Amelia Jimenéz (Arts)
Amelia Jimenéz was a fine arts student at the University of Chile when the military took control of the government. She finished her studies and in 1977 came to Canada. She studied English and, while enrolled at the Ontario College of Art in 1980, served as artist in residence at La Chasse Gallery in Toronto. In 1982 she studied at the Studio Camnitzer in Italy and in 1984 was invited to Colombia, South America to work on the production of a homage to the poet Pablo Neruda. Amelia is an education officer with the Art Gallery of Ontario and works with young people to encourage their creative expression. Her visual art ranges from printmaking to photography and she currently incorporates photography and sculptural elements in her multi-media expressions. Since 1976, Amelia has exhibited her work at shows in Canada, South America and Germany.

Amelia volunteers as a committee member of A-Space, an experimental art gallery. She is also involved in mentoring newly arrived women from Chile, to coach and share information with other new Canadians.


Fred Sorkin (Entrepreneurship)
Hummingbird President and Chief Executive Officer, Fred Sorkin, came to Canada from Lithuania in 1976 following a distinguished career as a computer scientist and Chief of the Soviet Union’s largest computer manufacturing firm. Fred earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Moscow University, as well as two masters degrees in mathematics and electronics from state universities in Vilnius, Lithuania and is often regarded as the world’s most educated computer technology C.E.O.

In 1981, he founded Execunet, an Ottawa-based company specializing in telephony and telecommunication systems. The Company was later acquired by Mitel where Fred was appointed Vice President and General Manager of the Office Products Division. In 1984 he left Mitel to join Helix Investments Ltd., a venture capital firm and later that year founded Hummingbird, a consulting company. Changing focus from consulting to software development, Fred ushered Hummingbird onto the world stage. Identifying the X Window System protocol as a means for cross-platform network integration, Fred envisioned a unique software product line he believed would integrate the growing mass of different computer operating systems and environments installed throughout thousands of organizations. Under Fred’s direction, the key product architects developed "Exceed," a PC X server product to give average PC users access to corporate information systems, including graphical applications running on host computers.

With the network market poised for explosive growth, Fred had hit on a viable technology companies around the world were sure to need. His vision and business acumen proved successful and soon after the launch of its Windows-based PC X server, Hummingbird became the leader in its market. Ninety-five percent of Hummingbird employees are first generation Canadians. Never a follower, Hummingbird today continues to outpace its competition, setting the technical agenda for the industry to follow. Today, Fred Sorkin is one of the most successful stories in Canadian entrepreneurial spirit.


Vernon Farrell (Leadership)
After leaving Trinidad and Tobago to attend school in the United States, Vernon Farrell emigrated to Canada in 1965. He completed his M.Ed. at the University of Toronto and was a teacher and principal at several schools in the North York Board of Education. Since 1995 he has been the principal at Brookview Middle School where he has conveyed the vision that, "All students can learn. Validation of students’ life experiences and culture enables them to see themselves in inclusive curricula as subjects rather than objects." Vernon has been instrumental in motivating others to action through the renaming and adoption of a proactive agenda for The African Heritage Educator’s Network, including founding of the network’s "Focus" newsletter and "Project '90," a Saturday tutorial program in North York which has been embraced by the African community.

In his capacity as principal, Vernon introduced a mini-school system to bring staff, students and the community together to renew enrollment at Woodbine Junior High School (1987-1990). Since his appointment at Brookview Middle School, student "benchmark" scores have gone from the lowest in the North York system to an above system's average. Brookview School focuses on: strong academic leadership, high academic expectations, monitoring of students’ work, maintaining a safe and orderly school environment and parent involvement. The accomplishments of this school have been acclaimed and highlighted in the media and educational circles. In 1996, Vernon Farrell received the Harry Jerome Award for Leadership for outstanding contributions in the Black community.


Samuel Noh (Science & Technology)
In 1971 Samuel Noh left Korea, which he viewed then as an authoritarian and repressive society, and immigrated to Canada. Upon his arrival in Toronto, Samuel worked in a factory and attended English classes. He attended university full-time, earning a BA and MA in Sociology, while working at a convenience store to supplement his family income. In 1984 he received a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Western Ontario. At Western, he served as the Associate Director of the Health Care Research Unit and went on to become a tenured professor.

Currently, Dr. Noh is a Senior Research Scientist at the Clark Institute of Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He has made significant contributions in the field of social stress, coping and mental health. Dr. Noh has received numerous research awards, including awards from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Medical Research Council (MRC). These research awards were granted for a multi-national study of cross-cultural perspectives on the stress process and for an examination of the adaptation of Asian immigrant and refugee families and their children.

Dr. Noh also makes important contributions to the larger community through his teaching and memberships in various scientific committees and Boards. He demonstrates significant commitment to the Korean Canadian communities, including serving as Vice- President for the International Society of Korean Studies, as an advisory committee member of the Korean Canadian Women’s Association, as a member of Hong Fook Mental Health Association and as an advisory committee member of the Democratic and Peaceful Reunification of the Koreas. Dr. Noh has presented nearly 100 lectures and workshops for church and youth groups in the Korean community.


Yasir Ali Farah (SfC Graduate)
After fleeing war-torn Somalia and spending three years in a Kenya refugee camp, Yasir Ali Farah came to Canada with his wife and three small children in September 1994, as government-sponsored immigrants. With no relatives or friends in Canada, the family stayed at the World Vision Reception Centre while looking for suitable accommodation. Dealing with malnourishment, culture shock and racism, Yasir heard about Skills for Change and enrolled in the Customer Service Program. He completed the program with a work placement at the YMCA Grosvenor Restaurant. While looking for work, Yasir enrolled in and completed a certificate in clerical accounting through the Skills for Change evening program. At the end of 1995, Yasir began working with a food retail chain and was the first Somali among the employee base. He is currently also completing courses in industrial training to enhance his employment options.

In his spare time, Yasir is committed to assisting fellow newcomers. He has volunteered at the World Vision Reception Centre and, as a member of the Skills for Change Graduate Committee, helps other newcomers pursue job leads and support. Yasir states, "My family now feels part of this community."


Léonie Tchatat (Youth)
Léonie arrived in Toronto in 1990 as a visa student. Soon after her arrival, Léonie’s father was imprisoned in her native Cameroon, Africa for his political beliefs. With these conditions of political uncertainty Léonie applied for refugee status and is currently awaiting a hearing. Fluent in French, Léonie studied English while attending French high school at Jarvis Collegiate and living with her sister. She experienced culture shock and racism at school and in the community and, lacking her familiar supportive family environment she eventually ended up living in a group home. Based on her experience in 1993 Léonie formed a non-profit Francophone youth organization called "Le Groupe Jeunesse Francophone de Toronto" to provide support to other young newcomers to assist with their integration. She has served as president for four years and was instrumental in securing funding for a number of community projects which address the needs of African Francophone youth, including a project which resulted in employment for 20 youths in the Francophone community.

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