CANADIAN Immigrant magazine last Sunday opened online voting for the seventh annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards. The program serves to recognize and celebrate the inspiring stories of Canadian immigrants who have made a significant contribution to Canada since their arrival. The program receives nominations from across Canada and is supported by title sponsor RBC and associate sponsor Chevrolet.
More than 150,000 Canadians have cast votes to determine the Top 25 winners over the last seven years. Past winners have included entrepreneurs and business leaders, artists, academics, community volunteers, sports heroes, philanthropists, inventors and visionaries, as young as 17 years and as old as 92. Their reasons, circumstances and timing for coming to Canada are as varied as their backgrounds – some fled strife in their home countries, while others chose to gain higher education; some arrived as young children, while others arrived with only a few hundred dollars.
No matter their roots, each of the 25 winners’ stories every year shares a common thread: an individual rose to a challenge and used that opportunity to make Canada a better place for all. This year is no different.
“Every nomination we received was poignant and deserving. The 75 shortlisted Canadians moving into the next stage are nothing short of inspiring. We invite all our readers to vote for their favourites to determine who we should honour as the Top 25 Canadian immigrants of 2015,” said Margaret Jetelina, Editor, Canadian Immigrant magazine.
Hundreds of nominations were received over the past two months. A judging panel composed of several past winners and contributors to the magazine reviewed the entries and narrowed them to a shortlist of 75 finalists who represent diverse ethnic communities, cities and industries across Canada.
Canadians can now vote until May 11 for up to three of their favourite finalists online at www.canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25
“Each nominee has a unique story that helps define Canada. Their successes help build a country that is rich in diversity and a home where newcomers thrive,” said Christine Shisler, Director, Multicultural Markets, RBC. “We thank everyone who took the time to nominate a dynamic individual from their community and now encourage all Canadians to vote for their favourite finalists.”
This year, title sponsor RBC will further recognize one of the 25 winners who demonstrates excellence in business, with the RBC Entrepreneur Award. Associate Sponsor Chevrolet will recognize one winner with the Chevrolet Ingenuity Award, for showing exceptional ingenuity on their road to success.
“Chevrolet supports the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards to recognize the people who have shared their passions for Canada as they earned significant achievements and realized their dreams,” said John Roth, Vice President for Chevrolet in Canada. “The Chevrolet Ingenuity Award will further recognize the efforts of a truly inspirational individual.”
The Top 25 winners will be announced on June 23. They will be recognized on canadianimmigrant.ca and in Canadian Immigrant magazine. Each winner will also receive a commemorative plaque and $500 toward a charity of their choice provided by RBC.
