If you know someone who is a champion for multiculturalism in their community, nominate them for a 2011 Provincial Nesika Award.

Nominations are now open for the awards, which recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that make outstanding contributions to promoting cultural diversity and Aboriginal heritage in B.C.

Winners in each of the three categories receive $5,000 to acknowledge and support their achievements, to be donated to an organizational program of their choice. The Provincial Nesika Awards - now in their third year - promote the inclusion of people of all cultures, and honour and respect the role that diverse families play in holding our communities together and keeping our province strong and vibrant.

This year, the Province has added a business category to the awards. This will recognize corporations, credit unions and small and mid-sized businesses that incorporate respect for diverse cultures into their business philosophy.

Nominations for this year's Provincial Multicultural Nesika Awards close Monday, Sept. 19. You have until then to nominate the multiculturalism champions who have made a difference in your life or community.

Quotes:

Lisa Sadler, board member, Karen Initiative

"Winning the Nesika Award affirmed the role of volunteers in our community and highlighted the needs of newly arrived refugees. Many volunteers have spent countless hours providing help and friendship to the new Karen refugees, and winning the Nesika Award gave recognition that our work is making a difference to our community. The funds awarded were used to help the new Canadians thank their community by creating traditional woven artwork to present to the local school, city, township, MP and MLA and to celebrate the diversity and contributions that these new Canadians bring to Langley. The Nesika Award serves as inspiration that diversity is the backbone of our communities and Canadian citizens have an important role to play in welcoming new residents!"

Quick Facts:

• Nesika (pronounced Ne-SAY-ka) is Chinook jargon for "we, us, our." It comes from a trade language used by many different Aboriginal linguistic groups along the west coast of North America.
• Since 1990, B.C.'s Multicultural Advisory Council has promoted cross-cultural understanding and respect throughout the province and sponsors the Provincial Nesika Awards.
• The award winners are selected by an independent jury and will be announced during B.C.'s Multiculturalism Week, Nov. 13-19, 2011.
•  Almost 30 per cent of British Columbians emigrated from another country in their lifetimes.
• One-quarter of the people in B.C. are self-identified visible minorities, and five per cent identify as Aboriginal.
• The most ethnically diverse province in Canada, B.C. welcomes nearly 40,000 new immigrants every year.

Learn More:

• Nomination forms for the 2011 Provincial Multicultural Nesika Awards, and previous winners and nominees: www.embracebc.ca/embracebc/community/nesika_awards/index.page?WT.svl=LeftNav
• EmbraceBC, the Province's multiculturalism site: www.embracebc.ca/embracebc/index.page
• Information and services for new British Columbians: www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/index.page
• B.C.'s Multicultural Advisory Council: www.embracebc.ca/embracebc/multiculturalism/multicultural_advisory_council/index.page

Contact:

David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development and
Ministry Responsible for Multiculturalism
250 356-1670