An-lun Huang (Arts)

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. John Fraser, Master of Massey College, helped An-lun to come to Canada in 1980 to study music at the University of Toronto.

The help An-lun received during his early days in Canada saw him through some tough times as he struggled to make a life for himself. Difficulties with the language, lack of money and acute homesickness were some of the issues he had to deal with.

The University of Toronto offered him the status of ‘special student’ for his graduate studies as he did not have a Bachelor’s degree and in 1986, An-lun completed his Master’s degree at Yale University. At this time, his wife obtained employment with the National Ballet of Canada as a pianist and An-lun returned to Canada as a landed immigrant.

An-lun Huang has composed 20 symphonic works, 11 operatic productions, three ballets and numerous choral, chamber and film music. His oratorios – ‘Easter Cantata’, ‘Psalm 22’ and ‘Revelation’ are considered the largest and most significant works in Canada. His ballet ‘Dream of Dunhuang’ has been selected as a masterpiece of Chinese composition in the 20th century. His music has received a wide range of performances and broadcasts around the world. In the 90s An-lun was invited to join the Canadian League of Composers and is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music.

An-lun is one of the founders of the Canadian Chinese Music Society of Ontario and was the Society’s president until 1996. He teaches and adjudicates and his pupils receive various prizes at music festivals.


George Sefa Dei (Community Service)

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 and is currently full Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies. He was the first Director and a founding member of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at OISE.

George is a prolific researcher and writer whose anti-racism studies have made a positive impact in Canada and abroad. His writings have been translated into several languages thus making them accessible to non-English speakers and, he has worked to promote inclusive education and anti-racism in Canadian schools and is actively involved in the community to promote youth education. His research has explored the reasons minority students drop out of school and provided guidelines to teachers who deal with students from marginalized communities. He has mentored students and provided young scholars the opportunity to train under him.

George is the President of the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario and served on the Boards of the Central Neighbourhood House, The Black Secretariat, Tractors for our Daily Bread, Organizations of Parents of Black Children, and the Board of Trustees of the Harry Jerome Scholarship Awards. Within the African-Canadian community, he is regarded as an elder due to his willingness to provide educational counselling and training.

He has received numerous awards including the 2003 William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations from the City of Toronto, the Community Builder Award from the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the 2003 African-Canadian Outstanding Achievement in Education and in 1996, the Volunteer Services Award from Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship.


Mahesh Agarwal (Entrepreneurship)

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. During the initial stages of his business, Mahesh risked his personal savings for the research, development and production of the machines, as bank financing was gradual with stringent covenants and collaterals.

Mahesh Agarwal is the sole owner of Medionics International Inc., a company specializing in the design and manufacture of home dialysis equipment. The company’s worldwide business has expanded to include markets in Japan, China, India and Mexico. While over the years Medionics has faced tough competition from large multinationals, Mahesh has maintained a position for his products through innovation and research. His products are all patented inventions recognized by physicians around the world and have made a huge, positive impact on the quality of lives of people needing dialysis.

Medionics operates from a 37,000 square foot facility in Markham with 35 full-time employees and several contract and part-time staff. Mahesh employs many newcomers and provides opportunities for them to learn on the job and encourages staff to further their studies by paying for their education and professional development.

Mahesh supports The Kidney Foundation and local community events.

Medionics has earned several awards, including the 1987 Gold Medal for Small Business category in the Canada Awards for Business Excellence presented by the Federal Government, the 1990 Ontario Business Achievement Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Award for Product Innovation from the Markham Board of Trade and the 1992 Commemorative Medal for the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation from the Governor General of Canada.



Andreas Mandelis (Science & Technology)

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. He is the Director of the Centre for Advanced Diffusion-Wave Technologies (CADIFT).

As an applied physicist, Andreas pioneered the field of Diffusion Waves and has developed laser-based instrumental and analytical diagnostic methodologies which are now spreading worldwide. These are used in fundamental research as well as in diverse application areas including industrial manufacturing, microelectronic and optoelectronic device fabrication, environmental pollution monitoring, dental caries diagnostics and laser biophotonic cancer imaging. In 2000, Andreas established the Division on Instrumentation and Measurement Physics within the Canadian Association of Physicists.

Andreas owns six patents, published two books and over 215 research papers in international science journals and presented more than 90 keynote plenary papers at international conferences. He has been a visiting professor at universities in Switzerland, Belgium, Cyprus and Germany and a scientific consultant to several high tech companies in Canada, U.S., Israel, Cyprus and Australia.

His community involvement includes two years as the Chair of Bliss Carman Parent Advisory Council for which he was awarded the school’s Community Service Award in June 2001. He has trained numerous high school students in his laboratories and for more than 12 years participated in the University of Toronto’s Arts and Sciences Mentorship program. He provides opportunities to new immigrants and refugees for research training and ‘Canadian experience.’

In acknowledgement for his research and teaching, Andreas won the Alexander Humboldt Award from Germany. The American Physical Society has also honoured him by electing him to the rank of Fellow.


Julius Zombori (SfC Graduate)

Julius Zombori has a Ph.D. and a Chartered Accountant designation from his home country, Hungary. With several years of senior managerial experience in taxation and accounting, employment with leading organizations in his home country, 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.

Arriving in Canada in 2000, Julius began applying for jobs and was disheartened when he received no response. As months passed without receiving any feedback from employers, Julius realized that he needed guidance in his job search and registered at Skills for Change where he joined the employment focused Sector-specific Information and Counseling program (STIC) targeted for internationally trained professionals. For 12 weeks, Julius studied accounting as practiced in Canada, received hands on training with accounting software, and obtained guidance on job search techniques and learned how to market his skills. He made contacts, began developing his network and found the agency’s support invaluable.

After 16 months of unemployment that Julius describes as ‘the most difficult period of my life’, he found employment as a manager with a major international accounting and consulting firm in 2001.

Julius, like most newcomers, had to deal with the problems associated with the lack of credit history and faced numerous refusals when he wanted to rent an apartment or apply for a credit card. His personal experience in overcoming barriers and appreciation of the benefits he received from Skills for Change led him to volunteer as a mentor for the Mentoring Program at Skills for Change. He relates to and recognizes the need newcomers have for assistance with their job search.


Shirley Zeng (Youth)

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. She now speaks Mandarin, English, Cantonese, Spanish and French and is a Spanish tutor in her school and the President of the Hispanic Club.

Zeng’s life in Canada has been one of financial hardship but she has not let this factor come in the way of her activities. Undeterred she has contributed to her school community, the ethnic community and the general community at large. She excels at school, tutors ESL students in English and Mathematics, mentors students through the ‘Buddy Program’ and the ‘Reading Buddy Program’, participates in the Marching and Symphonic bands, and as a designer for a fashion show. Zeng’s community involvement is varied and impressive: she has volunteered at the Woodgreen Community Centre as the editor of the Volunteers’ newsletter and in the Centre’s community daycare, at the Tot Spot Daycare Centre and at the Toronto Dollar Booth of the St. Lawrence Market.

In 2003, Zeng became the School Champion of Fermat Waterloo Mathematics Contest and in 2002 received the Junior Mathematics League Certificate of Achievement. In 2001, she won the grade nine Achievement Award and in 1999, the popular Chinese newspaper, World Journal, presented her with the Outstanding Achievement Certificate. In her first year in Canada, she was honoured as the Student of the Year by her elementary school – Pauline Public School.

Shirley Zeng is seventeen years old.
 

Lead Sponsor
CIBC

Community Service Award Sponsor
Manulife Financial

Entrepreneurship Award Sponsor
Sun Life Financial

Skills for Change Graduate Award Sponsor
Certified General Accountants of Ontario

Youth Award Sponsor
Xerox Canada Limited

Science and Technology Award Sponsor
Blake Cassels and Graydon LLP

Gold Sponsor
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
TD Bank Financial Group

Silver Sponsor
Teranet Inc.

Corporate Donor Plus
NHI Nursing & Home Health Care Inc.

Donors
Energy Savings Income Fund
Imperial Tobacco Canada Inc.

Official Television Sponsor
Citytv

Official Newspaper
The Toronto Star

Official Chinese Print Sponsor
Ming Pao Daily

Radio Sponsor
EZRock
 

Skills for Change Graduate
Bill Waicus (Leader) - Skills for Change
Dan Karim - Micro Second Computer Inc.
Mary Ann Lara - Manulife Financial
Poras Patel - Certified General Accountant

Science & Technology
Rama Bhat (Leader) - York Central Hospital
Darlene Farrow - Bell Mobility
Elvino Sousa - 2003 Award Recipient
Gerry Meade - Professional Engineers of Ontario
Ronald H. Friesen - Sun Life Financial
Anna Bassovets - Toronto Catholic District School Board
Valli DiLallo - Toronto Catholic District School Board

Youth
Franz Branschat (Leader) - Certified General Accountants of Ontario
Barbara Titherington - York Community Services
Carla Rosario - 2000 Award Recipient
Neil Ghai - BMO Bank of Montréal
Rochelle Cole - Retired Teacher
Avanti Chakraverti - Skills for Change
Shabnum Budhwani - Skills for Change

Community Service
Catherine Kenwell (Leader) - Certified General Accountants of Ontario
Amanuel Melles - 2001 Award Recipient
Amy Chong - BMO Bank of Montréal
Diane Neale - St. Michael’s Hospital
Mario Calla - COSTI
Susan McIsaac - United Way of Greater Toronto
Paula Green - Skills for Change
David Hughes - Skills for Change

Arts
Jim Gerrard (Leader) - Toronto Arts Council
Bill Anderson - Host, The Morning Show, 96.3 fm
Bill Kort - Artist/Writer
Soheil Parsa - 1995 Award Recipient
Farida Zuberi - Skills for Change
Pat Sinervo - JVS Toronto

Entrepreneurship
James MacLean (Leader) - BMO Nesbitt Burns
Ben Manzo - Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Denise Araiche - Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Edwina McGroddy - Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
Klaus Nienkämper - 2003 Award Recipient
Marvi Ricker - BMO Harris Private Banking
Marily Molina - Skills for Change
Rose Smith - Linc Instructor
 

97.3fm
Anna Bassovets
Annonymous
Art Gallery of Ontario
Astley-Gilbert Reproductions
Audiolab Recording Company
Brandfusion Ltd.
BTF Canada Corporation
Canon Canada
Casa Loma Toronto
Cecilia Segura
Château des Charmes
Cineplex Odeon
City of Toronto
Citytv
CN Tower
Councillor Joe Mihevc
Danceworks
Domaine Pinnacle
Dufflet Pastries
Elemental Embrace - The Wellness Spa Retreat
Enjoy Not Cooking Inc.
Factory Theatre
Finch Centre Jewellers
Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp.
Harbourfront Centre
Instatel Communications
Johnson's Unique Sign-A-Gram
Johnvince Foods
Joseph Anthony Fine Jewellers
Jostens
Labatt Blue
LCBO
Loblaws Forest Hill Market
Luis Poot
MeMeMe Inc.
M & F Linen Bazaar
Madras Dosa Hut
Magnotta
Mainline Services Inc.
Manulife Financial
Mariposa Cruise Line
MasterCard Canada Inc.
Music Toronto
National Jewellers - Niagara Falls
Nienkämper
Nouvelle Maria Spa and Salon
Olga Grupp-Boland
Ontario Place
Ontario Science Centre
Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Persian & Oriental Rug Centre
Pike Lake Golf & Country Club
Planet Hollywood
Planters Peanuts Canada
PNPhotography
Princess Nail Spa
Rubbermaid Canada
Royal Ontario Museum
Sony of Canada Ltd.
Sun Life Financial
Tafelmusik
Tanya's Gifts
Tarragon Theatre
The Body Shop (Sherway Gardens)
The Hannaford Street Silver Band
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar
The National Ballet of Canada
The Tasting Rooms
The Westin Harbour Castle
Tim Hortons
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Roadrunners
Toronto Star
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Zoo
Trade Secrets Beauty Shops (Square One)
Via Rail Canada
Vincor International Inc.
Vipond Fire Protection Inc.
Yolessa Lawrinnce
 

Donations solicited by
Barbara Williams, Beth Eccles, Maria Garofalo,
Kanchan Lakhotia, Karobi Ray, Rosaline Grapham, Susan Bertoldi

Database Administrator
Dongmei Wu

Brochure Production and Administration of Auction
Bill Waicus
 

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