Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Champions 2023

Click here to RSVP

Cool!

Baymont Hotel just moved Diversity Awards to the fancy Piper Creek Room.

For those coming from out of town, mention that you’re part of Diversity Awards to get a flat rate of $99.99 plus tax with a Free breakfast for a room per night at Baymont hotel.

What a great host!

For more information please….

Baymont by Wyndham, Red Deer – 4311 49 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 5Y7

Tel: +1-403-346-8841

The Mayor of Sylvan Lake will join us at Diversity Awards and after the awards, the following day, we’ll get a slice of the beachside beauties of Sylvan Lake after the April 28 Diversity Awards event.

Let’s celebrate diversity and inclusion with Alberta ED&I Champions on April 28 in Red Deer….

RSVP here to attend https://diversitymag.ca/staging/diversity-awards-2023/

Hello there,

We’re Frankline (Producer), and Anna (Events Manager) at Diversity Magazine, award winning Alberta’s largest multicultural publication, telling untold Albertan stories for over a decade now.

From our coverage of multicultural, indigenous communities, and organizations across Alberta, we realized that most organizations have done some work on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I), but are too busy to share what has been done. As you know, ED&I is a never ending journey, and every organization is at a different level of this journey.

We invite you to share your organization’s ED&I journey. Your organization’s journey will be shared with indigenous and multicultural communities across Alberta and Canada, using our multi-media platforms of print, online, online TV, events, festival, and social media pages.

Please feel free to connect if you will like to, such that we can learn about your organization, what it’s doing, and/or plan to do.

This will enable us to share the work that your organization is doing with respect to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I), or what it’s planning to do, as well as, community engagement efforts in the multicultural and indigenous communities.

If you want to take our connection to the next lever, we will be glad to add your Equity Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) efforts to the list of dozens of other Albertan organizations sharing their efforts before and during Diversity Awards coming up at the Baymont Hotel in Red Deer on Friday, April 28, 2023.

You may want to check some of the past four (4) Diversity Awards on our website below, and this last one before COVID here on this link, that attracted organizations such as NorQuest College, Edmonton Oilers, Sturgeon County, City of Grande Prairie and dozens others, right here

Every ED&I effort counts and we encourage every organization to share where they are on their ED&I journey, and keep moving forward.

No effort is too small or too big!

Should you have any question, please let me know.

Kind regards
www.diversitymag.ca
Frankline (cell – 780.709.0965)
Anna (cell- (780) 340-0476)

Meet Your Heroes

Friends of Diversity (Individual)

Mayor Ken Johnson (Red Deer)

The Mayor of the City of Red Deer, Ken Johnson, has been a companion of diversity and inclusion in the community. He promotes diverse groups in the city to hear their concern and needs to be met. He is very kind, dedicated, compassionate, supportive and committed to enhancing the well-being of those groups. He deserves this award for recognizing his effort to make meaningful connections with the multiculturism community.

Biography – Mayor Ken Johnston

Ken Johnston was elected Mayor of The City of Red Deer in October 2021. This is Mayor Johnston’s first term as Mayor and third consecutive term on Council, first elected as a City Councillor in 2013.
Mayor Johnston has always been an active part of the community, spending time volunteering with several organizations in Red Deer and Central Alberta including Rotary Club, United Way, Red Deer Royals, Friends of the Hospital Foundation and the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Johnston was awarded the Queens Jubilee Medal in 2012 and is a dynamic and dedicated leader.
Before serving his first term as Councillor in 2013, Ken had a 40-year career with Scotiabank. Ken enjoys music, fishing, gardening and spending time with family and friends.

Holly Glassford (Red Deer)

Superintendent Holly Glassford is the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Red Deer RCMP detachment. Holly is committed to working closely with diverse groups by creating strong connections with them. She has excellent leadership, integrity, compassion, dedication and commitment to enriching the safety and well-being of the community.

“I grew up on a large family farm in Central Saskatchewan where I learned the importance of hard work, being adaptable, and working as a team. I studied at the University of Calgary and hold a B.Ed from the University of Saskatchewan and a Certificate in Police Leadership from Dalhousie University. I am a certified First Aid/CPR Instructor.

I graduated from Depot Division in Regina in 1998 and my first posting was Maskwacis, Alberta. Early in my policing career here, I was involved in teaching the Drug and Awareness program in the schools and restorative justice initiatives which were experiences that were so rewarding.

My career has taken me to Northern Canada (NWT) where I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Tuktoyuktuk, Aklavik, and Yellowknife. Immersing ourselves in the Northern culture was very impactful for both my family and I. We still reminisce about travelling on the ice roads, and the 24 hour daylight! I transferred to Nova Scotia in 2008, working at Detachment, District and Federal Policing Units. My family loved being close to the ocean and spending time at our summer cottage in a small fishing community in Northeastern Nova Scotia.

I transferred to Red Deer in 2019. My husband, 2 children and pets (cat and a dog!) moved across the country during our wonderful Canadian winter. In my spare time, (which is limited!), I enjoy cross country skiing, music, mountain biking, kayaking, swimming and spending time with my family. I have also been involved in coaching swimming in the Special Olympics program and now that my children are older I am looking forward to being involved with Special Olympics again here in Red Deer.

I am currently the Officer in Charge of the Red Deer Detachment and so very thankful for the great team that works alongside me. I look forward to building relationships in our community and on my days off you will find me in my kayak on the river or at Riverbend skiing the trails”.

Luciana Erregue-Sacchi (Edmonton)

As the Communications and Partnerships Coordinator for the Writers’ Guild of Alberta (WGA), it is my pleasure to nominate Luciana Erregue-Sacchi for a Friends of Diversity Award. In every part of the work Luciana undertakes, she endeavours for foster diversity and inclusion.

Luciana is an art historian, publisher (Owner/Founder, Laberinto Press: https://laberintopress.com), writer, and translator. Her work has appeared in Canadian anthologies, and international publications, she has also presented at literary festivals and conferences (Edmonton LitFest, the FOLD, Edmonton Poetry Festival, FIL Canada, WGA Conference). She maintains her blog, Spectator Curator, is a WGA Borderlines Writing Circle alumni, a Banff Centre Literary Arts Alumni, a former Edmonton Arts Council Artist in Residence, an academic, and an advocate for diversity in Canadian publishing. Luciana loves going for walks throughout the beautiful Edmonton River Valley alongside friends and family.

In a largely primarily anglophone and Anglo-centric publishing industry, Laberinto Press is Western Canada’s first press to publish writers whose first language is not English, and World Literature in translation (focusing right now on tapping into diaspora authors living in Canada). Laberinto is currently working on its fourth publication.

Luciana also works for the WGA as the program coordinator for the Horizons Writers Circle (HWC: https://writersguild.ca/programs-services/horizons-writers-circle/). HWC is a program that provides support and mentorship for writers within the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) community, ESL, and underrepresented writers who live in Edmonton and are at the beginning of their literary journey. HWC helps yield new literary works, explore the experience of underrepresented writers, and initiate dialogue that celebrates our diversity and contributes to a deeper understanding of one another. The program offers mentorship, workshops, discussions, networking, public reading opportunities, industry events, and more.

More information about Luciana can be found on the WGA’s website at: https://writersguild.ca/csl-blog-project-volume-5-remembering-your-original-intention-of-writing-and-overcoming-challenges/ and https://writersguild.ca/csl-blog-project-volume-11-poems-in-two-languages-feat-luciana-erregue-sacchi/.

Gopal Bhatta (Calgary)

Mr Bhatta is a Social Researcher (Ph D in Agricultural Sciences), currently working for Calgary Police Service (CPS) as a Strategic Researcher providing research and strategic support to policing units in Calgary. Prior to joining CPS, Mr Bhatta worked in multiple Business Units in The City of Calgary providing research, strategic, statistical and measurement support to several business units across the corporation. Outside of his regular work, Dr Bhatta’s passion is to engage himself in volunteering activities to generate resources, transferring his knowledge and skills to other people and making organization aligned strategically. He also serves as a member of editorial and review board of over a dozen of internationally peer-reviewed journals.

Acting as a Board of Advisor (Apr 2021 to May 2022) of Nepalese Community Society of Calgary (NCSC) and volunteer Project Manager thereafter, Dr. Bhatta has set an outstanding record in social activism, community engagement programs, social inclusion among socially isolated/vulnerable populations and he has introduced strong volunteering culture in the community and showcased how one person with expertise can transform the organization within a short span of time. For example, he contributed over 1,800 volunteer hours starting 2021 to end of 2022 and he currently contributes at least 20 hours per week to the community and the project activities. He has maintained an outstanding contribution in scoping social issues of vulnerable groups like kids, youth, women, and seniors, and defining and refining activities to address the issues, introduced innovative approach of prioritization of issues and activities, preparing grant proposals, managing funded projects, and enlarging project scope beyond Nepal-origin Calgarians. To develop capacity of the executive board, volunteers, members, and ethnic groups, he has been providing training on diverse areas like grant writing, project management, social inclusion, social vulnerability, and gender discrimination into activities, and capacity building programs. He stands as an exemplary figure among South Asian communities in Calgary due to his social activism and outstanding volunteering records. Dr. Bhatta always does research for the available supports programs in the government and non-government organizations in Canada, especially for girls, women, children, and immigrant seniors, engaging himself to explore cross-cutting issues among South Asian immigrants, especially intergenerational conflict, increased vulnerability among kids, women, and seniors, and skyrocketing mental health issues resulting from settlement huddles, discrimination, gender inequity and invisible racism. Due to his tireless volunteering and socio-cultural activism, NCSC has been awarded with the funded projects from three levels of government that enabled the organization to provide services to the vulnerable population in Calgary and the area within last 18 months. For e.g., his engagement with the community and volunteering work made NCSC a vibrant community organization that directly supported over 2,500 vulnerable people during peak period of COVID-19 and post-COVID. Dr. Bhatta’s social activism and volunteerism have not only consolidated institutional cooperation and partnership with many non-profit organizations but also the level of leadership he has taken to initiate support services have become exemplary among other ethnic communities especially culturally segregated communities like Bhutanese community in Calgary.
As he heard that the issue of social isolation is huge with Bhutanese community, he used innovative approach to reduce their social isolation. As a result, Bhutanese community has been included in all programs and services provided by NCSC under his leadership. To empower and aware women and girls and make organization more inclusive, he started running Women Conversation Café (WCC) which has turned to be a showcasing program for gender equity and social participation in Calgary. The dedication, social activism and volunteering spirit of Dr. Bhatta has not only transferred NCSC’s stature from a small ethnic community to a service providing organization but also its projects and initiatives became iconic program among South Asian communities. He has not only inspired NCSC leadership to get engaged in making community better but also small ethnic communities in Calgary to follow the footsteps Dr Bhatta has showcased so far.

Ben Acquaye (Lloydminster)

Ben Acquaye is the Co-Chair of the Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership. He is also an instructor and immediate past Chair with the School of Business at Lakeland College, Alberta. Lately, he has organized events for the first ever Black History Month in Lloydminster.
Ben has been a keynote speaker, panel member, workshop facilitator, and resource person for many events in Alberta and beyond. I am grateful that he is the Co-Chair of the Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership. He believes in equality through an equity lens. He has participated, helped organize Blanket Exercise and Immigrant Panel Discussions on Racism, Diversity and Inclusion. He believes a relationship with Indigenous Peoples is integral in the settlement and integration process of newcomers and immigrants to Canada.

His recent speeches include the following:

Race and Bias – How do we Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn A reflection on the journey, perseverance, and success.

The Business of Diversity and Workplace Culture.

Ben is comfortable speaking to diverse audiences on topics about race, equity, diversity and inclusion. He has a passion for public speaking and holds a Distinguished Toastmaster status at Toastmasters International.

Ben has lived and worked in many countries on 3 continents, so far. Ben Acquaye is a thinker and a passionate speaker. He uses stories and paints vivid pictures from his experiences to engage audiences.

He spends his spare time training young adults and new migrants in the art of public speaking and leadership. He has in the last 5 years acted as a speaking coach for high school students in Lloydminster. He has also served as a Judge for many speaking competitions

Organizing the first ever BHM at Lakeland College in Rural Alberta.
Holding events that included discussions about anti-racism and celebrating black people
Working with community partners like the City of Lloydminster, Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership, Lloydminster and Vermilion for Equity, City of Lloydminster, and the Indigenous community to hold events for all people.

I believe Ben is well overdue for such a deserving acknowledgment and award.

Elaine Spencer (Red Deer)

We none of us are free until we all are. Elaine Spencer has been a social worker for 35 years and currently teaches at Red Deer Polytechnic. She has been a small part of anti-racist education and activism since 1985, when as a BSW student she joined with others to fight the rise of white supremist and neo-nazi groups in Alberta. Since 2016, Elaine has been the Vice-President of the Somali Girls and Boys Education Foundation, a grassroots group founded by a graduate of Red Deer Polytechnic’s Social Work Program, Zainab Mohamoud, that has built and now runs an accessible school for Somalian children. A believer in actions speaking loudest, Elaine continues to support where she can, most recently becoming the Founding President of a new local agency, the African-Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta.

Ijeoma Uche-Ezeala (Fort McMurray)

Ijeoma Uche-Ezeala ( IJ) Ijeoma UCHE-EZEALA is the Managing Director and CEO of Without Walls Inc. Canada. She is an Economist and holds an MBA in Global Business Administration from the prestigious Imperial College London UK. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Maverick Business Academy London. Her business network spans Africa, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. IJ is a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, an educator, an advocate for girl child & women empowerment, and a transformational community leader whose business help kids & youth, build solid academic foundations, resilience, and life skills. IJ is a highly engaged and passionate leader with over a decade of volunteering in Canada. She serves on several Boards as a Director for social-profit groups, political organizations, and committees. In Wood Buffalo, she serves with RMWB Library Board; Development Advisory Committee; Downtown Revitalization Advisory; VP Fundraiser for her local Conservative Constituency Association for MLA representing Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo; the local CPC Board for the MP representing Fort McMurray – Cold Lake; Immigrant Advisory Board and United Ways as the Board Treasurer. IJ strongly believes in giving back to her community, as a Director for Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, our purpose is to inspire all girls to be Strong, Smart, and Bold through direct services and advocacy. We equip girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. As a formal Big Sister volunteer, she was grateful to mentor Elementary School Girls in the Go-Girls program. Her mentee learns about Healthy Bodies, the Healthy Minds Program, which focuses on lessons of building self-esteem and confidence while addressing the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, and creating positive friendships. During her tenure as the VP of Rehoboth Alliance, she effectively executed a graceful Black History event in the region. The Black heritage is being showcased within schools through the Lincoln Alexandra School Essay writing competition. The banquet & award nights celebrate black heritage, culture, and black achievements. IJ is a successful business owner that advocates for newcomers and empowersimmigrants through employment opportunities, often times, it is the immigrant first Canadian work experience this helps to improve the immigrant adaptation quotient. Her staff force exemplifies strength in diversity because the demography is mostly women from different continents, cultures, and languages which increases her ability to provide excellent diverse customer services to the multicultural wood buffalo community. Ijeoma’s public services and community contributions have been appreciated, recognized, and rewarded; 1) In 2021 Fuse Social Association Canada nominated her business for the Heart of Wood Buffalo Excellence awards within the ‘Community Impact’ category. 2) As an authentic leader, in 2021 & 2022 the Chamber of Commerce Fort McMurray Alberta Canada did recognize her excellent effort and bravery to open her business during the Covid pandemic. 3). IJ was awarded Woman of Inspiration (WOI) at the 2022 International Women’s Day. 4) She was nominated as a discussion panelist at the 2022 Human Rights organized by Multicultural Association. 5) In 2022 she was a guest speaker at the 3rd African Women Summit held in Kigali Rwanda. And in 2023 she is also a guest speaker at the 4th African Women Summit to hold in South Africa. She examines the critical roles women play as agents of Peace and sustainable development. 6) Her local business is listed on the Hall of Fame of Northern Light Foundation for her generous donation to support the Northern Light Foundation. 7) Her family sponsors a scholarship award with the Keyano College Foundation. A student award targeted to assist International students of African descent. 8) As a powerhouse of energy, in November 2022, IJ was name Top 50 under 50 in Wood Buffalo Alberta Canada.

Francis Aranha (Calgary)

Born and bought up in India. Living in Canada for over a decade. Hes truly blessed, honoured and grateful to be calling himself a Canadian. Life back home, growing as a kid was very tough. Living in a big city with just $400 a month was a challenge, which taught him practical lessons in life for the better.

My past professional work and my current volunteer experience made me come across with people from more than 80 different nationalities the synergy and dynamics of it all is simply mind boggling, given the gift of working with an amazing group of people who are equally passionate in their own ways about taking a journey through life where we keep our eyes, ears, minds open and wonder at the experience of it all.

From youth to seniors, from newcomers to Canada to the nation’s First Peoples and an array of community non-profits in-between, Francis brings the same dedication and commitment to supporting initiatives which build a stronger Calgary – a stronger Alberta.

For newcomers to Canada and Alberta, Francis is often their first point of contact at Calgary’s Centre for Newcomers, a role he has played for over a decade. Francis has assisted more than 200 individuals as well as numerous students to settle in to their new lives far from home.

From supporting local food security as a volunteer at the Calgary Food Bank to organizing various drives to collect much-needed essentials the Calgary Drop-In Centre to creating a jobs program through his church, Francis is quick to respond to Calgarians in need. This includes making sure blood supplies at local hospitals are there when needed. Francis has championed the work of Canadian Blood Services, creating awareness, helping to organize blood drives and being a regular blood donor himself. On an average he clock’s in more than 400 hours of community service each year.

Some of the recent awards and recognitions include:

Queen’s Jubilee medals for volunteering over the years

Star of Alberta- Highest volunteer award in the Province.

Anindita Bhattacharya (Red Deer)

Anindita Bhattacharya is the vice president of the board of “Education for Somali Girls and Boys Foundation.” She has been involved with this organization since 2014, where she was part of the fundraiser team that raised enough funds to build a school in Somalia in 2015. She has been serving the board for many different positions and she was instrumental for the success of the function of the school for the last 9 years. She is a board of director for African Caribbean Central of Central Alberta since June 2022, and she was part of the organizers for Afro-Caribbean Cultural Event, and she is part of the organizers of the afro Caribbean festival in Aug 2023.

She is a registered social worker with the Alberta College of Social workers and works at Alberta Health Service as a social worker in the Geriatrics department. Besides having a social work diploma, Anindita also has a master’s degree in business administration & Economics. She is also a board member of the Hindu Cultural Society of Central Alberta. Anindita has been active in the Red Deer community and has supported many charities over the years. She is very deserving of the Diversity Award in 2023.

Nnenna Nwaribe (Red Deer)

Nnenna Nwaribe, who also goes by Mary, is a Nigerian business owner who lives in Red Deer, Alberta. She grew up in Nigeria, where she met her husband and shortly after, moved to Canada. Mary is a God-fearing woman and a mother to 7 marvellous children, who were all raised here. She spent her days at home watching them and would work nightly at her healthcare job, in order to help furnish their basic needs. With that being said, she was never really given the time to focus on her own personal goals, as she always saw other priorities.

Mary has always had a passion for helping others in her community. She volunteers regularly in her church and throughout her town. Living in Red Deer for over 15 years, she noticed the shortage of resources specifically made for African residents. At the time, there were little to no stores offering authentic food or hair care products for black people, which is something she’d hoped to change. The moment she saw an opportunity, she knew she had to take charge of it. She became the founder of Chi-Buking International Store and from there, her business took off.

Chi-Buking started off small and with only a few customers. It took a lot of time and dedication but, with her kids in school, she was able to put her focus elsewhere. With the support of her husband and family, she witnessed the growth of her company in ways she never thought were possible. As the town’s population expanded, so did her business. Chi-Buking offers a variety of items, starting from snacks, drinks, spices, fresh food products, all the way down to cosmetics, hair extensions, as well as skin care products. In the beginning, she had only dreamed of selling African goods and creating a place that’ll remind her customers of home, however now, she’s able to provide that same feeling to anybody regardless of where they’re from.

Sabrina Samuel (Red Deer)

Sabrina Samuel (she/her) works on the Period Promise campaign to end period poverty with her Soroptomist club, who won the Mayor’s Recognition Award for their efforts. In 2022 she was named Emerging Artist of the Year by the Red Deer Arts Council for her creative writing about women, social justice and inclusion.

She shares her story to help others, and was chosen as one of 30 Canadians for the BIPOC Writers Connect Conference through the Writers Union of Canada.

Volunteering with Central Alberta Pride Society, she assists with education and advocacy for GLBT people and also serves on the Red Deer Public Library Board.

At the onset of the pandemic, Sabrina started Surrender Living, an online space to create art and promote wellness.

She works in mental health with her lived experiences and continues to find her voice.

Sheyi Paul OLUBOWALE (Red Deer)

Sheyi Paul OLUBOWALE is a community builder in Red Deer. A physiotherapist of 23 years with interest in Public Health, he has lived, studied, volunteered and worked in Alberta since 2006 with short work stints in BC and SK.
Sheyi’s Purpose Statement is Support Diversity, Validate Equity, Enhance Inclusion, Dissolve Racism; dignity and mutual respect for all human groups.
His community service includes as a member of the Advisory Committee on Discrimination, Oppression and Inequity, Physiotherapy Alberta College & Association in 2021, and as Volunteer Interviewer for the Masters in Physiotherapy Program, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta. With his wife Motso supporting, Sheyi has also Organized COUPLES Night-out, Central Alberta: Dinners and luncheons to support young families mostly immigrants and BIPOCs (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), in Central Alberta.
Sheyi has volunteered at Potter’s Hands Ministry Kitchen: Cooking, Cleaning and Serving the homeless population, Downtown Red Deer since 2007. He tirelessly worked with organizers of Black Lives Matter at the 5th June 2020 peaceful rally for George Floyd at Red Deer City Hall, and was an associate Speech Writer for this event. News article insert: https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/hundreds-gather-in-downtown-red-deer-for-black-lives-matter-protest/
Olubowale has been an example of a staunch believer in Diversity, Inclusion and Equity by not only talking the talk but walking it. Starting back in 2008 as part-initiator and part-time facilitator of the Internationally Educated Physiotherapists Study Group, Bredin Institute in Edmonton- Physiotherapy Competency Examination preparatory classes- Instructing immigrant physiotherapists who needed to get certified to practice in Canada- 2008.
Now as co-owner at Timberlands Physiotherapy Clinic (ARCAR Centre Inc.), he prioritizes employment for Canadians living with disabilities, visible minorities, people from minority cultural & religious groups and those who otherwise would have limited opportunities.
In 2007-2008, Sheyi initiated and was director for the Allied Health Street Clinic, Red Deer- a non-profit clinic founded to support vulnerable & immigrant populations in Central Alberta who cannot afford physiotherapy and other allied health services- which pilot-operated for 6 months downtown, Red Deer. Moreover, he was a 2020 Conversation Starter, Facebook: Red Deer Against Racism RDAR Facebook Group with more than 2,000 members.
Since 2019, Sheyi has spoken, written, initiated and facilitated several meetings with stakeholders in his community in a bid to motivate action for human rights since 2019.

Clarice Anderson (Edmonton)

Clarice Anderson is a proud member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. She holds a Master’s degree in Land Based Education and has worked in the field of education for 21 years in various capacities. Clarice is passionate and committed to building capacity in Indigenous education. As a child of a residential school survivor, she understood at an early age the importance education played in her life and those around her. This understanding became a driving force in her pursuit of higher education and fulfilling care.

Clarice is a dedicated volunteer and serves on the national Board of Directors for YWCA Canada. She is a former member of the YWCA Edmonton Board of Directors and the Founding Chair and continuing committee member of the YWCA Edmonton Reconciliation Committee.

Clarice is a committed advocate for education on Indigenous histories and issues, from students in elementary schools to government to national boards. As part of her job with Edmonton Public School Board, Clarice supervises curriculum development to work toward fair and complete representation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, histories, and perspectives. She speaks publicly to share her perspective and invite people in to learn, such as speaking on the Two Crees in a Pod podcast in an episode titled “Gifts from our Grandmothers with Clarice Anderson and Dao Nguyen.”

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/gifts-from-our-grandmothers-with-clarice-anderson-and/id1517083728?i=1000491151967

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-public-schools-honours-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation.

Sherri Smith (Red Deer)

Sherri Smith has been a resident of Central Alberta since 1988 and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, working in municipal government. She is married and the proud mother of two beautiful daughters, each pursuing post secondary education, in education and dental hygiene.
Sherri has volunteered with the United Way of Central Alberta since 1988, as a campaign volunteer, an employee campaign chair, member of the Citizen Review committee, Campaign Cabinet member and in 2011 was a Co-Chair of the yearly campaign. In 2006 she received the Dalton Skinner Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to the United Way of Central Alberta, and in 2010 was a recipient of the Ray Morrison Award for Outstanding Volunteer Commitment.
In 1995 Sherri became a member of Soroptimist International of Central Alberta, a worldwide volunteer organization that helps women and girls with the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Helping women and girls with their educational opportunities through the club’s awards and programs, empowers them to live their dreams and create positive change for themselves, their families, their communities and the world.
She is currently the club president and was instrumental in the club’s involvement in bringing the Purple Light Nights Domestic Violence Awareness campaign to Central Alberta in 2016. The campaign grows each year and hopes to expand to more communities across the province.
In 2021 she was also principally involved with Soroptimists partnering with the United Way of Central Alberta, who together started the award winning Period Promise Pilot Project in 4 Red Deer Schools. The pilot provided dispensers and free pads and tampons in every single washroom in those schools, and collected data for a 15 month period. Based on this pilot, more schools are now being funded by the Government of Alberta through United Ways across the province, providing barrier free tampons and pads in washrooms, and working to end the shame, silence and stigma around menstruation.
She has since become a fierce menstrual equity advocate to end period poverty, participating in a Gender Equality symposium on Period Poverty, and participated in many other advocacy events across Canada. She continues to speak about period poverty and the pilot project and the barriers people who menstruate face, and the education needed to address those barriers.
A motto Sherri tends to live by is “For a community to be great, it has to be great for everyone”. Sherri works to make this a reality for all in Central Alberta and for the organizations and agencies that help them. For all of this, while not looking for recognition for herself, she has received two Mayor’s Recognition awards from the City of Red Deer, Beta Sigma Phi Woman of the Year, Woman of Excellence award in Community Building from the Red Deer and District Community Foundation, Frances Wagner Woman of Achievement from Soroptimists Western Canada Region and was named as one of six women in Alberta in 2019 as a Daughter of the Year, from the Canadians for a Civil Society.

Zeljka Udovicic (Red Deer)

Zeljka Udovicic is treasurer of the board of directors of Education for Somali Girls and Boys Foundation. She has a social work degree from the University of Calgary and early childhood education. She is a registered worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers. She did work with McMan Youth, Family and Community Service Association. She works as a Family School Wellness Worker at Chinook’s Edge School Division. Zeljka has been volunteering with us since the beginning of the foundation and has helped with many events. She is an active member of the community. She used to volunteer with the school by organizing various events. She is part of the film for Refugees (Journeys of Hope), organized by C.A.R.E. in 2016. She is the founder of the Humanitarian Association “Svetlana S. Simic,” which provides scholarships to underprivileged youth to attend the University or College of their choice. She deserved the Diversity Friends Award.

Patrick Mitsuing (Sylvan Lake)

Patrick Mitsuing and his wife Marissa are indigenous community builders who call the Sylvan Lake area home. Most recently, he has become internationally noted for his fancy dance performance at the 2023 Super Bowl and performance in Paris at the Canadian France Ambassadors Palace. He is the founder and coordinator of the Red Deer International Powwow.

Locally, they have been champions for learning and culture and have walked our municipality through and facilitated a flag smudging and raising ceremony, elder campfire chats, and showcased their traditions at numerous local events.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/patrick-mitsuing-super-bowl-performance-1.6744866

Patrick Mitsuing is creating a healthy powwow community

Friends of Diversity (Organization)

Innisfail Welcoming & Inclusive (Innisfail)

IWICC is focusing on education and training so that community members can learn from each other, share their stories and celebrate the diversity within our community. The ultimate goal is that Innisfail is a town where people of a diverse background, live, work and play together. The committee has members that are from education, police, health services, youth serves, international development, union leader and entrepreneurs.Vision of the Committee:
Goals of the Committee:
To have conversations to learn about what are the issues and challenges that people of different backgrounds have experienced in Innisfail.
To support educating people in the community about what a Welcoming & Inclusive community is or should be.
Promote awareness, training and education
Build community capacity and cultural understanding
Develop a dialogue with the schools, businesses, the town about matters of concern to citizens in relation to anti-racism.
Accomplishments:
1. Speakers series
2. Welcoming Mural: with Welcome in over 50 languages from community members.
3. Blanket Exercise
4. A labor of love of 1200 hearts led by the elementary school art teacher and a IWICC committee member.
5. Support & assistance with anti-bullying & Pride activities.

Infinity Safety Awareness (Edmonton)

Infinity is committed to promoting wellbeing, mental health, safety awareness and preventing incidents at work, at home, and in other non-occupational settings.

We provide behaviour-based wellbeing mental health, safety, and environment information and training to community members. This training includes newcomers and immigrants.

There are many topics that are considered taboo in various cultures and one of these includes LGBTQ+ and getting support for mental health. We hope to generate change by openly discussing and sharing information on adoption, fostering, mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights.

Our organization connects with you to influence a gradual process of changing behaviors around safety. Our staff are skilled professionals who work with you to understand your needs and will move at your pace and comfort level.

We hold workshops every month and find other charity and non-profit organizations to support us with rental spaces. We hope you can donate funds to support our cause and help Albertans stay mentally and physically safe and able to support themselves and their families.

Bentley School (Bentley)

For the past four years, Bentley School’s leadership team has been hosting a Blanket Drive at their school for the month of January. Once the blankets have been collected, the leadership group spends an evening dropping them off on park benches in downtown Red Deer.
The leadership committee is a group of approximately 25 students who organize and plan events at the school, in addition to giving back to the community. A main goal for students is to develop empathy and altruism through volunteerism.

The idea for this initiative started back in 2019 when leadership teacher, Jannah Bertin, saw a similar idea on the social media platform Upworthy. As soon as she saw the initiative, she knew it was something she wanted to do with her students, as there is a great need for this in the downtown area.

It has now become an annual tradition every January. In addition to dropping off blankets, the committee goes to a local store, fills a grocery cart with toiletries, and drops them off at Safe Harbour Society.

Bentley School wants people who may be struggling during the winter months to know that they are not alone, and that people care.

Habitat for Humanity (Edmonton)

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
In 2021, Habitat developed an organization-wide event for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. One reason we implemented the event was to expose staff to the diverse traditions of some of their fellow staff and the neighbours in the community. The event is led by Indigenous staff and includes speakers, storytelling, and performances from various leaders and elders in the Indigenous community. Each year we shut down our retail operations at each of our four stores and provide transportation so that staff can be part of this celebration.

Not Myself Today
In 2021, Habitat implemented the Not Myself Today program that uses tools from the Canadian Mental Health Association. As part of the program, Habitat hosts a biweekly call that allows for discussion around mental health and tools to help navigate life. The result of this program has been an increase in staff utilizing the supports that Habitat offers, normalizing the conversation around mental health, prompted some employees to take additional mental health courses, including Mental Health First Aid. Hosting these biweekly calls has enabled Habitat to provide a safe space to discuss mental health.

Ecole St Paul School (Fort McMurray)

Ecole St Paul School through her E, D&I champion (Mireille Zatcha) have organized the Black History Month celebration in their building for 8 years now.
They have educated the students on BLack History and have shared the accomplishment of Black Canadians with their Students.
They have showcased the Black People culture by organizing Fashion shows, Danses and food/fruit tastings.

This have allowed Black students of Ecole St Paul to be proud of their culture and cultural backgrounds, to know that they – just as their ancestors – are part of the Mosaic that Canada is and they are called to contribute to its development.

Oiltown Records (Fort McMurray)

I am nominating Oiltown Records because through their artistry they are bringing urban Music (Afro beats, Rap, RnB, Hip Hop,Reggae and Reggaton) to Fort McMurray, allowing minorities such as Black Canadian and Latino-canadian to enjoy their very cultural music.
Their presence in the region is promoting diversity and inclusion.

MT Consulting (Edmonton)

MT Consulting is an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion firm that walks the talk. They exemplify Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to their clients and are committed to hiring a diverse team of skilled facilitators, integrating different perspectives into their services. They create accessible learning opportunities for clients and provide concrete examples of implementation. They are also creating innovative programming regarding making nature accessible, and body size within the spa industry and workplaces. They are change-makers!

Currently, they are working with the Municipality of Waterloo to train all staff in the basics of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. This work creates ripples of social change within a large government.

The Peace and Friendship (Individual)

Patricia Arango (Red Deer)

Colombian born and raised where she studied and completed her first degree as a Psychologist in Social and Community Psychology. Using her strong background in community and social development, along with a passion for serving disadvantaged families, she developed, implemented, and managed a non-profit organization to work with women, children, gender equality, and disadvantaged people. . In addition, she had the privilege of serving as Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Manizales and the Estate University. After five years in these positions, Ms. Arango moved to Bogotá where she accepted a government-level position.
As Human Rights Adviser in the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia, later becoming an Adviser for Indigenous Affairs at the Ministry of the Interior, Ms. Arango had the gratifying opportunity to make a difference for all the indigenous communities in the country. Her knowledge and skills in implementing programs at the community level for disadvantaged families proceeded to the national level in the Indigenous Training Programs. At the government level, Ms. Arango used her frontline work and gave voice to women’s inequality issues, gender, sex work, recyclers. Homeless people and addiction problems.
Immigrating to Canada to reunite with family became an adventure and a challenge. Learning English and redeeming her professional status from Colombia to Canadian requirements were her priority. Settling in Toronto, she was actively involved in a pilot project at the Cancer Care Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital/ Toronto General Hospital as a personal assistant with people diagnosed with cancer, she was able to help families and people affected by the disease to Navigate the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient services. When she finished this project, Ms. Arango moved to a casual job at the Women’s Shelter in Sutton, Ontario. Beginning a front-line position was not only the beginning of her journey in the shelter it was the advancement in life in Canada, the position and as an Outreach Worker also House Manager and later Executive Director, Ms. Arango continued her passion to serve vulnerable women, discrimination, gender equality, multiculturalism and help for immigrants.
In keeping with her desire to help women and her dedication to cancer survivors, she volunteered with Community Hospice in Sutton, Ontario to facilitate a group for women cancer survivors. She worked to raise awareness and inspiration in the cancer community; Mrs. Arango with four members of the group formed a Dragon Boat team. “Georgina Damsel Flyers” which grew to 45 members in just six months of the team’s founding. Many events were held throughout the province and funds were raised for the Cancer Society.
Ms. Arango’s professional reputation at the first women’s shelter transferred her vocation to southwestern Ontario at a second women’s shelter in Chatham Kent, where she served as executive director. During her tenure as Executive Director, five rooms for large families were added, a safe and positive space was created that all religious faiths and spiritualities could use, Welcoming and safety space for mental health and addiction clients; the Campaign and the “Purple lease campaigning” Program, which consisted of creating homes for pets, because women could not abandon their pets to stay in the shelter. Her accomplishments in the five years that she was Executive Director reflect her vision, passion, and dedication to equality in women’s lives and equitable services to ensure objectivity and fairness for all.
Currently, for the past eight years, Ms. Arango holds the position of Executive Director at the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Center (CASASC). During this time, she has expanded: the
24/7 crisis care program, Text, web chat and call calls is a community-based Program, with more than 120 active volunteers and with the support of a group of professionals who are attentive to complex conversations that need professional help. Most of these contacts are attended by students from the colleges and universities of the province.
The Prevention Program: which consists of Education in all schools in the region from kindergarten to grade twelve, and Intervention for children who have sexualized behaviors.
Intervention Program, in person or virtual to accommodate the needs of the population, is a free therapeutic aid to all victims of sexual violence. as well as the Police and court support program, for clients who need it.
The program for indigenous communities attended by three aborigines,
#IRESPECT Campaign that has become the most important pillar and value of the organization.
Recognitions:
2023 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
2020 Women of Excellence award, “Life Achievement award.”
2018 Red Deer Chamber of Commerce First Non-for-profit organization business of the year,
2017 Inspiration award
2016 The Soroptimist Ruby Award “Women helping Women.”

Katherine O’Neill (Edmonton)

YWCA Edmonton has taken great strides in the past 4 years to educate Board members, staff, and the public about Indigenous histories and the continuing impacts of settler colonialism and the Indian Act.

To strengthen internal awareness and allyship, the organization has taken actions such as deliberate recruitment of persons who self-identify as Indigenous to the Board of Directors, the formation of a standing Reconciliation Committee of the Board to commit to ongoing education and action toward the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and requiring all YWCA Edmonton staff to complete the Indigenous Canada MOOC through University of Alberta.

YWCA Edmonton has supported multiple in-person and virtual events that aim to educate the public, share stories from Indigenous voices, and offer hope and healing to women and girls struggling with intergenerational trauma. Some examples include: Having human rights journalist Brandi Morin, one of Canada’s most prominent journalistic voices on Indigenous issues, as the keynote speaker at the BIPOC Youth ‘Imagine That’ event and the Rose Campaign event to raise funds to end gender-based violence, and also hosting Ms. Morin’s book launch for “Our Voice of Fire.” Hosting We Dance For Life (Pima’tisowin e’mimtotaman) healing retreats at Camp Yowochas for mothers and daughters of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG). Presenting Indigenous-focused topics on the virtual Power Lunch series with speakers like Tanya Talaga, author of “Seven Fallen Feathers.”

YWCA Edmonton is also at the forefront of collaborating nationally with other YWCAs to take an honest look at YWCA Canada’s history and address any involvement at the national or local levels in inequitable, racist, and exclusionary practices toward Indigenous women during its 115-year history as an organization in Canada.

We Dance for Life (Pima’tisowin e’ mimtotaman)

Keynote Brandi Morin

The Power Lunch

The Peace and Friendship (Organization)

The African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta (Red Deer)

The African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta is a grassroots organization founded by Zainab Mohamoud, and her board of directors supports her in achieving her goal to become a reality. ACCoCA organized the 1st Annual Afro-Caribbean Cultural Event on November 18, 2022, in Red Deer, Alberta. The event successfully raised enough funds to open an office in Red Deer with staff to fully equip them to execute their vision and mission to provide culturally appropriate projects, cultural events and multiculturalism festivals in central Alberta. This organization is committed to enhancing and strengthening African Caribbean people in Central Alberta to have the best quality of life and achieve their full potential.
This organization deserves to be recognized for its critical work for diverse people in Central Alberta and beyond.

Red Deer & District Community Foundation (Red Deer)

Red Deer & District Community Foundation has been supporting the community of Red Deer, including grassroots organizations that provide services to the marginalized community in the city. Red Deer & District Community Foundation has significantly impacted Central Alberta by providing $11 million granted to charities in the last 31 years. The foundation’s staff and board members are working hard for the community and are instrumental in the generosity of the donors. The Red Deer & District Community Foundation deserves the Diversity Friends Award because they have been a champion of diversity groups in Central Alberta to thrive at their best.

The Categories

Organizational Diversity:

An Alberta organization that has made a significant improvement in diversity and inclusion with support documents, references, programs, hiring, policy, or implementation.

Friends of Diversity:

An Albertan that has made significant strides in fostering diversity and inclusion in any sector in Alberta.

The Peace and Friendship Awards, (Individual or Organization):

Canada is a nation that has been built upon the foundation of Peace and Friendship treaties between Indigenous Nations and the Crown of Canada. These living treaties bind our country from sea to sea to sea and have contributed to the very nature of the Canadian identity. The spirit of these treaties is to ensure that Indigenous nations and newcomers endeavour to live peacefully, build and maintain good relations, mutually benefit from the land and her bounty, respect each other, share and learn from each other’s gifts, and to prosper. It¹s all about relationships.

Criteria: This annual award is given by the Indigenous community to a non-Indigenous person and an organization. It recognizes outstanding community work, volunteerism, relationship development, shared programming, and consistent efforts of support to build and maintain good relations with the Indigenous community.

For more information on Diversity Awards 2019, please click here

Diversity Awards 2023 Frequently Asked Questions.

Q: Is there a charge to be nominated?

A. No

Q: Is there a charge to attend the event?

A: Nominees go in for Free and those who are not nominees and want to attend must have a Diversity Magazine membership. Pick up a Diversity Magazine membership here

Q: Is there a special Diversity Awards edition of Diversity Magazine coming out on the day of Diversity Awards 2023, scheduled for Friday April 28, 2023, at Baymont Hotel in Red Deer?

A. Yes

Q: is there a cost to share your submissions or profile or any content in this magazine coming out on the day of the award?

A: No if you’re a Diversity Magazine member.

Yes, there’s a charge if you’re not a Diversity Magazine member. Please check the rates here.

Q: How long is the event, and what is on the agenda?

A: it’s a three-hour long event, one hour of presentation of awards sandwiched between two hours of networking and a panel discussion in the last 30 minutes of the first hour.

Q: How are the panelists selected for the award?

A: panelists are selected from the most inspiring submissions from all the nominees.

Q: Will there be refreshments and at what cost?

A: Yes there will be refreshments and it will be Free!

Diversity Awards 2023