|
|
New Pioneers Awards - 2002 |
|
Award Winners |
Christos Hatzis
(Arts)
 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. Initially, his music did not
receive much support or understanding as it was different from the
accepted stylistic preferences of the eighties. Christos’ compositions
were inspired by world cultures and revealed a sense of positive
cultural convergence. It was only in the nineties when Toronto became
more multicultural, that Christos’ classical new music began to win
support
Today, Christos Hatzis is considered one of Canada’s most important and
prolific composers. He has successfully expanded the boundaries of
modern classical composing by using an array of eclectic styles and
techniques. He is also an acclaimed essayist about the role of
contemporary classical music within societies, present and future. In
1995, Christos became an associate professor at the University of
Toronto’s Faculty of Music where he continues to teach to this day.
Christos inspires and encourages young composers to be socially and
culturally responsive to their environment. He shares his knowledge and
experience not only with his students but also with new immigrants who
are artists, performers and composers. His latest multimedia work
‘Constantinople’ explores a musically fabricated world that melds
conflicts of religion, culture and history.
His compositions have been honoured with the Jean A. Chalmers National
Music Award, the Jules Léger prize, the Prix Italia Special prize and
the Prix Bohemia Radio Special. His work is now commissioned, performed,
recorded and broadcast world-wide by major soloists and ensembles such
as Shauna Rolston, Patrick Gallois, Patricia Rosario, the Toronto and
Montreal symphony orchestras, the CBC Radio Orchestra, the Tafelmusic
Baroque Orchestra, the St. Lawrence String Quartet and the Gryphon Trio.
Aster Fessahaie (Community Service)
 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.
Aster is an enthusiastic ambassador in promoting the cause of Children’s
Services, where she is presently employed. As a community activist she
has initiated several development projects in Toronto, such as the City
of Toronto Children’s Services Annual Anti-Bias/Racism Resource
Conference for childcare staff, parents, schools, organizations and the
community. This event has grown from ten participants to a two-day
conference drawing more than 200 people. Aster was also one of the key
members instrumental in drafting the Children's Services Anti-Racism
Policy and the Code of Conduct Guidelines with school-age children in
Childcare Centres.
Aster is involved in various local community development projects and
co-ordinates, facilitates and supports Neighbourhood Action Planning
activities. She has been an active member of committees and boards:
Board of Directors for Harbord Collegiate Institute, Ryerson University
International Studies Liaison Board, King Edward Public School, Bill
Bolton Arena, Orde Street Day Care and National Union of Eritrean Women
in Toronto. She has also organized several events to help black women
deal with social construction of self, transformation, and healing.
Currently, Aster is pursuing her doctoral studies at the Ontario
Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (OISE) where
she is involved in Black Women's Discussion group, a place where she has
introduced different aspects of creating a sense of belonging and a
sense of self.
In recognition of her community work, Aster received the Children's
Services Public Service award on Anti-Racism Training - 1994, Children's
Services Community Involvement award - 1996, City of Toronto Excellence
of Service award for volunteer work - 1996.
Uwe Petroschke
(Entrepreneurship)
 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.
Uwe worked in the trucking business while in school and, although he
originally planned to attend university after graduation, decided
instead to join the trucking industry where he learned all aspects of
the business as he progressed to management.
In 1986, Uwe a single father with a two-year old son, invested
everything he owned and established Totalline Transport with one truck
running from Toronto to Vancouver. In those early days, Uwe would sell
to customers during the day, load his truck at night and weekends took
care of the administrative demands of the business with his son by his
side.
Through sheer determination, hard work and a passion for what he was
doing, Uwe built a successful trucking and warehouse company. In 1997,
Totalline Transport’s earnings reached $9.7 million and in 2000 annual
sales topped $27 million. Today the company offers many types of
trucking services to markets throughout Canada and operates from a new
custom built 130,000 sq. ft. facility in Brampton. In 2001, Uwe
responded to customers’ requests and founded TLC Logistics, a full
service logistics company focusing on the U.S. cross-border markets.
Uwe has a collaborative management style - includes his management team
in key decisions and regularly involves employees in many of the
business activities he participates in. Totalline also prides itself on
its community involvement. Uwe supports a wide spectrum of charities and
community events from food banks, shelters, minor league baseball and
hockey to Adopt-a-Family and the Shriners Children’s Wish Foundation.
Uwe was awarded the 1999 Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Award
and in 2000 the Ontario Chamber of Commerce awarded him the Outstanding
Business Achievement Award.
Alejandro Jadad (Science & Technology)
 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.
It took Alex four years to obtain a license to practice medicine in
Ontario. Through intense lobbying by colleagues and in recognition of
his research activities, he was appointed professor at McMaster
University. In the fall of 2000, he joined the University of Toronto as
a professor in the department of Health Administration and
Anesthesiology, and the University Health Network (UHN) as a senior
scientist. Additionally, he was appointed the inaugural Rose Family
Chair in Supportive Care by UHN and U of T, and the first Director of
UHN’s new ‘Program in eHealth Innovation’. As part of the program, Alex
developed the Global eHealth Innovation Network, using cancer as its
initial focus, and the Centre for eHealth Innovation; a state-of-the-art
environment for studying the dissemination of health-related
information.
Alex’s research reflects his commitment to ensure that technology and
knowledge serve the needs of everyone. He is leading studies in Canada
examining the use of technology to help members of underserved
communities (such as the homeless, the illiterate and recent
immigrants). He uses his position at UHN to create job opportunities in
research for talented foreign-trained physicians and other healthcare
professionals who cannot practice in Canada. He contributes to the
community by sponsoring and coaching the girls’ soccer teams, and
performs in school plays to raise funds for the parents’ association.
Health Canada has awarded Alex with the ‘National Health Research
Scholars Award’ and in 1998, he was the recipient of Canada’s ‘Top 40
under 40’ award. In 2001, Time Magazine selected Alex as one of seven
new Canadians who will shape the 21st century.
Callista Phillips
(SfC Graduate)
 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. After
considering her options, her mindset at the time to give up practicing
medicine, she contacted Skills for Change for employment assistance.
Callista learned about Skills for Change’s STIC program for foreign
trained accountants, engineers, and healthcare professionals and
enrolled in the healthcare group. Here she was encouraged to get back
into the medical field. Looking back, she said, “That decision changed
my life.” Skills for Change arranged for a co-op placement with a
dermatologist that led to her shadowing medical staff at the Toronto
General Hospital. “I became familiar with the system and Skills for
Change helped me focus my energy back to studies.”
Her determination to become a physician in Canada meant writing the
required exams which took two years to complete. In May 2001, Callista
was one of the 36 out of a group of 300 candidates selected for the
‘Ontario International Medical Graduates Program.’ She is currently
repeating the pre-residency and residency training before she can
practice medicine in Canada.
Although she has had to focus on her studies since her arrival in
Canada, Callista has still made time to give back to the community. She
encourages internationally trained physicians to get back into the
medical field by sharing information and personal experience of the
licensing process. She is actively involved in the Association of
International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (AIPSO) and works to
influence the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (the
provincial regulatory body) on behalf of foreign trained physicians.
Kevin King (Youth)
 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.
A friend’s violent death made Kevin realize that his life needed to
change. As he became more interested in his surroundings, he noticed
many students came to school hungry, some were suspended almost every
second week, and several came to school just to play basketball. He ran
for and was elected to the student council where he was instrumental in
making several changes. For the first time in the history of the North
Albion Collegiate Institute, students had a breakfast club, two school
dances, and other new activities to help revive their spirits.
After graduation from high school, Kevin joined the Rexdale Youth
Council. The council organized a homework club; fashion shows for
members who were keen to work in the fashion industry, and educational
campaigns about HIV. When the Toronto Youth Cabinet was formed, Kevin
was invited to become a member and before long was elected the
chairperson. Due to his efforts and dedication, the group was successful
in getting the city to allocate $800,000 for youth programs across the
city.
Kevin has received the Harry Jerome Award for outstanding leadership. He
was also selected as a Presidential Classroom Scholar to spend a week at
the future world leaders summit in Washington D. C. As a current student
of the Business Marketing program at George Brown College and the
president of George Brown College Student Association, Kevin has
distinguished himself for his unique ability to bring together diverse
groups in ways that benefit them individually and as a community.
|
|
Sponsors |
Lead
Sponsor
CIBC
Arts Award Sponsor
Canadian Heritage
Community Service Award Sponsor
The New Ontario Trillium Foundation
Entrepreneurship Award Sponsor
Leitch Technology Corporation
Skills for Change Graduate Award Sponsor
Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario
Youth Award Sponsor
Xerox Canada
Science and Technology Award Sponsor
S.M. Blair Family Foundation
Gold Sponsor
SLMsoft.com
Silver Sponsors
Terenet
Major Corporate Donor
Imperial Tobacco Canada Inc.
Official Television Sponsor
Citytv
Official English Print Sponsor
The Toronto Star
Official Chinese Print Sponsor
Sing Tao Daily
Magazine Sponsor
eye
Radio Sponsor
EZRock
Corporate Table Sponsors
-
Bank of
Montreal Group of Companies
- Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce
- Citizenship and
Immigration Canada
- CMA Canada
- City of Toronto
- Department of
Canadian Heritage
- Drake
International
- Franklin
Templeton Investments Corporation
- Labelad/Sandylion
Sticker Design
- RBC Royal Bank
- St. Michael’s
Hospital
- The Maytree
Foundation
- Totalline
Transport
- University Health
Network
- University of
Toronto
- Multi-Health
Systems Inc.
- Workers Safety
Insurance Board
- Vita Tech
Laboratories
|
|
Selection Teams |
Skills for Change Graduate
Katarina Canik - YMCA
Dan Karim - Micro Second Computer Inc.
Ismael Cala Lopez - 2000 NPA Recipient
Mary Anne Lara - Manulife Financial
Olga Grupp-Bolland - Skills for Change
Bill Waicus - Skills for Change
-
-
Science & Technology
-
Dr. Rama Bahatt - Chief of Staff, York
Central Hospital
-
Professor Gosha Zywno - 1996 NPA
Recipient, Ryerson University
-
Joe DeSouza - Teranet Inc.
-
Claudio Ierulli – Skills for Change
-
Jane Cullingworth – Skills for Change
-
-
Youth
-
Barbara Titherington - York Community
Services
-
Carla Rosario - 2000 NPA Recipient
-
Lewanna Mashaud - Foundation of
Vocational Advancement
-
Lyla Satok - Marshall Cummings and
Associates Ltd.
-
Franz Branschat - Certifiied General
Accountants of Ontario
-
Rosaline Graham - Skills for Change
-
Avanti Chakraverti - Skills for Change
-
-
Community Service
-
Brenda Jean Lycett - Human Resources
Consultant
-
Mario Calla - COSTI
Catherine Kenwell - Certified General Accountants of Ontario
-
Judith John - United Way of Greater
Toronto
-
Anita Byrne - Teranet Inc.
-
Paula Green - Skills for Change
-
Darshak Varishnav - Skills for Change
-
Arts
-
Lata Pata - 2000 NPA Recipient
-
Jim Gerrard - Toronto Arts Council
Foundation
-
Andrea Marcus - Multimedia Artist
-
Deborah Kanga – Unilever Canada Limited
-
Chantal Symes - Skills for Change
-
Farida Zuberi – Skills for Change
-
-
Entrepreneurship
-
Norman Galt – Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
-
The late Rick Forster – Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
-
David Quennville - Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce
-
Kirby Wong - Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce
-
Amy Chong - Bank of Montreal
-
Edwina McGroddy – Institute of Chartered Accountants
of Ontario
-
James Maclean – BMO Nesbitt Burns
-
Rosemin Nanji - TD Securities
-
Shabnum Budhwani - Skills for Change
-
Karobi Ray – Skills for Change
|
|
Silent Auction |
- Blue Jays Baseball Club
- Cambridge Dollar Plaza
- Canon
Canada Ltd.
- Cordoba Coffee
- Cynthia Lingerie Inc.
- Dr. N. Labib
- Drake Travel
- Folly Decorative Arts &
Crafts
- Girl Guides of Canada
- Group Sales
International Inc.
- IBM Corp.
- Instatel
Communications
- Italgold Inc.
- Josten's
- Laura Secord
- Libby Ackermann
- Mezzetta Cafe Restaurant
- Mandarin Restaurant
- MasterCard
- Micro Second Computers
- M.Z. Berger Marketing
Inc.
- Network Connection
- Olga Grupp-Boland
- Ontario Place
- Ontario Science
Centre
- P.M.G. Marketing Inc.
- Ray Zioba
- Reilly Lock Ltd.
- Riviera Concepts Inc.
- Roy Cullen, M.P.
- Royal Chain Canada Inc.
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Rubbermaid Canada
- Storytellers School
of Toronto
- SouthWestern Ontario Sun
Inc.
- Tarragon Theatre
- The Keg Steakhouse
and Bar
- Vipond
Inc.
- Westin Harbour Castle
- World Class Bakers
|
|
Return to
New
Pioneers Home Page |
Contact Us
(
416 658-3101 ext. 214
*
npa@skillsforchange.org |
|
|
Last updated
12/24/2007 |
|
