Natalie Wood (Arts)

VIDEO

Natalie arrived in Canada from Trinidad in 1984 to study at the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in psychology in 1988. While working in the field of social work, Natalie began to pursue her long-time dream of becoming an artist. She went on to further study at the Ontario College of Art and Design and, in 2000, graduated with a Masters in Art Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Natalie is now a multimedia artist, curator and arts educator.

The value placed on contemporary art and artists in Canadian society has enabled Natalie to fully explore issues related to identity, marginalization, resistance and representation. Her considerable talents include painting, encaustic wax, printmaking, collage and video. Natalie’s visual art has been exhibited in the Zsa Zsa Gallery, the John B. Aird Gallery and the Spadina Museum, where she was an Artist in Residence. Her videos have been screened at film festivals in Toronto, New York and San Francisco.

As a curator she has exposed the contemporary art scene to underrepresented groups and their creative expressions. These include the Starting Fires group exhibit at ASpace Gallery and the Hero Project at the Women’s Art Resource Centre. The ASpace Gallery hosted the I Represent exhibit in January and February 2006.

Natalie’s professional interest in addressing racism, discrimination and oppression has extended into her volunteer commitments on community boards and committees. Natalie is active at the Royal Ontario Museum and CARFAC Ontario, the association of professional visual and media artists. She works part-time at Sistering, working with marginalized women to develop their art and business skills so they can earn an income.

Recognition for her achievements includes a City of York Civic Recognition Award, the M. NourbeSe Philip Award for Outstanding Contributions to African Arts and Culture, and numerous awards from the Toronto, Ontario and Canada Councils for the Arts. In 2006 Natalie received an award from the Ontario Arts Council which will enable her to complete her website project, vtapedigital.org/kinlinks. She has also been nominated for the K. M. Hunter Interdisciplinary Arts Award. Natalie is presently attending an International Artist Residency in Trinidad with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.


Carl James (Community Service)

VIDEO

Carl James came from Antigua, the Caribbean, in 1973 to pursue post secondary studies in Canada. As a student he volunteered for the Black Education Project by tutoring newly arrived Caribbean youth and ever since has been dedicated in his involvement in direct community service.

This early voluntary work molded Carl James’ contributions to the community and influenced his professional life. Today he is well known as a public educator who promotes equity, anti-racist education and the healthy development of youth. As a Professor in the Faculty of Education (also affiliated with the Department of Sociology and the School of Social Work) at York University, he draws on his front line experience as a youth worker and shares his knowledge and research with the community.

Carl James is a prolific researcher and has authored/edited and co-authored/edited 14 books and written more than 50 academic articles and book chapters, as well as numerous reports and conference papers. His recent book, Race in Play: Understanding the Cultural Worlds of Student Athletes is a sensitive insight into the relationship between athletic and academic success among visible minority students. Carl has contributed immensely to the dynamics of race in contemporary society.

Carl continues to volunteer extensively and some of his current commitments include participation as a member of the Toronto District School Board’s Advisory Committee on Student Achievement and as a member of the Management Committee of the Board for the Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement. In the past, he has served on the Boards of Urban Alliance on Race Relations, the Regent Park Community Health Centre and Central Neighbourhood House; the Coalition for the Advancement of Aboriginal Studies at York University and the Allocations Committee of the United Way of Greater Toronto, to name a few.

Recently (January 2006), Carl was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Uppsala University, Sweden for his contribution to social equity and anti-racism education. The Pickering Caribbean Canadian Cultural Association has publicly recognized Carl’s support for the organization and his dedication to youth development. He also received the President’s Award of Excellence in teaching while at Sheridan College in 1991.


Gaetano Gagliano (Entrepreneurship)

VIDEO

A 37-year-old farmer who immigrated to Canada from Sicily in 1954 with his growing family laid the foundation for what has become Canada’s largest privately owned communications company. Even though Gaetano Gagliano spoke no English and had little money, he had the strength of conviction to fuel his vision of growing a successful business. He is a true pioneer!

Gaetano’s first job in Canada was laying track for CP Rail. After the company laid off its workers a year and half later, he plunged into his dream of becoming a printer. He got a job as a cleaner in a printing shop, where he advanced his knowledge of the printing business. In 1956, Gaetano bought a press of his own and started a printing operation in the basement of his family home. He worked long hours printing business cards and wedding invitations. Gaetano would eventually name the company St. Joseph Printing and expand the business by learning new printing methods and investing in new technology. New acquisitions beginning in the 1990s marked the company’s foray into graphic design, creative advertising, document management, and magazine publishing. The company is known today as St. Joseph Communications – a leading provider of totally integrated communications solutions all driven by advanced technology. The company has 2,000 associates coast to coast and annual revenues of over $300 million.

A significant factor in St. Joseph’s success is its Values and Guiding Principles, which were established by Gaetano when he founded the company 50 years ago. These include operating under the highest ethical standards, replenishing the environment, and a commitment to giving back to the community. Through the St. Joseph Family of Companies Foundation, St. Joseph donates 10 per cent of its profits each year to various charitable causes. Gaetano also founded the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation in 2003 – a not-for-profit, charitable organization that aims to connect Catholic Canadians to their faith.

In 1998, Gaetano Gagliano was awarded the Order of Canada and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from Ryerson University. He will receive a second honorary degree from St. Francis Xavier University this spring. Gaetano continues to work hard and lead by example. At the age of 88, he still comes in to work every day.


Sridhar (Sri) Krishnan (Science and Technology)

VIDEO

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in India, Sridhar Krishnan came to Canada in 1994 to pursue graduate studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary. Within five years he not only had adjusted to a new system of education and a new culture, but also had made his mark as an outstanding research student and acquired a Ph.D.

Today as the Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Ryerson University and an Associate Professor, Sridhar is the youngest Chair for an ECE Department in Canada, and is a major player in transforming Ryerson University from a primarily undergraduate institution to a full-fledged research university.

Sridhar is a brilliant scientist who has had 80 research papers published in leading international biomedical engineering conferences and journals. He has a U.S. patent for his research on early detection of arthritis using engineering approaches and is a pioneer in using time-frequency domain analysis – a complex technique exploring non-stationary signals for analyzing biomedical and multimedia signals. This technique is also applied to screen cancer cells, knee joints, monitoring hypertension and stress, and in designing assistive devices for hearing impaired people.

At Ryerson University, Sridhar founded the Signal Analysis Research (SAR) group of undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and research associates who collaborate with clinicians and industries and conduct leading-edge research on medical images and signals, multimedia information and signal analysis. Additionally, Sridhar is an active mentor, counselling engineering students on career choices.

Outside of his job, Sridhar finds the time to volunteer. He serves as the Chair of the Signal Processing Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Toronto Section. He founded and organized the International Conference for Upcoming Engineers (ICUE) – a forum that exposes undergraduate students to the research community and he actively volunteers for organizations that work to empower Tamil youth.

In September 2005 Ryerson University awarded the Faculty Research Excellence Award to Sridhar Krishnan.


Kim Hoang Trinh (Skills for Change Graduate)

VIDEO

Kim Hoang was one of the many Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Canada by boat in the early eighties. She and her compatriots faced numerous problems in settling down in Canada but Kim Hoang had an additional disadvantage. An attack of polio as a child had left her with a physical disability.

Kim Hoang had a financial accounting diploma from Vietnam but with her limited communication skills in English she did not know how she could find employment in Canada. Her fellow citizens had found work in manufacturing but Kim was not suited to this type of employment. Fortunately the Toronto Office Skills Training Project was launched around this time and Kim Hoang was one of the four participants to join the very first group in 1983. This project blossomed to the repertoire of programs and services for immigrants and refugees that is Skills for Change today.

Once Kim Hoang had completed the clerical training and gained computer skills through the Toronto Office Skills Training Project, she found her first job as a data control clerk at the Toronto General Hospital. A few years later she found another job with added responsibilities - related to her former accounting background. Life for Kim Hoang seemed to have settled well in Canada when suddenly her husband passed away. It was her courage and strong will that saw her through this adverse period and made her resolve to go back to school and train as a social service worker.

Kim Hoang currently works as a Program Manager at the Vietnamese Association in Toronto. She has volunteered at several community service organizations such as the Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre and the Phap Van Buddhist Cultural Centre. At the latter organization, Kim Hoang works with seniors and youth, organizing workshops on health issues, coordinating the Tutoring Program, and forming the heritage language project for children at the centre. She also sits on the Centre’s Advisory Board. Additionally, Kim Hoang is active in fundraising and spearheads campaigns for disaster relief.


Sharangabo Ntare Patrick (Youth)
 

VIDEO

Sharangabo survived the genocide in Rwanda after being wounded and left for dead in a mass grave. His father and uncle had been killed in an attack when Sharangabo was 13 years old. Sharangabo’s dream became receiving the education that so many others of his generation were denied the right to because they were described as being “Tutsi.” In 1999, when Sharangabo was seventeen years old, he arrived in Canada as a convention refugee.

On arriving in Canada, Sharangabo found it difficult to find accommodation and get reliable guidance. He was told that university education was not for him. After receiving a high school diploma, he discovered that he did not meet the entry-level requirements for admission to university. To set this right he began taking night classes and correspondence courses and luckily learned about the University of Toronto’s Transitional Year Program (TYP). He excelled in the intensive TYP and was able to join the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts and Science where he is today a third-year student studying African and Aboriginal Studies and Political Science.

Sharangabo has connected with the Rwandan community living in Toronto, most of whom have lost their families during the slaughter. He helps youth deal with the consequences of the genocide by offering them comfort, support and understanding. In addition, he teaches Rwandan traditional dance and language to Rwandan children. He gives speeches and talks on the genocide in high schools, community centres and colleges. Despite the high emotional cost to him, Sharangabo continues to do this work in the belief that he can make a difference in how the world views such situations in the future.

Sharangabo’s story has been the subject of an exhibition at the Harbourfront Centre that documented the lives of Rwandan refugees who are painfully trying to reconstruct their lives in Canada. The University of Toronto has featured Sharangabo for two years in a row in Viewbook and has awarded him the Rona Abramovitch Award.
 

Lead Sponsor
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Platinum Sponsor
Western Union

Award Sponsors
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Certified General Accountants of Ontario
Manulife Financial
Sun Life Financial
TD Bank Financial Group
XEROX

Gold Sponsor
Scotiabank

Silver Sponsor
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

Corporate Donors
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Fidelity Investments
Teranet Inc.

Donors
Antalina Chatterjee
C&D Graphic Services Inc.
Gary Elder
Jessie Eden
Mark Goldasic
Mary Anne MacArthur
Norbert Frischkorn
Quartet Service Inc.
Suellen Boyd
Yvonne Ng

Corporate Table Sponsors
(premier seating)
Canada Pure
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
Ryerson University
St. Joseph Communications

Corporate Table Sponsors
(with recognition)
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Canadian Union of Skilled Workers
Certified General Accountants of Ontario
CIBC
City of Toronto
Ernst & Young LLP
Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.
IBM
Kodak Canada Inc.
LVMH Watch & Jewelry Canada Ltd.
Manpower
The Maytree Foundation
The Michener Institute
New College, University of Toronto
Q9 Networks Inc.
St. Michael’s Hospital
TD Bank Financial Group
Transitional Year Programme, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
XEROX

Personal Table Sponsors
Department of Canadian Heritage
Enterasys Networks
Jane Cullingworth
St. Joseph Communications

Official Television Sponsor
Citytv

Official Newspaper
Toronto Star

Official Chinese Print Sponsor
Ming Pao Daily News

Radio Sponsor
EZ Rock 97.3fm

In-Kind Contribution of the Program Brochure
IBM Canada Ltd.

Arts
Brenda L. House - Toronto Arts Council
David Hughes – Skills for Change
Farida Zuberi – Skills for Change
Ken Gass - Factory Theatre
Thom Clulow (Leader)- Corporate Development, Sun Life Financial
Tim Jones - Toronto Artscape
Yvonne Ng - (2003 NPA Recipient) Princess Productions

Community Service
Aster Fessahaie (2002 NPA Recipient) - City of Toronto Community and
   Neighbourhood Services
Catherine Kenwell - The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
Dale-Ann Woznyj - Medisys Health Group Inc.
Jagdeep Bachher - Manulife Financial
Rosaline Graham – Skills for Change
Shabnum Budhwani – Skills for Change
Susan McIsaac (Leader) - United Way of Greater Toronto

Entrepreneurship
Arshia Raafat – Skills for Change
Denise Araiche (Leader) - HAYS Accounting & Finance
Graham McLeod - Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Jeff Brown - CIBC
Jocelyne Achat - TD Bank Financial Group
Karobi Ray – Skills for Change
Michele Kwok - Scotiabank
Pat Ghany - Business Development Bank of Canada
Vince Aguanno - TD Bank Financial Group

Science and Technology
Anna Bassovets – Skills for Change
Elvino Sousa (2003 NPA Recipient) - University of Toronto
Jeff Martin - TD Bank Financial Group
Kim Allen - Professional Engineers Ontario
Rama Bhat (Leader) - York Central Hospital
Ronald H. Friesen - Sun Life Financial
Valli DiLallo – Skills for Change
Victoria Prince - Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Skills for Change Graduate
Bill Waicus (Leader) – Skills for Change
Danica Bogicevic - Kolte Accessories Ltd.
Ed Carter - RBC Global Services
Eric Acuna (2005 NPA Recipient) - Newark Paperboard Products
Pat Jeyanathan - Ministry of Finance
Shashi Bhat – Skills for Change

Youth
Avanti Chakraverti – Skills for Change
Barbara Titherington (Leader) - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Carla Rosario - (2000 NPA Recipient)
Corina Carvallo – Skills for Change
Jason YS Kahng - BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
Susanne Pacher - Textronics Communications Ltd.
Tony Martino - Xerox Canada Limited

Art Gallery of Ontario
Bonanza Cleaning Supplies
Book-Club-in-a-Box
BTF Canada Corporation
Casa Loma
Christine’s Fitness & Personal Training
Deerhurst Resort
Delores Lawrence
Esther Myers’ Yoga Studio
Ferro Café Bar
Full Circle Hand Knits
Harbourfront Centre
Hannaford Street Silver Band
IBM and Lenovo
il fornello
Jostens
Kanchan Lakhotia
Klaus by Nienkämper
Kodak Canada Inc.
LCBO
Lisa Seal
Mariposa Cruise Line
Mezzetta Café Restaurant
Motorola Canada Ltd.
National Ballet of Canada
NUVO Magazine
Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse
Ontario Science Centre
Paramount Canada’s Wonderland
Ray Zioba
Royal Ontario Museum
Smucker Foods of Canada Company
Soulpepper
Stott Pilates
Sutherland-Chan Clinic
Taboo Resort Golf & Spa
Tafelmusik
Tarragon Theatre
The Keg Restaurants
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale
Toronto and Region Conservation
Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Via Rail Canada
York Academy of Martial Arts

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