. You just have to visit his facility any weekday or any time on the weekend to see how diverse, vital and thriving the business is.
2. The most important and remarkable reason in my opinion is the resilience and determination that he showed during COVID to keep the kids busy. During COVID, Alex kept TNBA going, moving from gym to gym, dealing with COVID protocols, planning in house games for the kids to help them cope with the stress and uncertainty of COVID, and being a mentor to them. This put significant financial and personal stress on him and his family, but he kept going.
3. Today, TNBA is thriving. It is the largest basketball facility in Edmonton with a large number of these kids being immigrants, or children of immigrants.
Alex’s success can be attributed to his excellence, experience, ability to treat everyone as an equal, and determination to give every kid a fighting chance. I am proud to nominate him for the Unsung Heroes Award.

Oluwafunmilayo Liadi (Edmonton)

Through rain and shine, thick and thin, Liadi shows up to support children in her care. In her role as an early childhood educator, and now the program team lead at the Bissell Centre Childcare Program, Liadi’s passion and commitment to provide compassionate care and par excellence to children and families in her care remains unwavered.

She is an inspiring role model, who continues to transform many lives around her.

Samuel Enyon (Edmonton)

Samuel Latigo Enyon was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda and moved to Cuba to study at the Universidad de Oriente in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology; he later pursued a master’s degree in business administration and Human Resource Management at the European School of Business (EUDE) Madrid, Spain before settling in San Jose Costa Rica where he worked for Fujitsu Consulting SA and Amazon.com as a Human Resource Ambassador Administrator.
In 2018 Samuel Moved to Edmonton and decided to follow a career path dearest to his heart, this path led him to Norquest college where he graduated with a certificate in community support work and was awarded the Norquest College president medal for academic excellence and student citizenship. Samuel has since then been a passionate advocate for the vulnerable populations of our inner city and has worked and volunteered with numerous community-based organizations in Edmonton, Alberta.

Samuel is currently a Family Support worker with the Bissell Centre, this role has allowed him to support women fleeing from Domestic violence, provide case management for Families that need to develop life skills and empower them to move out of poverty, Samuel’s ability to speak several Languages including Spanish, Portugues, Kiswahili, Luganda, Luo, Lango has allowed him the unique opportunity to intervene in several occasions to support new comer families facing major language and systemic barriers as they seek to settle their Families in Edmonton.

As a newcomer himself, Samuel attributes his happiness to the positive work environment fostered by his teammates and leadership at the Bissell Center. Samuel’s future Goal is to continue contributing to the hard work done by humble members of our communities in their different Capacities to improve lives and uplift those in vulnerable situations. Soon Samuel plans to get a master’s degree and PHD in Social work and get involved with the international community and to use this platform to fight for equality and human dignity in all its forms.

Carline Dugas (Edmonton)

Carline Dugas always brings smiles to the community. She motivates people around her. This lady has always brought a smile to the community in general, she has a heart in her hand, and finds the right words to comfort the people around her.

This woman appreciates everyone at their true value without judgment. She answered present when her community was looking for someone to lead one of the programs of the SMP of the Cameroonian community which is called welcome and integration, she answered present. She took her task seriously to the point where even at late hours, people would write to her while still in their home country to find out what they needed to prepare for their trip, she would respond with advice and guidance so that their arrival here would be less stressful.

Always available to volunteer due to her flexibility and adaptability.

Professional of the Year

Joy Ruhigisha (Edmonton)

Joy Ruhigisha deeply believes that each one of us is unique and gifted with the ability to be their best versions. Unfortunately along the way, life happens and some experiences Rob us the ability to be our best versions. Knowing this Joy Ruhigisha has used her professional knowledge as a mental health/Family psychotherapist to support individuals and the community at large. Joy has a demonstrated a deep seated passion to empower individuals, couples, families and communities to be their best versions through her private practice; Family Life and Beyond.
Joy also enjoys hosting wellness seminars and workshops reminding individuals how important it is to integrate healthy living into their busy lifestyle, improving their quality of life and well being, and optimizing their work performance in the face of increasing stress and workload.
Joy’s counselling modality is a combination Solution-Focused and CBT.
Joy holds an LLB and a Masters of Arts in counselling Psychology

Temitope Oriola (Edmonton)

Temitope Oriola is professor of criminology and sociology and associate dean in the Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta. He is an exemplary scholar and public intellectual known for field-defining sociological research on terrorism and policing, leadership and service to his discipline, and commitment to mobilizing knowledge in support of informed public debate. Internationally, he is known for his work on terrorism studies. In Canada, Professor Oriola’s scholarship focuses on policing and use of force. His work on policing of Black and other minority groups has earned him a well-deserved reputation as one of Canada’s leading expert on police reform. His perspectives are highly sought by stakeholders in countries as diverse as Canada, China, Australia and Nigeria. Professor Oriola is joint Editor-in-Chief of African Security journal published by Taylor & Francis, one of the world’s oldest and leading publishers.

Professor Oriola has served as special adviser to the Government of Alberta on Police Act Review. Professor Oriola believes scholars have a duty to society regarding dissemination of knowledge and community engagement. This belief informs why he makes himself available in service to the community.

Oriola is a decorated researcher and teacher. A recipient of the Governor General of Canada Academic Gold Medal (first presented by the Earl of Dufferin in 1873), Professor Oriola is 2022 recipient of the Faculty of Arts Research Excellence Award, 2020 recipient of Kathleen W. Klawe Prize for Teaching Excellence, University of Alberta and Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations (CAFA) Distinguished Academic Award.

In addition, Professor Oriola’s research is transdisciplinary and highly regarded by his peers. He has been elected to the top position in two major scholarly associations across diverse disciplines in Canada. He has served as vice president and president of the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS), the preeminent organization representing Canadian academics studying Africa. He is currently president-elect of the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA). Professor Oriola’s transnational reach reflects in other responsibilities. He is a member of the Board of Directors, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. He is also a board member of the Alberta Police Misconduct Database Association and Premium Times, Nigeria’s top-ranked investigative newspaper. Professor Oriola is a columnist for the Edmonton Journal, arguably the newspaper of record in Alberta. He is also the chair of the University of Alberta Press Committee, which makes final decisions on book manuscripts published by the press. A two-time recipient of the prestigious Carnegie fellowship, Professor Oriola was recently awarded the globally acclaimed Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Professor Oriola lives in Edmonton and enjoys listening to gospel music. He also enjoys salsa dance in his spare time.

Alexandria Onyedika (Edmonton)

Relationship Manager for Non-Profit Organizations at RBC.

Alexandria has a great passion for supporting people especially Newcomers through her own lived experience. She is also passionate about volunteering, making a difference in the lives of everyone around her and impacting her community positively which resulted to being a recipient of 2 prestigious RBC Awards in 2 consecutive years. (2020 Convention Award Winner and 2021 Global Citizen Award Winner)

Alexandria has been with RBC for over 8 years, with experiences in Personal Banking, Leadership, and currently in Business Market.
Prior to coming to Canada she worked in 2 Nigerian Banks for 8 years right after her University degree program in Accounting.

Outside of work, she is a Soccer and Basketball Mom! Love spending quality time with her husband and their 3 lovely children.

Junior Achievement

Lulu & Mimi

Lulu & Mimi, are the C.E.O’s and face(s) of LuMi Cosmetics. The beautiful and gorgeous sisters, Lulu and Mimi are 19 years old and 17 years old respectively. They have a passion for creativity and makeup artistry! They have been making their own natural/organic skincare, facial and hair care products for many years. This has evolved to starting their own brand with a bang, and birthing LuMi Cosmetics. The young and vibrant entrepreneurs have turned their passion to a business! We are so proud of them, as they are a brand new business, launched recently on August 27, 2022, and they are already make waves across the City, Nationally and Globally! They are currently working on a unique and top notch app/technology, that enables a virtual client try their products, even without physically having the products.

The International Women in Technology has recognized their amazing and sustainable technology, earning them the honour of a formal invitation to the prestigious Silicon Valley, in San Francisco, USA, to meet with potential investors and venture capitalists! We can’t be more proud of these beautiful humans, who are true epitomes of beauty and brains personified! Watch out for this forces to be reckoned with! They have lots of exciting products and events for you all. They volunteer and give back to the community and are passionate about Charity. We love LuMi Cosmetics!

Mariah Braun (Grande Prairie)

Mariah finds joy in this work by giving business owners the support and freedom to concentrate on the parts of the business they love most, leaving the complex world of marketing to her and her capable team. In addition to marketing, she is also an Indie Filmmaker and has so far produced three original documentaries.

Ivan Touko (Edmonton)

Ivan Touko (He/Him) is the Co-CEO of La Connexional, one of Alberta’s Top 30 under 30 and a community builder that is passionate about bringing people together, organizing grassroots initiatives and uplifting underserved communities through collaborations and resources-sharing. Ivan is passionate about how the intersections between culture, technology and social innovation can be of service to underserved communities to increase their quality of life, generate social impact at scale and build wealth.

Originally from Cameroon, West Africa, Ivan moved to Edmonton in 2012 and started training and performing with Sangea, a Traditional drumming and dancing group which truly ignited his passion for community building through the arts. As a community builder, Ivan has been consistently involved in community work through various mediums and has worked with, participated and created many community initiatives and projects in the city including but not limited to: La Connexional, Black-Owned Market (BOM) YEG, Africa Unite, Black Lives Matter YEG, The UN’s SDG Coalition at UofA, the African Student Association, Ribbon Rouge Foundation, and RAFA (Regroupement artistique francophone de l’Alberta) just to cite a few. Ivan has a Bilingual Environmental & Conservation Sciences degree with a certificate of Sustainability from the University of Alberta – Campus Saint Jean. Established in 2017, La Connexional was founded by 5 friends who wanted to create a space in Edmonton where they could fully be themselves and celebrate their culture. What started with the very first Afro-Latin night in Alberta at a now defunct club, has turned into a cultural social enterprise with international reach that incubated the Black-Owned Market Edmonton (BOM YEG) – via the involvement of Ivan as a Co-Founder – in response to the impact of COVID-19 and a need for a showing of solidarity after the tragedy of George Floyd. BOM YEG is a volunteer collective whose aim is to uplift, support and build Black owned businesses, entrepreneurs, creatives and community organizations in Edmonton. Through data collected from vendors after markets, as of October 2021, BOM YEG was estimated to have redistributed over $26,000 into the Black community. Through La Connexional, Ivan has truly shown his passion for building vibrant communities and contributing to moving the needle forward. To date, La Connexional has now organized and hosted a variety of community-centric experiences from the Afro Latin Festival YEG, passing by dance and financial literacy workshops, all the way to an online conference focused on Collaborative Learning (La Explorational). Ivan’s work with La Connexional also includes LaTandao Mobile application, a clothing line, and even a TEDx talk. Today, La Connexional currently: 1) Has 80+ five stars testimonials on google (https://bitly.laconnexional.com/google) that attests of its impact2) Is producing a documentary film supported by TELUS, STORYHIVE and The Black Screen Office that captures the story of the Rise of Afrobeats In The Prairies and the growth of the African diaspora in Alberta (https://www.linkedin.com/company/afrobeatsintheprairies)3) Curated Canada’s Largest Afro x Latin Indoor Beach Festival at the West Edmonton Mall World Waterpark (https://pourmewaterfest.com/) And many more exciting projects! In 2022, Ivan was invited as a representative of La Connexional’s to Edmonton’s City Hall where Mayor Soji re-committed the City of Edmonton’s for the UN International Declaration of People of African Descent. Among attendees during this declaration were other prestigious organizations such as Africa Centre, BCW in Action, La FRAP and many more. Ivan also sits on the board of le RAFA (Regroupement artistique francophone de l’Alberta) which is a provincial arts service organization and the official voice of Alberta’s francophone arts and culture community. Its mission is to bring together French-speaking artists and arts and culture organizations to ensure the development and vitality of all forms of artistic expression in Alberta. WIth his passion with bringing people together, to date, Ivan has now organized, hosted and/or been actively part of over 150+ experiences in Edmonton & Alberta. You can connect and find more information about Ivan’s work at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivantouko/ and laconnexional.com/team

Tarissa Woolaston (Edmonton)

You can check out LAYERED by Rissa at www.layeredbyrissa.com and on Instagram @layeredbyrissa

Forward Moving Organization

Ribbon Rouge Foundation (RRF) (Edmonton)

Ribbon Rouge Foundation (RRF) took the initiative to start a document base analysis of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) people in Alberta.
The Ribbon Rouge Foundation (RRF) started as a grassroots organization focusing on health equity and facilitating social justice through the Arts. Over the years, RRF has cultivated storytelling, community-engaged arts and intentional, meaningful community conversations to change perceptions, stir social conscience, educate the public and create positive social change in the African Caribbean and Black (ACB) people’s health.
When ACBs complain about discrimination, racism and health inequalities, the first question is, where is the data to support that assumption? As such, RRF’s effort to bridge health equity among ACBs and non-ACBs has committed to raising the voices of people who experience poorer health outcomes due to racialized health disparities via:

documenting baseline information and available research on ACB populations and racial health inequities in Alberta
identifying gaps between policy and practice or intention and outcome of health policies
understanding racialized health inequity in Alberta between ACBs and non-ACBs using lived experiences of ACBs

The environmental scan done by RRF is anticipated to serve as a focal point for the ACB community, enabling it to utilize its resources more effectively and spread its successes across and beyond Alberta. In addition, the findings will also assist the general public, ACB community leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders in understanding the diversity of the ACB community in their area

La FRAP

Our Mission
Facilitate inclusion and representation in all sectors of activity within the Alberta Francophonie and Canadian society, and bring the various communities closer together.

Our Vision
A renewed Francophone community, characterized by inclusiveness, interculturality, openness to others, respect for diversity and the promotion of human dignity.
Our Mandate
Promote the social, economic and cultural diversity and inclusion of Francophones and Francophiles while providing services in French for the reception, settlement and re-settlement of Francophone and Francophile newcomers to Alberta.
Our Values
Integrity, Inclusiveness, Fairness and Tenacity

Since its founding in 2014, La FRAP has helped many francophones families to settle in ALBERTA. We are present in Edmonton with 2 locations ( Cité Francophone and North Side bureau). We are also present in Red Deer and in the Wood Buffalo Region.

We provide francophone new comers with help in all areas of their settlement process

We work closely with community organizations and local partners as well as schools

We offer services for students and parents through settlement services in french schools and french immersion programs

We assist students with orientation and professional career choice.

We are founded by IRCC, Patrimoine Canada and the provincial government (City of Edmonton)

La Connexional (Edmonton)

Established in 2017, La Connexional was founded by 5 friends who wanted to create a space in Edmonton where they could fully be themselves and celebrate their culture. What started with the very first Afro-Latin night in Alberta at a now-defunct club, has turned into a cultural social enterprise with international reach that incubated the Black-Owned Market Edmonton (BOM YEG) in response to the impact of COVID-19 and a need for a showing of solidarity after the tragedy of George Floyd. BOM YEG is a volunteer collective whose aim is to uplift, support, and build Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, creatives, and community organizations in Edmonton. Through data collected from vendors after markets, as of October 2021, BOM YEG was estimated to have redistributed over $26,000 into the Black community.

True to its name, La Connexional (derived from the Spanish/French word conexión/connexion Afrolatina – the ‘al’ at the end), connects individuals of all backgrounds in a way that is inclusive, safe, and welcoming, while providing a platform that showcases ABCL (African, Black, Caribbean and Latin) contributions from a cultural, political, and economic perspective.
Today, La Connexional is a community-focused social enterprise run by a team of dedicated individuals. We use social innovation, creative consulting, and collective collaborations to build vibrant communities and create positive generational impact that starts with communities of the African and Latin diaspora, and then reverberates out to the communities they inhabit throughout Canada.

La Connexional is known throughout the community for various initiatives that celebrate the vibrancy of the Afro & Latin diaspora and create opportunities for collaboration among Albertan businesses, artists, and professionals. Our most well-known event is the annual Afro x Latin Festival (“Winter is Cancelled”), a festival that symbolizes the resilience of the Afro & Latin descendant communities in Alberta through music and entrepreneurship: https://youtu.be/kMQjbC7-YkM (festival overview) and https://youtu.be/IpAvYhUZz34 (vendor overview). Our social enterprise also regularly hosts events such as family-friendly block parties, dance classes, cultural celebrations, networking events, and community capacity-building events.

With these experiences in mind, we’ve embarked on our largest and most ambitious project yet, the Pour Me Water Festival, Canada’s largest Afro x Latin indoor tropical staycation, on Saturday, October 29th. Our long-term goal for this Festival is for it to become a premiere cultural event in Canada that attracts global attention to Alberta & its cultural assets – bringing our local talent, global. La Connexional also engages in initiatives such as La Connexional’s Adult Swimming Program, specially designed for BIPOC folks in a culturally adapted and safe environment, as well as knowledge-building programs like La Explorational, an innovative weeklong summit designed to spread community expertise across investing, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, wellness, and leadership. La Connexional also created a collaborative community calendar, a dynamic solution to keep users up to date with what is happening during & beyond Black History Month.

Finally, to address disparities in the rate of digitalization of immigrant-run businesses, we are currently working on building an app, called LaTandao (name inspired by the Latin American rotating savings & credit practice known as la tanda and the Swahili term Mtandao, which translates to network). The app’s mission is to bring small businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives online by providing a sustainable way to digitize & creating a platform to help new customers and supporters discover hidden gems. This app is a project supported by APIRG, the University of Alberta, Say It Loud Canada, and was also the reason that La Connexional can count itself among the prestigious startups of the League of Innovators Accelerator

Artist of the Year

Teresah Jane Muturi (Edmonton)

my name is Teresah and I am an Afro-Canadian dancer originally from Kenya. “What have you done for your community?” If I was asked this question a couple of years ago, I would say I have posted on my social media about black lives matter, and that would be the most I have ever done. Fast forward to today, and I am happy to say that I have started to do what I can to support my people through my community.

This year, I went back to school physically after studying online due to the pandemic. For the first time ever, I performed an African dance in front of my school to support black history month. I was surprised at the feedback got from people. People that I didn’t know came up to me, and complimented me on my dancing. This gave me courage and confidence. I danced again during my school’s multicultural day. I not only felt closer to my school but I also grew more confident. During the summer, I and my mom who is an artist, applied to perform at the Africarnival. We got accepted, and were so excited to be part of this great event. Later, we were referred to the Kaleido Festival by an Africanival team member, and we were surprised. We took this chance to support the black community, and shared our culture.

I love culture, so I have been volunteering at the heritage festival for over four years. Every year, there is something new to explore about the different countries presented in the pavilions. I have come to learn that we can all support our community because we are all gifted with different gifts. Whether it is music, comedy, art, business ideas or even your presence at an event. Our community will only grow stronger if we ourselves support it.

Another thing that built my confidence was the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program. This program helped me and other young black students to decide which career to pursue. I found it helpful because in our society where we are a minority, black youth can lose hope for excellence easily. Therefore, in adherence to this, black youth were exposed to successful black people. Black people who were in the specific careers that we, the youth wanted to pursue in. This is why it is very important that we stand up our community. I believe that this is only the beginning of my impact on the black community, and I want to encourage other young black people like me to embrace who they are, and step forward.

Ivan Touko (Edmonton)

Ivan Touko (He/Him) is a dance teacher, the Co-CEO of La Connexional, one of Alberta’s Top 30 under 30, a bilingual public speaker and a community builder passionate about how the intersections between culture, technology and social innovation can be of service to community initiatives to increase everyone’s quality of life and create positive social impact at scale.

Ivan believes that dance is more than exploring different ways of creating form or learning a series of musical rhythms. It is a way of moving that uses the body as an instrument of expression and communication. Through dance, young adults can develop skills in teamwork, concentration and improvisation. Dance offers children and young adults new perceptions that help them learn and think differently. Through his community-centric dance initiative, Groove with Ivan, Ivan aims to build safe spaces where everyone feels empowered to move while connecting with their body, mind and soul. His activities focus on the concepts of musicality and enjoying your own movement. Groove With Ivan are dance socials where you will get to move your body, dance, have fun, socialize and hopefully catch a mental break.

Hollee McKerchar

After recovering from daily suicide migraines of nearly 10 years, spanning the entirety of her fashion career, this model-turned-designer has emerged fully healed and with a powerful story and bold creativity.

This is Hollee M and this is her story.

Her years in the local fashion industry include modeling, model training, hosting workshops, and show production. Teaming up annually with AFWE, Hollee has helped produce African Fashion Week Edmonton and AFWM in Montreal, from 2013-2019, and now AFWE 2023. During her years with team AFWE, she is most proud of nurturing, building, and mentoring black, African + Caribbean and communities. Unable to set roots in a modeling agency herself early in her runway experience, she turned her passion for runway into a conduit of industry inclusivity by training young black models. Innovating fashion in Edmonton with AFWE, the first of the black fashion shows, she continued to develop black fashion in the quickly changing racial landscape of Edmonton. Already known as an artist, Hollee’s first fashion drafts started on scraps of paper backstage of Western Canadian Fashion Week while modeling several seasons ago.

Through her involvement in volunteering at WCFW, her creativity grew. Her original design scraps quickly morphed into mood boards with colors, textures, textiles, accessories, patterns, shoes, mood music, and future show locations. Still chronically ill with suicide migraines throughout these years, her creativity remained in notebooks and in visionary planning. With one sudden miracle from God through prayer, Hollee was healed of migraines in the summer of 2019. Over the next two years, she recovered her vibrancy, unleashing her creativity across multiple artistic expressions, and starting her own fashion brand, all while navigating the obstacles of covid.

In February 2020 CHRISTCITIZEN kingdom apparel launched; her brand is here to share her incredible story of God’s faithfulness and share the message of hope. Hollee’s testimony of God’s faithfulness and love includes overcoming mental health, poverty, and racism. Her brand is a reflection of the years of comfort in God and the varying dimensions of her art and creativity. Her brand CHRISTCITIZEN uses the wardrobe staple of the t-shirt and her personal favorite, the all-around lovable Hoodie as foundational elements of her brand. The bold graphics are hand designed from her years of creative typography and calligraphy. A curation of casual, effortless, muted canvas colors, CHRISTCITIZEN splashes high impact, bold graphics to communicate an expression of love, worship, and uniquely clean style in every collection. A firm believer in unlocking the inner strength of humanity’s treasure of hope and love, her brand cornerstones are race and gender inclusivity. A reflection of a heavenly place, a city in heaven and place to come, a secret dwelling place of peace and comfort, Heb 13:14. Shop her collections at 𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑛.𝑐𝑎, follow her socials @christcitizen (IG, FB, tiktok).

King Ramon Adetona (Grande Prairie)

My name is King Ramon Adetona, I’m a professional saxophone player.

I joined the church choir when I was 17 years old and my mentor was my brother Adetola. He leaves in Germany and has his own band called Tola Osumare I started my music career in Germany and moved Chicago to play for lots of churches and played blues with some of my American friends.

In 1996 came to Toronto for a concert and fell in love with the city and moved to Toronto. I played for Yinka band, Femi Abosede Afro beats. In 2005 I formed a band called KING RAMON AFRO – HIGHLIFE. I have recorded albums with my brother called Igba laiye and get up and dance and with Munya Mataruse called Kole baje.

Friends of Diversity

Sadia Sameeullah (Edmonton)

Sadia is a passionate leader, who takes pride in serving the community. She has led her teams through difficult times during the covid pandemic, while doing the best to provide best possible services to the community members.

She is a registered social worker, who has served in the areas of family violence prevention and intervention programs, mental health and addictions, family supports programs, parenting supports and brain injury support services.

She has volunteered with the Alberta College of Social Workers by participating in a multitude of advocacy projects.

John Aram (Edmonton)

John Aram has been in human services since 2015. He started his human services journey as a community support worker with a company that espoused a person-centered approach. He learned that participants are not a sum of their diagnosis, just as he is more than a male with fallen arches and vision correction.

After finishing his practicum there, John started at Bissell in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services program as an advocate and is chipping away at a social work diploma.

John is one of the most compassionate colleagues I have come across. In his role as an FASD program advocate, he provides relentless advocacy and system navigation support to his clients.

John believes in serving his participants with a solution-focused and strength-based approach. His participants and their supporters sing his praises.

Jackie Foord (Edmonton)

Jackie has been a community advocate for several years in Edmonton both within the government and in the community.

Jackie serves on the Ribbon Rouge Foundation and has supported the organization during a crucial period of transition. Jackie has supported revising the bylaws of the organization and also developing the strategic direction for the organization.

Jackie’s input and contributions have helped the Ribbon rouge foundation reimagine our contribution and advocacy work for African, Caribbean and Black individuals across Alberta. Jackie’s contributions has allowed is more transparency and accountability back to the community.

Jackie has spent much of her life pursuing social justice and advocating for the equitable application of human rights. Currently the Branch Manager of Social Development at the City of Edmonton, Jackie has served her community through a career in the non profit sector that included senior leadership roles with YWCA Edmonton, Covenant Health, the Kidney Foundation, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Deborah Webber (Edmonton)

Deborah has worked in the inner city of Edmonton since 2008. She worked as shelter staff at the Women’s Emergency Accommodation Centre. Deborah worked at The George Spady as an addictions worker in the Shelter, Detox and Safe Consumption Site. She has worked as a Parent Child Assistant Program Advocate with the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services at Bissell Centre for the past 5 years.

In this role she helps pregnant women and mothers up to six months post-partum who are at risk of delivering children impacted with FASD or other substance use disorder complications. She helps mothers with basic needs, housing, food, transportation and parenting support. She supports and advocates with Children Services, family and criminal court, medical appointments, birth and treatment.

Barbabra Allen (Edmonton)

Barbara has worked in Edmonton’s inner city since 2008. She has worked with federal inmates in a community based residential facility and as a follow up support worker with homeless individuals on a housing team. She also worked on the mobile outreach addiction team helping those with substance use disorders get into treatment, connect with mental health resources and housing supports.

Barbara worked as a system navigator with a collaborative team including multiple non-profit agencies and other community resources plus Edmonton Police Services and Alberta Health Services.

Barbara is currently working with the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum of Services team at the Bissell Centre as a justice advocate. The justice advocate role includes supporting those individuals who are suspected of or diagnosed with FASD and are involved with the justice system including those that are incarcerated awaiting bail or trial, in the community on probation or parole, or in institutions which are either provincial or federal.

The justice advocate also collaborates with the Edmonton Indigenous Court through Native Counselling Services of Alberta to support individuals who are before it for treatment bail or sentencing that require assistance navigating resources and support in the community.

Shelley Spencer (Edmonton)

She goes above and beyond to support organizations that support diversity. She is organized and structured and always happy to put her best forward to help.

AC/FOD Awards

DiversityPluss Supporters Club

Team Diversity thank you sincerely for nominating over 75 change makers across Alberta!

For those who are still in the process of finalizing their AC/FOD 2022 nominations, you have up to the end of today, October 17, to submit your nominations.

Due to limited space in the event hall, entry to AC/FOD Awards 2022 events on Nov 12 at Four Point Sheraton Gateway in Edmonton, and Four Point Sheraton Airport in Calgary is limited to Diversity Members, our highly respected nominees, Alberta Bites vendors, and event sponsors.

Should you want to attend these fantastic events in Edmonton or Calgary, please consider supporting the works of Diversity Magazine which is 100% funded by community members like you, join our Diversity Community by taking a membership today, from just $100 to $1,000 and network with resourceful and inspiring people in the community, connect with major organizations and service providers, enter all Diversity organized events for FREE, get profiled on all Diversity platforms, and support us tell your untold stories with pride and dignity; independent day celebration stories of your proud heritage and culture, inspiring profiles, places to take your family and friends to visit, help us create opportunities for young people and newcomers to develop their talents through Diversity platforms when no one will give them that valuable Canadian experience, share news relevant to your communities, bring you government Public Service Announcements (PSAs), advocate on behalf of your community and its issues, as well as, promote your culture and heritage through events and festivals.

Diversity Members and the number of Events Passes that they can get:

Community Supporter (individual category) – $100 per year (1 Event Pass at all Diversity Organized Events)

Community Patron (individual category) – $200 per year (1 Event Pass at all Diversity Organized Events)

Diversity VIP (Individual Category) – $1,000 per year (3 Event Passes at all Diversity Organized Events)

Bronze Membership (organizational category) – $150 per month (1 Event Pass at all Diversity Organized Events)

Silver Membership (organizational category) – $250 per month (2 Event Passes at all Diversity Organized Events)

Gold Membership (organizational category) – $350 per month (3 Event Passes at all Diversity Organized Events)

Platinum Membership (organizational category) – $500 per month (4 Event Passes at all Diversity Organized Events)

Nominations and entry into all Diversity organized events are FREE for our valued nominees, who will be picked up and taken back home in Edmonton on November 12, by our AC/FOD Awards event sponsor, Lonestar Limousine!

Diversely Yours,

Frankline Agbor, Producer DiversityPluss

Contacts: 780.709.0965 (Frankline cell)

email – info@diversitymag.ca

Diversity Magazine/TV is funded entirely by members’ fees, advertisements, sponsorships, and vendors.

Diversity Magazine Membership payments go towards the printing of magazines, purchase of softwares, payment of team members, organization of events (AC Awards, Diversity Awards, Africanival), and most recently, construction of a Diversity Centre.

To enable us to keep doing this wonderful community work, telling your untold stories, and promoting tourism in cities, towns, and municipalities across Alberta, here are different ways you can invest in Diversity Magazine/TV to carry on with this work.

Team Diversity thank you sincerely for nominating over 75 change makers across Alberta!

AC/FOD Awards nominees can also get a beautifully designed Diversity Souvenir of Prominence Plaque to place on their wall or desk in their offices. Interested, please contact 780.709.0965 ONLY!Want to join us celebrate those making things happen on November 12 in Edmonton, and December 2 in Calgary, then join our Diversity Community here

For those who are still in the process of finalizing their AC/FOD 2022 nominations, you have up to October 13, to submit your nominations for those in Calgary.

2022 Nominations from Edmonton is closed!

Due to limited space in the event halls, entry to AC/FOD Awards 2022 events on Nov 12 at Four Point Sheraton Gateway in Edmonton, and Four Point Sheraton Airport in Calgary, is limited to Diversity Members, our highly respected nominees, Alberta Bites vendors, and event sponsors.

Should you want to attend these fantastic events in Edmonton or Calgary, please consider supporting the works of Diversity Magazine which is 100% funded by community members like you.

Join our Diversity Community by taking a membership today, from just $100 to $1,000, and network with resourceful and inspiring people in the community, connect with major organizations and service providers, enter all Diversity organized events for FREE, get profiled on all Diversity platforms, and support us tell your untold stories with pride and dignity; independent day celebration stories of your proud heritage and culture, inspiring profiles, places to take your family and friends to visit, help us create opportunities for young people and newcomers to develop their talents through Diversity platforms when no one will give them that valuable Canadian experience, share news relevant to your communities, bring you life-changing government Public Service Announcements (PSAs), advocate on behalf of your community and its issues, as well as, promote your culture and heritage through events and festivals.