Hari Krishnan (Arts)

VIDEO

Born in Singapore, trained in South India, and now living in Toronto, Hari Krishnan represents a new community of contemporary artists merging Asian and Western sensibilities to create a new Canadian aesthetic that is grounded in classicism while speaking to a global modern audience. Bridging academic scholarship and performance, Mr. Krishnan is an internationally recognized master of the South Indian courtly dance known as Bharatanatyam, and is also renowned for his experimental work across the world.

When Mr. Krishnan arrived in Winnipeg in May 1991, the classical status of his art form, which should have placed it on a par with ballet, was largely neglected. As a male practitioner of an already "peripheral" art form, it was doubly difficult for him to establish himself in Canada's dance scene.

Since relocating to Toronto in 1997, Mr. Krishnan has raised the bar for South Asian dance both within the Toronto dance community and beyond. His contributions have expanded the parameters of South Asian dance and created an awareness of Indian classical dance in innovative and dynamic ways in Canada and abroad.

Currently the Artistic Director of the Toronto-based company inDANCE, Mr. Krishnan holds an MA in Dance from York University and a BA in Linguistics and Asian Studies from the University of Manitoba. He is also Visiting Professor of Dance at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. His experimental and vintage choreographies are performed at international venues, including St. Mark's Dance Space in New York City, The Royal Opera House in London, UK, The Museum Theatre in Chennai, India, The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull. He is also regularly invited to give talks and conduct classes and lecture-demonstrations at academic institutions in Canada, the US, UK and India.

For more than a decade, Mr. Krishnan has documented, translated, and analyzed the last vestiges of hereditary systems of dance in South India. His ethnographic research integrates the disciplines of performance studies, anthropology, history, and gender studies. Mr. Krishnan is also the co-founder of The Mangala Initiative, a non-profit Canadian organization which provides economic assistance to disenfranchised communities of female artists in South India.

Beverley Halls (Community Service)

VIDEO

When Beverley Halls came to Canada from Trinidad, she had a lot to adjust to. Life as a newcomer was complex. In addition to the new climate and foods, there was a new culture to conform to, and a school with a curriculum that was unwelcoming to newcomers and the disabled. These drastic changes caused a lot of distress, but Ms. Halls rose to the challenges.

As a youngster, Beverley was involved in the community endeavours of her faith community. Always eager to volunteer, she did fundraising for UNICEF and ADRA, organizations that had a world poverty focus. Beverley had great compassion for the underdogs of society because she knew social isolation firsthand. Being a deaf female, she had been the brunt of many jokes and was treated poorly by many of her peers.

The sneers and jeers Beverley received culminated in traumatic circumstances that led her to a life as a street-involved youth. She eventually found her way out of the underworld maze and won her life back. With serious drug and alcohol addictions, she fought a hard battle to be whole and then devoted her life to helping youth and the underprivileged in society. Joining organizations like the Toronto Police Service, Foodshare and Second Harvest, she was determined to be part of a positive community process.

Premier Bob Rae’s appointment of Beverley to the Board of the College of Nurses signaled a change of focus for her. She realized that many foreign nationals were trapped, lacking the tools and financial resources to upgrade to Canadian standards. She then became a very vocal activist on newcomer and education issues.

In conjunction with these other causes, Beverley has worked to define community service in the City of Toronto. In doing so, she has taken on a broad range of issues including food access, disability, culture, diversity, affordable housing, violence against women, and income security.

Living with significant hearing loss has not deterred Ms Halls. In fact, she encourages people to become involved in the community by showing that barriers exist only when you focus on them.



Bruce Poon Tip (Entrepreneurship)

VIDEO

In 1970, when Bruce Poon Tip’s family came to Canada from Trinidad, they encountered not only cultural differences but financial hurdles – his parents had to find housing and employment while caring for seven children.

At the age of 22, Mr. Poon Tip moved to Toronto to start G.A.P Adventures, a one-person operation offering a few tours to South America. He believed that, like himself, many others would want to experience “real world” travel – seeking adventure and authentic experiences. As a start-up company, he faced financing and credibility challenges due to his age. Undaunted, he forged on with his dream.

Today, G.A.P Adventures offers thousands of small group adventures, safaris and expeditions on all seven continents, with revenue approaching $100 million and a network of nearly 500 employees around the world. G.A.P Adventures offers low impact, grassroots experiences, with a focus on culture, nature and active travel, to over 50,000 passengers a year. G.A.P Adventures’ sustainable style of travel means that it strives to ensure all tours have minimal impact on the environment, respects local people and cultures, offers economic benefit to local businesses and communities, provides a memorable experience for travelers, and protects destinations for future generations.

Mr. Poon Tip has been named among Profit Magazine’s Top 10 Canadian Entrepreneurs in the past 25 years and in the Top 40 Under 40 list. In 2002 and 2006, he received the Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The company has also been honoured - for the past five years its trips have made National Geographic’s Best New Adventures List and in 2006, CondeNast Traveler named G.A.P Adventures in its 12th annual Green List. G.A.P Adventures has also been recognized for the past two years as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, Canada’s Top 100 Employers, and Canada’s Top 10 Employers for Young People.

In 2003, G.A.P Adventures launched its non-profit foundation, Planeterra, which supports community projects and non-profit organizations in countries around the world, focusing on health, education, childcare, environmental conservation, and employment skills training.



Dr. Michael Siu (Science and Technology)

VIDEO

Dr. K.W. Michael Siu epitomizes the immigrant success story. In 1977, he and his wife arrived in Canada where he earned his Ph.D. at Dalhousie University.

The previous year they had left Hong Kong to permit Dr. Siu to pursue his M.Sc. at the University of Birmingham, U.K. Overcoming cultural and language barriers, Dr. Siu learned the "Canadian way" and flourished.

Upon his graduation in 1981, Dr. Siu accepted a Research Associateship with the National Research Council in Ottawa, rose through the ranks, and was a Senior Research Officer when he left for York University in 1998.

From 1988 to 1998, Dr. Siu served on the Executive Committee in the Analytical Chemistry Division of the Canadian Society for Chemistry. Dr. Siu is the recipient of many awards and distinctions, including, in 2006, the prestigious Maxxam Award from the Canadian Society for Chemistry.

Today, Dr. Siu is a Professor of Chemistry, the NSERC/MDS SCIEX Industrial Research Chair, the Director of the Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry, and the Associate Vice-President of Research, Science and Technology at York University. His research in mass spectrometry spans from understanding the physical and chemical processes that are involved in mass spectrometry, to newer mass spectrometric instrumentation, and to applying the technology to discover and identify cancer biomarkers with the goal of improving early diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer (the fourth most common cancer in Canadian women).

In addition to his work, Dr. Siu is actively involved in the community. His research group at York University comprises many immigrants and former immigrants. His involvement with students and post-doctoral fellows goes beyond science and he is deeply interested in the well-being of his group members, even after they graduate. His laboratory is one of the few training centres in Canada for protein mass spectrometry, proteomics, and cancer biomarker research. The graduates from his group are in high demand in high technology industries, hospital research labs, and academia.

Juan Orozco (Skills for Change Graduate)

VIDEO

After losing their first daughter, Juan and his wife Olga decided to start a new life in Canada. Upon arriving from Colombia in 2001, they faced their first harsh Canadian winter, but winter weather was not their most difficult challenge.

Juan found that, with consistent hard work and a positive attitude, he could get his international electrical engineering education, qualifications, training, and experience recognized so that he too could work in Ontario as a Professional Engineer. In December 2001, he started the PEO lincencing registration process.

To improve his understanding of occupational terminology and workplace communication skills, Juan joined the Intensive English and employment preparation courses for internationally-trained engineers at Skills for Change. In July 2002, while finishing these courses, he got his first job in Canada as an Engineer.

Now he is employed with RS& G Commissioning as an Electrical Commissioning Engineer. He has shown leadership in a number of prestigious projects across Ontario, including the Ottawa Hospital, Credit Valley Hospital, and the expansion to both the Greater Toronto Airport-Terminal 3 and Windsor Casino. In 2005 the Association of Energy Engineers granted him the title of Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and he received the PEO licence, which entitled him to practice as a Professional Engineer.

Ever since he got his first “real job” as an Engineer in Canada, Juan has given back to the community. At Skills for Change, he tells other internationally-trained engineers about how, with determination and enthusiasm, he obtained his first engineering job and how he successfully faced the interview for PEO Experience Requirements Committee.

Juan has also found the time to lead his own mentoring program for internationally-trained engineers since 2003, helping fellow immigrants overcome the same barriers he was able to surmount. This year alone, with his wife’s support, he reached out to some 20 professionals - assisting them through the engineering licensing process as a constant motivator, helping them to understand more about the Canadian workplace culture and employers’ expectations, familiarizing them with the job search process, and encouraging them to move forward in their career to fulfill their potential.

Sadia Rafiquddin (Youth)

VIDEO

In 1990, Sadia Rafiquddin and her family fled the religious persecution they had experienced in Pakistan and came to Canada as refugees.

Life in Canada was not easy. During Ms. Rafiquddin’s childhood, her father fell ill and she quickly became a second parent to her siblings, sharing the cooking and housekeeping duties with her mother.

Once in high school, Ms. Rafiquddin took on an intensive course load and two part-time jobs. Her extra-curricular work included serving as President of John Fraser's chapter of Amnesty International for three years, Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, and Senior Editor of the 2003-2004 year book. She led Charity Week, an initiative that raised $10,000 to build a school in Sierra Leone. A dedicated volunteer, she worked to eliminate violence against women and to increase the self-esteem of young women with disabilities.

After graduating from high school with top honours and numerous awards for excellence in academic and extra-curricular activities, Ms. Rafiquddin enrolled in the joint specialist International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies program at the University of Toronto, where she earned the prestigious William Heaslip Scholarship from Trinity College and served as co-president of the International Relations Society. In 2006, she achieved her dream of going to Africa when she was selected for the World University Service of Canada’s International Seminar in Botswana.

In the past two years, Ms. Rafiquddin’s compliance studies for the G8 Research Group have been published in five different reports and she attended the 2006 G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia as a journalist.

As an Ahmadi Muslim, Ms. Rafiquddin is determined to increase people’s understanding and tolerance of the Ahmadiyya community. She loves Canada for the freedom and opportunity which she otherwise would have been denied as an Ahmadi Muslim woman in Pakistan. “If there is one thing I treasure most after my family, it's my Canadian citizenship and education.”
 

Lead Sponsor
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Platinum Sponsor
Western Union Canada

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

Diamond Sponsor
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

Gold Sponsor
C & D Graphics Services Inc.
KPMG
Scotiabank

Silver Sponsor
Juan F. Carranza, Barristers & Solicitors
Teranet Inc.

Hospitality Sponsor
Compass Group

Official Television Sponsor
Citytv

Official Radio Sponsor
EZ Rock 97.3fm

Official Newspaper Sponsor
Toronto Star

Official Magazine Sponsor
Canadian Newcomer Magazine

Official Chinese Print Sponsor
Ming Pao Daily News

Corporate Table Sponsors
(premier seating)
CIBC
Franklin Templeton Investment Corp.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario
LVMH Watch and Jewelry Canada Ltd.
Michener Institute

Corporate Table Sponsors
(with recognition)
City of Toronto
Consortium of Agencies Serving Internationally-trained Persons (CASIP)
Emerging Leaders Program
G.A.P Adventure
Globe Star Systems
Manpower
University of Toronto
Canadian Union of Skilled Workers
IBM Canada Ltd.
Ontario College of Teachers
Work Safety & Insurance Board
Xerox
York University

Personal Table Sponsors
Jane Cullingworth
Michael P. Small

Donors
Barbara Titherington
Best Champion Renovation Supplies Inc.
Councillor Joe Mohevec, Ward 12, St. Paul's West
Dr. Alfred Choo
Fidelity Investments
Jason Kahng
Mark Goldasic
Michael Hollingsworth
RBH Inc.
Susanne Pacher
Yvonne Ng

Arts
Brenda L. House (Leader), Grants Officer, Toronto Arts Council
Farida Zuberi, Mentoring Coordinator, Skills for Change
Helena Reckitt, Senior Curator of Programmes, PowerPlant at Harbourfront Centre
Michael Hollingsworth, Artistic Co-Director, VideoCabaret Int'l
Nafeesa Afridi, Resource Officer, Skills for Change
Soheil Parsa (1995 NPA Recipient) Artistic Director, Modern Times Stage Company
Thom Clulow, Vice President, Corporate Development, Sun Life Financial
Yvonne Ng (2003 NPA Recipient), Artistic Director, Princess Productions

Community Service
Aster Fessahaie (2002 NPA Recipient), Children's Services District Consultant, Metro Hall
Catherine Kenwell (Leader), Director, Marketing & Communications, The Canadian College of
     Naturopathic Medicine
Lancefield Morgan, Community Revitalization Consultant, Toronto Community Housing
Rosaline Graham, Mentoring Program Counsellor, Skills for Change
Susan McIsaac, Vice President, Resource Development, United Way of Greater Toronto
Vimla Luchmum, Teach in Ontario Bilingual Intake Consultant/Facilitator , Skills for Change

Entrepreneurship
Denise Araiche (Leader), Business Manager, Hays Accounting & Finance
Brian Fox, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Western Union
Helen Tam, CES Coordinator, Skills for Change
Ian MacFadden, Vice President & Area Manager, Business Development Bank of Canada
Jeff Brown, General Manager, Imperial Service & Business Banking CIBC
Jocelyne Achat, Vice-President, Employee Relations, TD Bank Financial Group
Karen Park, Associate, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Shabnum Budhwani, Teach in Ontario Coordinator, Skills for Change
Vince Aguanno, Vice President, Commercial Banking, TD Bank Financial Group

Science & Technology
Anna Bassovets, ESL Instructor Toronto Catholic District School Board, Skills for Change
Elvino Sousa (2003 NPA Recipient), Professor, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering,
        University of Toronto
Jeff Martin, Associate Vice President, TD Bank Financial Group
Kim Allen, CEO/Registrar, Professional Engineers Ontario
Rama Bhat (Leader), Surgeon, York Central Hospital
Sri Krishnan (2006 NPA Recipient), Professor, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering,
       Ryerson University
Valli DiLallo, ESL Instructor Toronto Catholic District School Board, Skills for Change

Youth
Barbara Titherington (Leader)
Corina Carvallo, Executive Assistant, Skills for Change
Jason Y.S. Kahng, Investment Advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
Nasra Abdi, CES Employer Outreach Specialist, Skills for Change
Patrick Sharangabo (2006 NPA Recipient)
Ranji Persad, Vice President, Business Transformation, Xerox Canada Ltd.
Susanne Pacher, President Textronics Communications Ltd.
Victoria Prince, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Skills for Change Graduate
Bill Waicus (Leader), Manager Operations, Skills for Change
Kanchan Kaura, CFP, CGA,
Kim Trinh (2006 NPA Recipient), Community Development Worker, COSTI
Mary Ann J. Lara, CFP, CGA, Manulife Financial
Olga Grupp-Boland, Receptionist, Skills for Change
Shirley Taylor, CGA
 

Catherine Kenwell, The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
Dave Lovelock, Skills for Change
Gail Johnson, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Jane Cullingworth, Skills for Change
Michael P. Small, IBM Canada Ltd.
Samantha Koon, Skills for Change
 

Thank you to these individuals, companies and organizations who donated goods or services to our Silent Auction.

Albert's Restaurant
Art Gallery of Ontario
Berge Arabian
Bookclub in a Box
BTF Canada Corporation
Casa Loma
Christine's Fitness & Personal Training
Citytv
Cynthia Restaurant
Ellington's Music & Café
Ester Myers' Yoga Studio
Family Collections
G.A.P Adventures
Harbourfront Centre
HDTV Electronic
Hello Pacific
il fornello
Keg Restaurants
Kodak Canada Inc
Koon’s Opticals
Ladies Collections
LCBO
Le Gemini
LINC Program
LVMH Watch and Jewelry Canada Ltd.
Mainline Services Inc.
Mariposa Cruises
Mezetta Restaurant
Ming Pao Daily News
National Ballet of Canada
Naz Ghodrati - Azadi
Nienkamper
Olga's Jewellery Collection
Ontario Science Centre
Opera Atelier
Riverdale Pilates
Skills for Change
Smucker’s Foods of Canada
Soulpepper
Sutherland Chan Clinic
Tafelmusik
Tarragon Theatre
TechSkills
The Rushton
Tim Horton’s
Tundra Books
Vintage Hotels
Western Union