Do you know someone with exceptional dedication to championing the rights of newcomers? The Newcomer Champion Awards recognize individuals and groups who have made a difference in their community and province through active citizenship and engagement. Award recipients are champions of voluntarism, proud supporters of newcomers, and advocates of greater social and civic inclusion. The deadline for nominations is April 29.
The awards were created in 2007 and expanded in 2011 to include three categories:
Community Leader – recognizes an individual who has made an exceptional long-term commitment in ensuring that immigrants and refugees gain equal, adequate and universal access to social services, and/or promoting active citizenship and engagement in their community or province.
Newcomer Champion – recognizes settlement or community groups that show excellence in promoting cross-cultural understanding and/or implementing programs to help settle and connect newcomers in communities.
ChangeTheWorld Youth Ambassador – recognizes an outstanding youth volunteer between the ages of 14 to18 who has participated in the annual ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge. Nominations must be made by the local volunteer centre where the youth participated in the Challenge.
Who is eligible?
An individual or a group may be nominated in the Community Leader and Newcomer Champion categories. ChangeTheWorld Youth Ambassadors must be nominated by a participating volunteer centre. Nominees must live in Ontario. Posthumous and self-nominations are not accepted.
How do I nominate a person or a group? Visit the Ontario Immigration and Citizenship website for details.
For more information contact the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat at 416 314-7526 (in Toronto), toll free 1-877-832-8622, or TTY 416 327-2391.