Dr. Leba Tonnu (Arts)
During the Communist takeover of Vietnam in 1975, Dr. Leba Tonnu was stripped of her status as a dentist and forced to work as a janitor. In 1977 Dr. Tonnu, her husband and two sons joined thousands of others in fleeing the repressive regime but were captured and imprisoned. Two years later, using false names and borrowed money, they begged passage on a 10-meter boat carrying almost 140 passengers. When the engine failed they drifted in storm-tossed seas for 13 days until they managed to make their way to the shores of Malaysia's Tioman Island where they were forced back out to sea. In desperation they destroyed the boat and walked to shore only to be sent to a refugee camp where they remained for four months.

In September 1979 they became the first Vietnamese refugees brought to Canada through private sponsorship by a Quebec family. Their joy at arriving in their new country and discovering Dr. Tonnu was pregnant, was tempered by the discovery her husband required open heart surgery. They remained in Quebec for two years during which time she worked as a dental assistant during the day and took her dental degree at night. Dr. Tonnu received her Dental Certificate degree in 1985 and established her practice in Toronto.

In 1991, using her own talents as a singer and her husband's talent on the flute and oboe, she formed the Hong Lac folklore ensemble to teach their culture to children and bring comfort to the displaced people of her country. With her sister and brother-in-law, they performed around the country; eventually developing a youth ensemble and adding dance to their repertoire. The Hong Lac Vietnamese Dance Ensemble has performed across the country and has represented Canada internationally, winning the praise of both the Vietnamese and the international arts communities.


Meenu Sikand (Community Service)
Meenu came to Canada from India in 1986 at the age of 22 with a degree in Physics and Mathematics and planned to work on her Master's degree. Unfortunately, just three months into her new life, Meenu was involved in an accident which left her partially paralyzed and unable to walk. She had to adapt to a new country, new culture and new environment while learning new ways to live and keep her dreams alive.

Meenu remained resolute. She would regain her independence, resume an active lifestyle and contribute to her full potential in Canadian society. She took part in computer training and English for Science and High Technology programs offered by Immigration, Health and Welfare. She also worked with the Centre for Independent Living and became involved with ARCH--a legal resource centre for persons with disabilities. Her first job was with the YWCA in their summer life skills program and now she is a business analyst at Bell Sigma.

Meenu is an activist in both disability and women's issues. In 1996 she was the Chair of the Centre for Independent Living; founded and chaired the Disability Rights Committee of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC); served as Treasurer on the Executive Committee of NAC and was a member of the Immigration Committee which lobbies for equity in sponsorship for the handicapped. She is currently on the Board of Directors of ARCH and a member of the Ethno-racial and Aboriginal
Outreach Committee of ARCH.

As Vice Chair of the International Committee of the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres, she represented women with disabilities at the United Nations Conference for women in Beijing and recently, attended the Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability and the International Women's Forum on Disability in Washington, D.C.


Govin Misir (Entrepreneurship)
Govin Misir, the youngest of seven children, left Guyana in 1971 to complete high school and attend university in Canada. At the University of Toronto he majored in Engineering and Mathematics with an interest in computer science. After graduation he worked in the Information and Technology department at the University of Toronto. In 1979 Govin joined Canada Permanent Trust and by 1985 was assistant to the vice president.

In 1986 Govin and his wife, Molly, started a consulting and software businesss (SLM Software Inc.) specializing in computer systems for electronic banking and successfully bid on a business opportunity at the Manitoba Credit Union. However, in the 1980s the industry was dominated by a few large players, mostly U.S. based, and as a result, Govin looked offshore for potential customers, the first being Chile and Peru. To ensure he could communicate effectively with his customers he learned Spanish. SLM prides itself on providing support in the language of their customers and learning the country's business and cultural customs. The Canadian offices support worldwide business and cultural awareness: currently, 16 foreign languages are used in the Toronto office alone.

This approach was instrumental in SLM obtaining contracts in Iran, Saudia Arabia, Latin America and most recently, China. SLM's head office is located in Toronto with offices in Nova Scotia, Calgary, Peru and Beijing, China. The company received International Standards Organization (ISO 9000) registration and went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1997. They also acquired two software companies which resulted in contracts from the Bank of China and an Iranian bank. An active participant in the Parkdale community, Govin serves on the board of directors of The Trillium Foundation, chairing their Community Links program and is active in a Guyanese cultural group.


Altaf Quadeer (SfC Graduate)
Altaf Qadeer, a young teacher in Pakistan, yearned to travel the world. In pursuit of his goal he won an international competition; the prize - a visa and airfare to Hannover, Germany. He remained in Germany for 14 months, during which time he worked on his doctoral thesis. Altaf visited Canada as an international student and in 1990 immigrated to Canada.

Although he'd earned the respect of educational communities in both Karachi and Hamburg, he was advised his chances of becoming a teacher in Canada were slim. Despite the odds he pursued his dream to teach in Canada and became active in the community; volunteering and providing support to newcomers.

Altaf is a graduate of the Skills for Change CareerStart Program which paved his way to completing a teaching qualification course at York University. Skills for Change provided a referral to the Metropolitan Toronto Association for Community Living where he was employed as a social worker. He was an active participant in the volunteer teacher program at Yorkwoods Public Library for six years and in 1991 former North York Mayor, Mel Lastman, presented Altaf with the Library User of the Year Award.

In November 1992 he began an occasional teaching position with the NorthYork Board of Education. While waiting for a full-time teaching certificate, he continued his volunteer work in the community and, in April 1992, was elected to the Board of Directors of Information Downsview. In 1996 he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre for his volunteer work. In 1997 Altaf received his Certificate of Qualification from the Ontario College of Teachers. He currently teaches at Brookview Middle School and continues his volunteer work at the North York Public Library.


Dr. Norman Salansky (Science & Technology)
After surviving a Nazi death camp, Norman Salansky was sent to Siberia where he and his family lived until 1973. He earned a Masters in Physics Mathematics, a Ph.D. in Physics and a Doctorate in Physical and Mathematical Sciences and was appointed Senior Research Scientist at the Physics Institute for the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences. In 1968, he was appointed Laboratory Head and Associate Professor of Physics at Krasnoyarsk State University.

In 1974 Dr. Salansky applied for an exit visa which was denied. Undeterred, he sought help from the international community to exert pressure on the Soviet Government. A high-profile campaign ensued, engineered by the scientific communities of Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and West Germany. Three years later, he and his family were granted visas.

They arrived in North America in 1977 and settled in Toronto. After watching his mother die of cancer, Dr. Salansky developed technologies to reduce or minimize pain for cancer patients. His non-profit company, Medical Technologies Inc., developed Codetron, a non-invasive, non-drug technology which stimulates the body's neurochemical system to release endorphins and provide natural pain relief. He also developed a low energy photon therapy used in the treatment of soft-tissue injuries and provides both Codetron and low energy photon therapy free to chronic pain sufferers.

Dr. Salansky is currently Adjunct Professor of the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies and an active lecturer at universities and industries around the world. He received an international award of recognition for research in physics and medicine and Man of the Year Award from the American Biographical Institute.


Dany-Claire Nkerarnihigo (Youth)
In 1997, at the age of 17, Dany-Claire fled the political and social upheaval of Burundi and arrived in Canada with her younger sister. Leaving the support of their family and friends, Dany-Claire and her sister faced a new and different culture. Fluent in French but with limited English, she studied full-time at Le Collège Français and enrolled in outside classes to improve her ability to read and write in English. She also became active in a Burundi-Rwanda cultural group to ensure her heritage would also be part of her life in Canada.

Dany-Claire joined Le Groupe Jeuness Francophone where she participates in peer counselling training. In 1997 she received Certificates of Merit for her participation in the organization's Conflict Resolution Group and for her participation in the Projet pour un Meilleur Avenir. She wrote an article entitled "Integration to a New Life in Toronto" published by L'Expresse, a Toronto-based French publication. This brought her to the attention of Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who spoke with her at a luncheon hosted by the Canadian Club.

Last summer, Dany-Claire was awarded a certificate for her participation in the Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Asociations' Job Shadowing Program. She tutors younger students at her school and is a frequent contributor to the school newspaper and a member of the committee. She is a senior counselor in the Youth Assisting Youth program and helps young children with social, cultural and behavioral adjustments. Through this work Dany-Claire is ensuring other youth have the opportunity to contribute to their full potential. Dany-Claire's ambition is to work at the United Nations.


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