Canadian Immigrant magazine has kicked off voting for the fifth annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, identifying and celebrating the inspiring stories and achievements of Canadian immigrants from all walks of life.
More than 600 entries were submitted following the call for nominations. The list was reviewed by a panel of judges, which included recipients of last year’s award. From the hundreds of worthy submissions, the judges determined a short list of 75 inspiring immigrants who represent a variety of diverse ethnic communities and cultures across Canada. On that list are York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and Osgoode Hall Law School alumnus Michael Tulloch, judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Mamdouh Shoukri
Voting is now open to determine who among the 75 will appear on the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant list. Canadians can now vote for their favourite candidates online at Canadian Immigrant magazine’s RBC Top 25 webpage. Voting closes May 13.
"The RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards recognize individuals from diverse communities who enrich Canada and make it a better place to live. We encourage all Canadians to support and vote for these extraordinary individuals who are making a difference in their country and communities," said Paul Sy, director, Multicultural Markets, RBC.
Michael Tulloch
More than 30,000 Canadians voted in last year's awards program. Among last year’s recipients were Canadian rap musician K'naan, whose journey from Somalia to Canada is a compelling story; politician Olivia Chow, who has been an example of strength and grace on the political stage in recent years; and leading-edge cardiologist Dr. Vivian Rambihar, who has conducted groundbreaking research on heart health issues among immigrants.
The awards program draws nominations from across Canada and is supported by the title sponsor RBC Royal Bank and associate sponsor Chevrolet. All 25 winners will be announced in June and will be recognized in the print and web versions of Canadian Immigrant magazine. They will each receive a commemorative plaque and $500 towards a charity of their choice provided by RBC. This year's media partners are the Toronto Star, Metro, Sing Tao and South Asian Focus.