The winners of the ninth annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants have been announced! Presented by Canadian Immigrant magazine and sponsored by RBC Royal Bank, this annual awards program celebrates the achievements of inspiring Canadian immigrants.
Canada is certainly a land of immigrants and it shows in the diversity of our winners this year who originally hail from different parts of the world, but now call Canada home. From the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Ahmed Hussen himself, to the founder of BroadbandTV Shahrzad Rafati to medical humanitarian Dr. James Orbinski to iconic ballerina Chan Hon Goh to Syrian LGBTQ activist Ahmad Danny Ramadan, each of our winners is truly inspiring in what they have achieved professionally or personally.
“What an amazing year for the awards and Canada! We’ve had a record number of votes cast this year — 55,000+ — which is a true testament to the important contributions immigrants make to this great nation of ours,” says Margaret Jetelina, editor, Canadian Immigrant magazine.
In addition, two winners will be selected for special recognition, the RBC Entrepreneur Award and the new Youth Award. Ajay Virmani, president and CEO or CargoJet, Canada’s largest cargo airline, is the third annual recipient of the RBC Entrepreneur Award for excellence in entrepreneurship. Ishita Aggarwal, scientist, women’s rights advocate and youth philanthropist, is the first recipient of the Youth Award – a new award established this year. The award recognizes immigrant youth who are making a difference in their adopted country through achievement demonstrating that when we invest in youth great things happen.
“RBC is proud to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of Canadian newcomers. The RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards showcase the richness and diversity newcomers add to the fabric of our communities,” says Ivy Chiu, senior director, cultural markets, RBC. “For close to 150 years, we have welcomed new Canadians from all around the world and we look forward to seeing how they help shape Canada for the next 150 years. Congratulations to all winners and nominees.”
The RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winners will be honoured at ceremonies in Toronto today, and in Vancouver on June 29.
Here is the list:
Ishita Aggarwal, Vaughan, Ontario
Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, Toronto, Ontario
Gabriela Covaci, Burlington, Ontario
Dahlia ElShafie-Mostafa, Calgary, Alberta
Mohamad Fakih, Mississauga, Ontario
Jennifer Gillivan, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Chan Hon Goh, Vancouver, British Columbia
Raghwa Gopal, Kelowna, British Columbia
Maziar Heidari, Toronto, Ontario
Minister Ahmed Hussen, Toronto, Ontario
Abdullah Kafashe, Salluit, Quebec
Tony Luk, Toronto, Ontario
Trish Mandewo, Coquitlam, British Columbia
Florfina Marcelino, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Noelle Milne, Toronto, Ontario
Agnes P. Miranda, Stouffville, Ontario
Dr. Muhammad Morshed, Vancouver, British Columbia
Dr. James Orbinski, Guelph, Ontario
Shahrzad Rafati, Vancouver, British Columbia
Ahmad Danny Ramadan, Vancouver, British Columbia
Miroslav Reljic, Calgary, Alberta
Ninela Sanchez, Mississauga, Ontario
Kuldeep Sharma, Mississauga, Ontario
Ajay Virmani, Oakville, Ontario
Senator Yuen Pau Woo, Vancouver, British Columbia
