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Annual General Meeting (2006)
The Hon. Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,
is guest speaker at SfC's Annual General Meeting. Video features
excerpts from his address.
October 24, 2006 |
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Annual General Meeting (2006)
Natalia Sardyha, a Mentee with SfC's
Mentoring for Employment program, thanks her Mentor, Olga Gagarina.
Video features excerpts from her address.
October 24, 2006 |
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Annual General Meeting (2007)
"Stranger in
a Strange Land" takes a look back to the beginning
of Skills for Change. It
premiered at the SfC November
2007 AGM.
November 27, 2007 |
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Annual General Meeting (2007)
November 27, 2007 |
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Annual General Meeting (2007)
"Happy Birthday Skills for Change" is a fast paced 25th. anniversary birthday wish
from clients, staff and friends of Skills for Change.
November 27, 2007 |
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Citation for Citizenship
(2003)
On October 16, 2003, Skills for Change was recognized with the
2003
Citation for Citizenship which honours Canadian individuals and
organizations for the outstanding contributions to assisting newcomers to
successfully integrate into Canadian society. |
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Diversity at Work
(2007)
What does diversity at work mean to your
organization?
March 2007 |
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Diversity at Work
(2007)
This Diversity at Work video
showcases how leading corporations in Canada define and support
diversity in their own workplace.
March 2007 |
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Dr. Taxi (2008)
A tongue in cheek look at
the challenges faced by
foreign-trained doctors in
Ontario. |
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Dreams Need Action (2008)
Mentor, Robert Kudo, and mentee,
Francisco Sordo, discuss their
mentoring experience at Skills
for Change. |
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Employer Networking
&
Recognition Breakfast (2007)
Susan Rogers, Manager, Workplace
Inclusiveness - Xerox Canada, speaks on the subject the "Value of
Engaging Immigrant Agencies in your Corporate Strategy."
October 2007 |
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Employer Networking
&
Recognition Breakfast (2007)
Dr. Alex Jadad, Chief Innovator and Founder,
Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, speaks on the subject "Is Your
Business Ready for the Demographic Tsunami?"
October 2007 |
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Employment Resource Centre Tour
(2007)
Your our Employment Resource
Centre on College Street in
Toronto.
March 2007 |
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We Envision a Canada Where Every
Immigrant Succeeds (2009)
Supporting diversity at work is
the focus of everything we do at
Skills for Change. |
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Expanding Our Horizons: How
has Skills for Change helped
you? (2009)
October 2009 |
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Holiday Greetings (2008)
December 2008 |
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Holiday Greetings (2009)
December 2009 |
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Job Search Workshop (JSW) Networking
Evening (2007)
Srna Stambuk
interviews graduates of JSW.
They describe their experiences
searching for work and share
some job search tips.
August 2007 |
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Launch of our Vision, Mission
and Values (2009)
March 2009 |
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New Pioneers Awards (1993)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards (1999)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards (2000)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2000)
Ismael Cala Lopez arrived in
Toronto, Canada in June 1998 as
a convention refugee, determined
to re-establish his broadcasting
career. |
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|
New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2000)
Dr. Samih (Sam) Mikhail’s
contributions in the development
of science and technology
education have had a significant
impact in the more than 20
countries that have benefited
from his work. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2000)
Since arriving in Canada in
1993, Farid Omar has overcome
adversity and personal trauma to
achieve academic triumphs and a
remarkable record of community
service. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2000)
Originally from Bangalore,
India, Lata Pada has made Canada
her home for the past 35 years.
During that time she has brought
great cultural enrichment to
both Canada and the world as a
dancer, choreographer, teacher,
lecturer and a pioneer of South
Asian dance. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2000)
Born in China, Dr. Alfred F.
Choo moved with his family to
Guyana before finally settling
in British Columbia when he was
15 years old. The son of a small
business owner, who often helped
his father run the family
grocery store, Alfred Choo was
destined to become an
entrepreneur. |
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New
Pioneers Awards - SfC Graduate
(2001)
Felisa Serrano came from the
Philippines in 1991 and was
employed as a domestic worker in
Toronto for two years. She had
studied business administration
and accounting in her home
country and was determined to
improve her job opportunities in
Canada. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2001)
Amanuel Melles arrived in Canada
in 1993 from Eritrea. His
academic background is in the
field of marine sciences and
research and in his home
country, he headed the
department of Marine Biology &
Fisheries at the University of
Asmara. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2001)
Ekaterina Rogaeva arrived in
Canada in 1992 with two young
daughters. She had received her
Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry
from Moscow University and had
worked as a senior scientist in
the laboratory of Clinical
Immunology at the Academy of
Medical Sciences in Moscow. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2001)
Alex Yeung's work melds eastern
and western aesthetics, with a
highly developed sense of form.
In 1991, Alex arrived from Hong
Kong to study at the University
of Manitoba where he graduated
with an Honours Bachelors degree
in Fine Arts. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2001)
Sri Lanka born Subajini
Mahalingham lived with her
parents in Bahrain before
immigrating to Canada in 1992 at
the age of 14. Today, this young
honours science student at
University of Toronto’s Trinity
College, is a role model to her
community. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2001)
India born Harinder Takhar
arrived in Canada in 1974 with a
Masters degree in Economics and
Political Science and little
money. Unable to find employment
in the financial sector, he
worked in a factory while
studying for a Certified
Management Accountant
designation. |
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New Pioneers Awards (2002)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2002)
Indian-born Callista Phillips
arrived in Canada in 1998 with
her husband and son to discover
that despite completing doctoral
studies in laboratory medicine
in her home country and five
years experience as a physician,
she could not enter the Canadian
medical system unless she was
licensed. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2002)
German-born Uwe Petroschke
accompanied his family to Canada
in 1966. Like many new
immigrants to Canada, Uwe did
not speak English and the family
experienced many challenges in
adjusting to their new homeland. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2002)
Jamaican born, Kevin King came
to Canada to live with his
mother when he was 13 years old
leaving behind his grandparents
who had brought him up. As this
was only the second time he had
met his mother, he found it
difficult to bond with her and
to adapt to a new culture and
new environment. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2002)
Eritrean-born Aster Fessahaie
arrived in Canada in 1975 as a
qualified, registered nurse only
to find her professional
qualifications were not
recognized in Canada. Realizing
the need for Canadian
qualifications she approached a
community college, where she was
advised to pursue Early
Childhood Education. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2002)
Greek born Christos Hatzis
immigrated to Canada in 1982
after completing his doctoral
studies in the USA. He entered
Canada as a nightclub musician
and for years lived
precariously, performing in
nightclubs with Greek bands
while working on his
compositions. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2002)
Colombian-born Alejandro (Alex)
Jadad arrived in Canada in 1995
after completing doctoral
studies in optimal treatment of
pain at Oxford University. He
was frustrated to find that he
could not work as a physician in
Canada, despite several years of
research and development of pain
management in the United
Kingdom. |
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New Pioneers Awards (2003)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2003)
Born in Singapore, Yvonne Ng
came to Canada in 1983 as an
international student. When she
applied to change her status to
that of a landed immigrant she
found the process a lengthy one.
Yvonne was determined to fulfill
her dream of becoming a
professional dancer in Canada
and overcame the obstacles that
came her way. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2003)
Adeena Niazi, a former professor
at Kabul University, was in
India on a scholarship when the
former Soviet Union seized her
homeland, Afghanistan. Unable to
return home she became a refugee
and in 1988 arrived in Canada as
a government sponsored refugee. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2003)
Born in Duisburg, Germany, Klaus
Nienkämper arrived in Canada in
1960 with $36 in his pocket and
a language barrier to overcome.
In 1968, with minimal capital,
established a company that
introduced classic European
imports to the Canadian market. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2003)
Born in the Azores, Portugal,
Elvino Sousa came to Canada in
1970 with his parents. Not
having any knowledge of English,
Elvino struggled to learn the
language, worked nights to
assist his parents with expenses
and went on to excel in high
school. |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2003)
Martha Kumsa arrived in Canada
as a refugee in 1991, escaping a
life of terror and uncertainty
in Ethiopia. As a broadcaster
and print journalist, she
continued to write voluminously
during the 10 years she spent in
jail as a prisoner of conscience
in Addis Ababa. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2003)
Born in Tanga, East Africa, Azim
Lila came to Canada in 1989 with
his parents. He had a
neurologically based learning
disability that was not
correctly diagnosed until he
arrived in Canada.
Notwithstanding his disability,
Azim has progressed through high
school and is currently a third
year student at York University. |
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New Pioneers Awards (2004)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2004)
Born in mainland China to a
musical family, An-lun Huang was
prevented from pursuing his
undergraduate studies in music
by the Cultural Revolution in
his native country. Undeterred,
he educated himself and was
appointed resident composer and
assistant conductor at the
Central Opera House of China in
Beijing. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2004)
George Sefa Dei came to Canada
from Ghana in 1979 to pursue
higher education, completing his
Ph.D. at the University of
Toronto and a post-doctoral
fellowship at the University of
Windsor. In 1991, he joined the
Ontario Institute for Studies in
Education (OISE) at the
University of Toronto. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2004)
Born in India, Mahesh Agarwal
arrived in Canada in 1968 on a
scholarship to study for a
Master’s degree in Engineering
at the University of New
Brunswick. Upon completion of
his studies, Mahesh faced great
difficulties in finding a job
and in 1976, started a
home-based business designing
home dialysis machines. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2004)
Born in Corfu, Greece, Andreas
Mandelis fled military rule and
came to Canada in 1979 via the
United States. He has been a
faculty member at the University
of Toronto since 1982 and was
appointed a full Professor of
Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering and Electrical and
Computer Engineering in 1990. |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2004)
Julius Zombori has a Ph.D. and a
Chartered Accountant designation
from his home country, Hungary.
He served as a senior faculty
member of Hungary’s premier
university and a research fellow
at Yale University in the U.S.,
he hoped to find employment
quickly in Toronto. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2004)
In the summer of 1997, Shirley
Zeng arrived in Canada with her
mother. Not having any knowledge
of either English or French,
eleven year old Shirley faced
the daunting task of learning
both languages simultaneously
and within a couple of years
excelled in high school French
earning ‘As’ without ever being
tutored. |
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New Pioneers Awards (2005)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2005)
Arriving in Vancouver from
Beijing in 1977, Chan Hon Goh
had to learn English and adjust
to a completely new culture. Her
parents, who set up a ballet
academy in Vancouver, did not
want Chan to follow in their
footsteps and become a dancer.
Consequently, she trained as a
concert pianist for 11 years. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2005)
Raised in apartheid South
Africa, Sabra Desai proved her
mettle after arriving in Canada
at the age of 20 and being told
that a university education was
not for her. This was Toronto in
1970. Unwilling to accept this
decision, Sabra persisted in
researching options and learned
about the programs for mature
students offered by the
University of Toronto. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2005)
David Tavares’ family came to
Canada in 1966 to escape the
political climate of Portugal.
Nineteen-year-old David, who had
been working for Portugal
Telecom for a short time,
recognized that in Canada his
first and foremost challenge was
to master the English language. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
and Technology (2005)
Dimitrios Oreopoulos was raised
in Athens, Greece where he
studied medicine and attained
his MD degree and then completed
his medical PhD degree in
Belfast, Ireland. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills
for Change Graduate (2005)
Before arriving in Canada in
1997, Philippines born Eric
Acuna had a promising career in
his home country where, as a
management and industrial
engineering graduate, he worked
as a Quality Control Manager for
a large printing press in
Manila. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2005)
Edona Çaku and her family
arrived in Canada in the fall of
2000 from Albania. Fifteen-year
old Edona soon adjusted to a new
culture, language and school
setting and within months
achieved an A+ average at the
York Memorial Collegiate
Institute. |
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New Pioneers Awards (2006)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards (2006)
At the September 11 New Pioneers
Awards Press Conference, The
Hon. Mike Colle, Ontario
Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration, announces that the
Ontario Government will continue
their sponsorship support of the
New Pioneers Awards Gala for
2007. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts Award
(2006)
Natalie
Wood arrived in Canada
from Trinidad in 1984 to study
at the University of Toronto and
graduated with a degree in
psychology in 1988.
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New Pioneers Awards - Community
Service Award
(2006)
Carl James came from
Antigua, the Caribbean, in 1973
to pursue post secondary studies
in Canada. Today he is well
known as a public educator who
promotes equity, anti-racist
education and the healthy
development of youth. |
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New Pioneers Awards
- Entrepreneurship Award
(2006)
A
37-year-old farmer who
immigrated to Canada from Sicily
in 1954, Gaetano Gagliano laid the foundation for
what has become Canada’s largest
privately owned communications
company.
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New Pioneers Awards - Science &
Technology Award (2006)
After receiving his Bachelor’s
degree in Electronics and
Communication Engineering in
India, Sridhar Krishnan
came to Canada to pursue
graduate studies in Electrical
and Computer Engineering.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills for
Change Graduate Award (2006)
Kim Hoan Trinh was one of the many
Vietnamese refugees who arrived
in Canada by boat in the early
eighties. Fortunately the
Toronto Office Skills Training
Project (now SfC) was launched
around this time. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth Award
(2006)
Sharangabo
Ntare Patrick survived the genocide in Rwanda. Sharangabo’s dream
became receiving the education
that so many others of his
generation were denied the
right.
|
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New Pioneers Awards (2007)
Event photo gallery |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts Award
(2007)
Hari Krishnan
is an internationally recognized
master of the South Indian
courtly dance known as Bharatanatyam. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Community
Service Award
(2007)
When Beverley Halls came to
Canada from Trinidad, she had a
lot to adjust to. Life as a
newcomer was complex. In
addition to the new climate and
foods, there was a new culture
to conform to. |
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New Pioneers Awards
- Entrepreneurship Award
(2007)
Bruce Poon Tip moved to
Toronto to start G.A.P Adventures, a
one-person operation offering a few tours to
South America. He believed that many others would want to
experience “real world” travel.
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New Pioneers Awards - Science &
Technology Award (2007)
Dr. K.W. Michael Siu epitomizes the immigrant success story. In 1977, he
and his wife arrived in Canada where he earned his Ph.D. at Dalhousie
University.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills for
Change Graduate Award (2007)
Ever since he got his first “real job” as an
Engineer in Canada, Juan Orozco has
given back to the community. He
tells other
engineers how he found his first
engineering job. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth Award
(2007)
Sadia Rafiquddin
is determined to increase people’s
understanding and tolerance of the Ahmadiyya
community.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts Award
(2008)
In 1988, Sashar Zarif
immigrated to Canada from Turkey
as a Stateless Refugee of the
United Nations. With the
assistance of his parents he had
escaped from Iran through the
mountains and sought asylum in
Turkey. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Community
Service Award
(2008)
Helen
Tewolde epitomizes the story of second-generation Canadian achievers and
trailblazers born to immigrant parents. During the civil war with
Ethiopia, Helen’s parents fled Eritrea. |
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New Pioneers Awards
- Entrepreneurship Award
(2008)
Bernardo Riveros came to Canada from Colombia as an international
student. Having fallen in love
with this country and its
people, he decided to immigrate.
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New Pioneers Awards - Science &
Technology Award (2008)
An
extraordinarily talented mathematician and internationally recognized
scientific leader, Professor Jianhong Wu has already made a large number of
important contributions to
mathematics.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills for
Change Graduate Award (2008)
After
landing in Canada in 2000, Afshin Ebtekar began studying English and
collecting detailed information regarding the job market and job search
techniques.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth Award
(2008)
When Ellen Xi Yang arrived in Toronto in 2003, her strength of character,
resourcefulness and courage enabled her to overcome significant
barriers to settling in Canada.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts Award
(2009)
King Achilla Orru Apaa-Idomo’s blindness has not deterred him from
pursuing his passions. His life of
achievement in music and community involvement is a testament to his
success. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Community
Service Award
(2009)
Jamila Aman works tirelessly to help new
immigrants and refugees adjust and acclimatize to their new
environments, which at times can be financially and emotionally
overwhelming. |
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New Pioneers Awards
- Entrepreneurship Award
(2009)
Neena and Vijay Kanwar overcame many
obstacles in their journey to build a better tomorrow for themselves and
for the community at large.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Science &
Technology Award
(2009)
Dr. Hadi Mahabadi had the desire to live and work in a country which had respect for
freedom and human rights. That prompted his decision in 1981to leave
Iran and immigrate to Canada.
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills for
Change Graduate Award (2009)
Pedro V. Vargas-Zamora wanted to pave the way for his
family, as he was the eldest and had a well-established career in
Occupational Health and Safety in Chile. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth Award
(2009)
Mariatu Kamara is an inspirational
young woman who exemplifies the best of humanity. She speaks softly and
is always concerned about the well being of others.
|
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts Award
(2010)
Joan Butterfield worked tirelessly to
overcome the challenges that await new immigrants to Canada. While
raising her children in a new country, Joan turned to the study of the
ancient art form of decoupage. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Community
Service Award
(2010)
Antonius Jamal Clarke is a
well-known activist and
visionary leader among youth,
both in his Jane-Finch community
of Toronto and across the
Greater Toronto Area. |
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New Pioneers Awards
- Entrepreneurship Award
(2010)
When Sam Bouji immigrated to
Canada from Egypt in 1989 with
his wife and three children, he
came without a business network,
with limited knowledge of
English, and with an
unrecognized degree. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science &
Technology Award
(2010)
Shortly after completing
graduate studies in Guayana, Dr.
Jamal Deen accepted a job as
Assistant Professor at Simon
Fraser University and immigrated
to Canada in 1986 with his wife
and infant son. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills for
Change Graduate Award (2010)
In October 2006, Tsering
Dolma arrived in Canada as a
refugee claimant from India.
Hoping to continue teaching,
Tsering took ESL classes, cooked
and cleaned at shelters and
worked toward getting her
teaching degree assessed. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
Award (2010)
As an adolescent, Karar
moved from Iraq to Scarborough,
Ontario. Leaving the war-torn
country, he found himself
confronted with a new system, a
new language, different
cultures, and economic
disadvantage. |
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Press Conference - Toronto
Global ISAP Funding Announcement
- Part 1
(2009)
The Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada,
makes major Toronto Global ISAP funding announcement at Skills for
Change.
February 2008 |
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Press Conference - Toronto
Global ISAP Funding Announcement
- Part 2
(2009)
Skills for Change graduates
Alberto Segura and Abdullah Kausar speak
at the press conference.
February 2008 |
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SfC Business Community
Partnership Awards (2003)
At the SfC Business Community
Partnership Awards breakfast
awards ceremony, four companies
were honoured for their
partnership efforts to provide
SfC clients with training and
employment opportunities. |
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SfC Business Community
Partnership Awards (2004)
This year the SfC Business
Community Partnership Awards
were given in three categories -
Dedication to Learning
Enrichment, Outstanding New
Business Partner and Business
Partner of the Year. |
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SfCvoices: Stranger in a
Strange Land
Libby Ackermann,
a founder of Toronto Office
Skills (now Skills for Change),
reminisces about how it was at
the beginning in 1982. |
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Staff Group Photos
These are photos that were used
in our Annual Reports. |
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Teach in Ontario Graduation
(2007)
"We need to tap into the
wonderful experience of our
foreign-trained teachers ", says
The Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Ontario
Minister of Education.
February 15, 2007 |
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Teach in Ontario Graduation
(2007)
Shabnum Budhwani, Coordinator of
the Teach in Ontario Program at
Skills for Change, comments
"Knowledge has the power to
change the world, and it cannot
be allowed to go waste."
February 15, 2007 |
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Teach
in Ontario Graduation (2007)
Lorette Handal, a graduate of
the Teach in Ontario French
program says "We have everything
it takes to be good teachers
here in Ontario, our new home".
February 15, 2007 |
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Teach
in Ontario Graduation (2007)
A dedicated and untiring
volunteer since the inception of
the Teach in Ontario program in
2004, Greg has always been
around without fail, teaching,
coaching and motivating the
program participants.
February 15, 2007 |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2000)
Ismael Cala Lopez arrived in
Toronto, Canada in June 1998 as
a convention refugee, determined
to re-establish his broadcasting
career. |
|
|
|
New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2000)
Dr. Samih (Sam) Mikhail’s
contributions in the development
of science and technology
education have had a significant
impact in the more than 20
countries that have benefited
from his work. |
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|
New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2000)
In 1997 Carla Rosario left her
home in Peru and joined her
father in Canada to pursue her
education. Despite the
challenges and stresses of her
new life, Carla’s positive
spirit and determination have
prevailed. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2000)
Since arriving in Canada in
1993, Farid Omar has overcome
adversity and personal trauma to
achieve academic triumphs and a
remarkable record of community
service. |
|
|
|
New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2000)
Originally from Bangalore,
India, Lata Pada has made Canada
her home for the past 35 years.
During that time she has brought
great cultural enrichment to
both Canada and the world as a
dancer, choreographer, teacher,
lecturer and a pioneer of South
Asian dance. |
|
|
|
New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2000)
Born in China, Dr. Alfred F.
Choo moved with his family to
Guyana before finally settling
in British Columbia when he was
15 years old. The son of a small
business owner, who often helped
his father run the family
grocery store, Alfred Choo was
destined to become an
entrepreneur. |
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New
Pioneers Awards - SfC Graduate
(2001)
Felisa Serrano came from the
Philippines in 1991 and was
employed as a domestic worker in
Toronto for two years. She had
studied business administration
and accounting in her home
country and was determined to
improve her job opportunities in
Canada. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2001)
Amanuel Melles arrived in Canada
in 1993 from Eritrea. His
academic background is in the
field of marine sciences and
research and in his home
country, he headed the
department of Marine Biology &
Fisheries at the University of
Asmara. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2001)
Ekaterina Rogaeva arrived in
Canada in 1992 with two young
daughters. She had received her
Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry
from Moscow University and had
worked as a senior scientist in
the laboratory of Clinical
Immunology at the Academy of
Medical Sciences in Moscow. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2001)
Alex Yeung's work melds eastern
and western aesthetics, with a
highly developed sense of form.
In 1991, Alex arrived from Hong
Kong to study at the University
of Manitoba where he graduated
with an Honours Bachelors degree
in Fine Arts. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2001)
Sri Lanka born Subajini
Mahalingham lived with her
parents in Bahrain before
immigrating to Canada in 1992 at
the age of 14. Today, this young
honours science student at
University of Toronto’s Trinity
College, is a role model to her
community. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2001)
India born Harinder Takhar
arrived in Canada in 1974 with a
Masters degree in Economics and
Political Science and little
money. Unable to find employment
in the financial sector, he
worked in a factory while
studying for a Certified
Management Accountant
designation. |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2002)
Indian-born Callista Phillips
arrived in Canada in 1998 with
her husband and son to discover
that despite completing doctoral
studies in laboratory medicine
in her home country and five
years experience as a physician,
she could not enter the Canadian
medical system unless she was
licensed. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2002)
German-born Uwe Petroschke
accompanied his family to Canada
in 1966. Like many new
immigrants to Canada, Uwe did
not speak English and the family
experienced many challenges in
adjusting to their new homeland. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2002)
Jamaican born, Kevin King came
to Canada to live with his
mother when he was 13 years old
leaving behind his grandparents
who had brought him up. As this
was only the second time he had
met his mother, he found it
difficult to bond with her and
to adapt to a new culture and
new environment. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2002)
Eritrean-born Aster Fessahaie
arrived in Canada in 1975 as a
qualified, registered nurse only
to find her professional
qualifications were not
recognized in Canada. Realizing
the need for Canadian
qualifications she approached a
community college, where she was
advised to pursue Early
Childhood Education. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2002)
Greek born Christos Hatzis
immigrated to Canada in 1982
after completing his doctoral
studies in the USA. He entered
Canada as a nightclub musician
and for years lived
precariously, performing in
nightclubs with Greek bands
while working on his
compositions. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2002)
Colombian-born Alejandro (Alex)
Jadad arrived in Canada in 1995
after completing doctoral
studies in optimal treatment of
pain at Oxford University. He
was frustrated to find that he
could not work as a physician in
Canada, despite several years of
research and development of pain
management in the United
Kingdom. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2003)
Born in Singapore, Yvonne Ng
came to Canada in 1983 as an
international student. When she
applied to change her status to
that of a landed immigrant she
found the process a lengthy one.
Yvonne was determined to fulfill
her dream of becoming a
professional dancer in Canada
and overcame the obstacles that
came her way. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2003)
Adeena Niazi, a former professor
at Kabul University, was in
India on a scholarship when the
former Soviet Union seized her
homeland, Afghanistan. Unable to
return home she became a refugee
and in 1988 arrived in Canada as
a government sponsored refugee. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2003)
Born in Duisburg, Germany, Klaus
Nienkämper arrived in Canada in
1960 with $36 in his pocket and
a language barrier to overcome.
In 1968, with minimal capital,
established a company that
introduced classic European
imports to the Canadian market. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2003)
Born in the Azores, Portugal,
Elvino Sousa came to Canada in
1970 with his parents. Not
having any knowledge of English,
Elvino struggled to learn the
language, worked nights to
assist his parents with expenses
and went on to excel in high
school. |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2003)
Martha Kumsa arrived in Canada
as a refugee in 1991, escaping a
life of terror and uncertainty
in Ethiopia. As a broadcaster
and print journalist, she
continued to write voluminously
during the 10 years she spent in
jail as a prisoner of conscience
in Addis Ababa. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2003)
Born in Tanga, East Africa, Azim
Lila came to Canada in 1989 with
his parents. He had a
neurologically based learning
disability that was not
correctly diagnosed until he
arrived in Canada.
Notwithstanding his disability,
Azim has progressed through high
school and is currently a third
year student at York University. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2004)
Born in mainland China to a
musical family, An-lun Huang was
prevented from pursuing his
undergraduate studies in music
by the Cultural Revolution in
his native country. Undeterred,
he educated himself and was
appointed resident composer and
assistant conductor at the
Central Opera House of China in
Beijing. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2004)
George Sefa Dei came to Canada
from Ghana in 1979 to pursue
higher education, completing his
Ph.D. at the University of
Toronto and a post-doctoral
fellowship at the University of
Windsor. In 1991, he joined the
Ontario Institute for Studies in
Education (OISE) at the
University of Toronto. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2004)
Born in India, Mahesh Agarwal
arrived in Canada in 1968 on a
scholarship to study for a
Master’s degree in Engineering
at the University of New
Brunswick. Upon completion of
his studies, Mahesh faced great
difficulties in finding a job
and in 1976, started a
home-based business designing
home dialysis machines. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
& Technology (2004)
Born in Corfu, Greece, Andreas
Mandelis fled military rule and
came to Canada in 1979 via the
United States. He has been a
faculty member at the University
of Toronto since 1982 and was
appointed a full Professor of
Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering and Electrical and
Computer Engineering in 1990. |
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New Pioneers Awards - SfC
Graduate (2004)
Julius Zombori has a Ph.D. and a
Chartered Accountant designation
from his home country, Hungary.
He served as a senior faculty
member of Hungary’s premier
university and a research fellow
at Yale University in the U.S.,
he hoped to find employment
quickly in Toronto. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2004)
In the summer of 1997, Shirley
Zeng arrived in Canada with her
mother. Not having any knowledge
of either English or French,
eleven year old Shirley faced
the daunting task of learning
both languages simultaneously
and within a couple of years
excelled in high school French
earning ‘As’ without ever being
tutored. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Arts
(2005)
Arriving in Vancouver from
Beijing in 1977, Chan Hon Goh
had to learn English and adjust
to a completely new culture. Her
parents, who set up a ballet
academy in Vancouver, did not
want Chan to follow in their
footsteps and become a dancer.
Consequently, she trained as a
concert pianist for 11 years. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Community Service (2005)
Raised in apartheid South
Africa, Sabra Desai proved her
mettle after arriving in Canada
at the age of 20 and being told
that a university education was
not for her. This was Toronto in
1970. Unwilling to accept this
decision, Sabra persisted in
researching options and learned
about the programs for mature
students offered by the
University of Toronto. |
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New Pioneers Awards -
Entrepreneurship (2005)
David Tavares’ family came to
Canada in 1966 to escape the
political climate of Portugal.
Nineteen-year-old David, who had
been working for Portugal
Telecom for a short time,
recognized that in Canada his
first and foremost challenge was
to master the English language. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Science
and Technology (2005)
Dimitrios Oreopoulos was raised
in Athens, Greece where he
studied medicine and attained
his MD degree and then completed
his medical PhD degree in
Belfast, Ireland. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Skills
for Change Graduate (2005)
Before arriving in Canada in
1997, Philippines born Eric
Acuna had a promising career in
his home country where, as a
management and industrial
engineering graduate, he worked
as a Quality Control Manager for
a large printing press in
Manila. |
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New Pioneers Awards - Youth
(2005)
Edona Çaku and her family
arrived in Canada in the fall of
2000 from Albania. Fifteen-year
old Edona soon adjusted to a new
culture, language and school
setting and within months
achieved an A+ average at the
York Memorial Collegiate
Institute. |
