Lata Pada (Arts)
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.

Her first home in Canada was in the remote mining township of Thompson, Manitoba. As the only woman of South Asian origin in her community, Lata embraced the opportunity to learn about Canadian lifestyles and traditions by becoming active in numerous community groups. In turn, she gave dance performances and lectures on the culture and performing arts of India. In 1985 the tragic crash of an Air India flight claimed the lives of Lata’s husband and two daughters. Her tremendous inner strength and resilience enabled her cope with this terrible loss and to continue to bring her unique artistic gifts to the world.

For the past 20 years, Lata Pada has showcased the rich cultural heritage of India’s classical dance through her professional dance company - - Sampradaya Dance Creations. The company is recognized not only for their creativity and excellence, but also for their many community outreach activities that include lecture demonstrations and workshops in schools, universities and to other groups. Through Sampradaya Dance Academy, she has nurtured a new generation of dancers and has enhanced the awareness of and appreciation for Indian classical dance.

Over her remarkable dance career, she has performed more than 500 concerts. She danced a command performance for the President of India in 1992 and two extensive solo tours of North America.

She is a founding member of the South Asian Advisory Committee of the Royal Ontario Museum and is assisting in the planning and development of their future South Asian Gallery. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga and currently sits on their Arts and Entertainment Committee.

Lata is currently working on a pilot project with the DareArts Foundation to bring dance and movement expression to inner city schools.


Farid Omar (Community Service)
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. As a refugee from the civil wars of his home country, Somalia, Farid arrived Canada with no friends or family to offer him support and to help acclimatize him to a new culture.

He set out immediately to pursue his academic career, earning an Honours B. A. at the University of Toronto. He has received 10 academic, leadership and community service awards and was named four consecutive times as a Dean’s List Scholar.

Farid has helped to initiate many key projects that have substantially contributed to the social well-being of the Somali and African Communities. In 1997, he helped form the Somali Student Link to assist Somali high school students in making a successful transition to post-secondary education. He is a founding member of the Horn of Africa Relief Society, which strives to alleviate the problems facing East African refugees.

He also founded the Pan-African Student Network (PASNET) at the University of Toronto. From 1996 to 1998, Farid served as a panel member of the University Tribunal at the University of Toronto. He is also the Treasurer of the African-Canadian Student Association. Farid was recently appointed Executive Director of the Ogaden Somali Community Centre.

Farid volunteers his service on behalf of the African Community Health services and UNAIDS (International) to promote AIDS awareness campaigns. He is also an advisor to the Resident Advisory Council of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority.

His many awards include the Peter Silcox Scholarship in Public Administration, the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, The Golden Key National Honour Society Award and The Peter F. Bronfman Award. He has also received the Woodsworth College Student Association Award and the Ruth Reiffenstein Book Prize in African Studies.


Dr. Alfred F. Choo (Entrepreneurship)
Born in China, 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.

Alfred Choo completed his B.Sc. in Biochemistry, studying under Dr. David Suzuki at the University of British Columbia. He continued his studies at York University where he earned a Ph.D in Molecular Biology and Neuroscience. Despite a teaching offer from the US, Dr. Choo decided to remain in Canada and began work as a Health Scientist for the Ontario Ministry of Health. 

Dr. Choo founded the Vita-Tech Laboratories in 1984 to address the need for a faster and more effective means of providing testing services to the veterinary community. Starting with capital borrowed from his parents and relying on his own expertise and the assistance of one technician and one driver, Dr. Choo has developed his organization into Canada's largest laboratory for diagnostic testing to the veterinary field. The company currently employs more than 127 people and has earned a prominent reputation in North America for its DNA diagnostic procedures. The laboratories provide services to veterinary practitioners and corporate clients including universities, feed manufacturers, contract research firms, pharmaceutical companies, livestock producers, processing facilities, and many others. 

Vita-Tech Laboratories pioneered the development of a fully integrated Laboratory Information System with a direct computer interface to the lab's testing equipment. With wide-ranging applications in the broader diagnostic community, this unique product is of great interest to clinics and hospitals. As a result, Dr. Choo created Techno-Labs, now known as Triple G Systems. In 1999, Triple G was selected as one of Toronto's 50 fastest growing high technology companies.


Dr. Samih Mikhail (Science & Technology)
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 and consultation on a wide range of projects.

Originally from Egypt, Dr. Mikhail arrived in Canada in 1965 with his wife and his four-month-old daughter. With little money, his first priority was to find employment and establish his family. After working as a transmission engineer for over a year, he decided to return to school. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1968 with an M.Sc. in electrical engineering. In 1995 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Education from the Graduate Department of Education of the University of Toronto.

Since then, he has enjoyed a diverse career as an engineering professor, academic administrator, university director and international science and technology consultant. As a director of Ryerson International Development Centre, Dr. Mikhail has been involved in the design, development and management of projects of international cooperation in science and technology education in 12 countries. Since 1988 he worked as a consultant to the Government of Canada, the Swedish Government and the World Bank.

His efforts in upgrading engineering education in Egypt have been formally recognized by the World Bank and by the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). They presented him with the MOHE Merit Award in 1995. The Brazil National Training System SENAI has awarded Dr. Mikhail with the SENAI-DN Special Merit Award for his 10 years of contributions to the development of technological education in Brazil.


Ismael Cala (SfC Graduate)
As a respected and well-established radio and television broadcaster in his home country of Cuba, Ismael Cala Lopez arrived in Toronto, Canada in June 1998 as a convention refugee, determined to re-establish his broadcasting career.

From 1992 - 1994, Ismael was an Associate Profession of Art History, Journalism and Radio and Television at Cuba’s Universidad de Oriente. For three years (1995- 1998) he was the producer and host of Radio Rebelde and Radio Taino for Cuban National Radio. During that time, he also began hosting the most-watched television game show in Cuba and was the Anchor of the National Cuban late night news, a position which earned him two Cuban National Awards (1995 and 1997) for Television Newsmagazine Anchor.

Despite his extensive broadcasting career in Cuba, when he arrived in Canada he found himself in the daunting situation of no longer being able to practice the craft to which he had devoted his life. Unable to understand English, Ismael launched himself into the study of the language of his new home and, by the time he enrolled at Skills for Change, had mastered basic English skills.

At Skills for Change, he completed several computer and English courses, eventually becoming confident enough to continue his studies at the university level. He enrolled at York University and is currently working towards an Honours B.A. in Mass Communication and French studies.

In addition to his commitment to his studies and his career, Ismael was also determined to establish ties to the Latin community here in Canada. He has hosted several Latin cultural events including SuperLatin Fest ‘98 and was a collaborator with the National Hispanic Congress in Canada. He is currently working in Latin Community Radio and Television services and as an emcee for the Tropicana Dinner Theatre.


Carla Rosario (Youth)
In 1997 at the age of 17, 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. This attitude is demonstrated by her academic accomplishments and her community involvement.

Although she had little knowledge of the English language when she arrived in Toronto, Carla chose to fully integrate herself into society by attending regular classes at St. Patrick’s Secondary School in Toronto.

Her record of academic excellence has not only been demonstrated by her quick mastery of the English language, but is also apparent in almost every area of her studies. She has received numerous awards, most notably in Biology and Mathematics.

Carla’s commitment to excelling academically is balanced by her commitment to social and community causes. She spearheaded a campaign to assist victims of Hurricane Mitch that earned her school public recognition by the Canadian Red Cross Society. She is also an active volunteer at Toronto’s North York General Hospital.

Currently in her final year of high school, Carla is eager to continue her education and looks forward to studying Biology at the University of Toronto.
 

Sponsors

Lead Sponsor
CIBC

Arts Award Sponsor
du Maurier Arts

Community Service Award Sponsor
The New Ontario Trillium Foundation

Entrepreneurship Award Sponsor
BDC Business Development Bank of Canada

Skills for Change Graduate Award Sponsor
Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario

Youth Award Sponsor
Computer Technology Institute

Science and Technology Award Sponsor
S.M. Blair Family Foundation
 

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