By Sally W.
The 15th Annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards 2023 took place at the Sheraton Centre Toronto on Thursday, August 3rd. It was a time to celebrate Immigrants to Canada who have made a significant contribution to their communities and to Canada. The Award Winners were from all over Canada – from the East Coast to British Columbia. They were chosen through extensive nomination, judging and public online voting. Nearly 68,000 online votes were cast at canadianimmigrant.ca Winners can be viewed online at canadianimmigrant.ca/top25 in the August edition of Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
The Award Ceremony and Celebration was a joyful occasion to celebrate these very talented people who represent many sectors – University, Business, Volunteer organizations, foundations, law, acting, food industry, Police, Government, Black Business professionals. Representing different sectors and coming from different countries and continents. But there was a common theme – that we all rise by lifting others – the common theme of helping others in order to help all of us in Canada. Continue to rise. Continue to lift. Was the opening statement. Create community around you. The importance of mentors – to be one and to have mentors in your life. Do not let fear prevent your potential. Work with people from diverse communities.
And “Work hard. Play harder. Enjoy this beautiful country” said Ann Pornel. Each Award Winner gave a speech about their achievements in Canada. Following the ceremony there was a reception with a buffet of hors-d’oeuvre and refreshments as well as time to connect and congratulate the winners.
Founded in 2004, the Canadian Immigrant magazine began with a mandate to “inform, educate and motivate” immigrants to Canada and assist them in their new found journey. Since then, the magazine has grown to be the only national multi-platform brand for all immigrants to Canada, on topics from careers to education to settlement. Canadian Immigrant not only connects newcomers in Canada, but also aspiring immigrants from more than 150 countries.
The 2023 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award Winners are below. You can read about them online at canadianimmigrant.ca/top25
Ali Abukar Saskatoon, SK / Somalia Paola Ardiles Gamboa Vancouver, BC / Chile Ndiallo Aw Badji Pincourt, QC / Senegal Wyle Baoween Vancouver, BC / Yemen Edward Venzon Cruz Windsor, ON / Philippines Maninder Dhaliwal Vancouver, BC / India Natasha Dhayagude Fredericton, NB /India Mina Hoorfar Victoria, BC / Iran Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan Burnaby, BC / India Dean Lin Vancouver, BC / Taiwan Mena Massoud Markham, ON / Egypt Archana Medhekar Toronto, ON / India Hénoc Muamba
Toronto, ON / Democratic Republic of Congo Hanen Nanaa Toronto ON / Syria Raymond Ngarboui
Winnipeg, MB / Chad Florence Ngenzebuhoro Hamilton, ON / Burundi Faouzia Ouihya Carman, MB / Morocco Mustafa Popalzai Toronto, ON / Afghanistan Ann Pornel
Toronto, ON / Philippines Sam Primucci Toronto, ON / Italy Agunbiade Seun Richards
Saint John, NB/ Nigeria Winston Sayson Richmond, BC / Philippines Cindy Sinclair
Toronto, ON / Guyana Beili Wong Toronto, ON / China Leslie Woo
Toronto, ON / Trinidad and Tobago
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