RISE Awards celebrates the accomplishments of newcomers and immigrants in the Edmonton area who demonstrate outstanding commitments to creating a more welcoming and inclusive community for all and commendable service to building strong communities through social, cultural and economic development.
It is an inspirational and memorable evening enriched with culture, live musical performances, a multicultural dinner buffet, and award presentations to our most distinguished community members.
According to information on Diversity Magazine, “Dignitaries who have confirmed attendance are The Mayor, City of Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi and his wife, MP: Edmonton Centre, Randy Boissonnault; MLA Edmonton-Whitemud, Rakhi Pancholi; and Councilor: Ward Sspomitapi, Jo-Anne Wright”.
Get your tickets or table at https://emcn.ab.ca/get-involved/rise-awards/
Kent Morrison of CTV Edmonton News and Noor Al-Henedy will host this year’s gala.
There are eight award categories to recognize and celebrate the social, cultural, and economic contributions of immigrant individuals and businesses/organizations in Edmonton.
Below are descriptions of all the award categories…
The Community Champion Award is a prestigious recognition of an individual or group’s exceptional contributions to their community and their commitment to positively impacting the lives of those around them.
The Community Champion demonstrates exceptional leadership, collaboration, advocacy, and innovations in its efforts to strengthen community awareness for newcomer equity. This can include volunteering time, energy, and resources towards a particular cause or organization, advocating for social justice and newcomer equality, or leading community-wide initiatives to improve the newcomer community’s well-being.
EMCN RISE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Arts can transcend cultural boundaries and bring people from different backgrounds together. The EMCN RISE Artist of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of immigrant artists to the arts and music community and celebrates the diversity of artistic expression of newcomers. The award is bestowed upon an immigrant artist who has significantly impacted and enriched the cultural landscape of Edmonton.
The EMCN RISE Lifetime Achievement Award is an accolade given to an individual who immigrated to Edmonton and has made outstanding and significant contributions, achievements and long-lasting impacts toward fostering welcoming, inclusive and equitable communities for all. The 2023 RISE Woman of the Year Award sponsored by NorQuest recognizes an immigrant woman’s exceptional achievements and contributions to her community, overcoming significant challenges unique to immigration, migration, settlement or resettlement while demonstrating exceptional leadership, dedication, and perseverance in her personal and professional life.
The Equity in Action Award is an outstanding recognition given to organizations or businesses committed to building a fully inclusive environment reflective of the society it serves, where all colleagues can fulfill their potential. The award acknowledges those who have taken concrete steps to ensure that all employees, regardless of their background, are treated fairly and have equal access to opportunities, resources, and benefits.
The LGBTQIA+ Equity Award is an honour bestowed upon an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership and advocacy in support of equal rights, protection, and the well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community in Edmonton and has inspired others to join the fight for equality and inclusion.
The Ethnocultural Impact Award
This award was formerly called the Building Futures Award.
- Recognizes the gift of diversity and the contributions of different cultural communities to our city and society.
- Promotes respect and appreciation for all cultures and encourages businesses and organizations/groups to work towards embracing and promoting inclusive communities.
- Is given to a business, organization or group that has significantly fostered and promoted a warm, welcoming, and inclusive community for all. Nominees are evaluated based on their collective efforts and achievements in promoting intercultural understanding, fostering inclusivity, and preserving their community’s cultural identity and heritage.
The Rising Star Youth Award for immigrant youth is an accolade that recognizes:
- The achievements and potential of young immigrants who have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication, and resilience in their personal, academic, and/or professional pursuits.
- An immigrant youth who has excelled in various fields such as academics, arts, sports, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, community service, or activism.
Tickets are available via www.emcn.ab.ca
When:Friday, October 13, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Where: Edmonton Convention Centre 9797 Jasper Ave NW Ed.
The Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers’ (EMCN) annual RISE Awards, which stands for Recognizing Immigrant Success in Edmonton (RISE) will be celebrated on Friday, October 13, 2023.
