Nominations are now open for the annual Provincial Nesika Awards 2012 and British Columbians are encouraged to participate.

The Provincial Nesika Awards started in 2008 and recognize the people, organizations and businesses whose exceptional work helps bring our diverse cultures together. The Province’s Multicultural Advisory Council organizes and sponsors the awards to honour and celebrate British Columbia’s cultural diversity and Aboriginal heritage.

Four categories are open for nomination - Individual, Business, Organization, and this year the Province has added a Youth category.

The four award winners will be recognized at the awards event during BC Multiculturalism Week in November 2012. Winners in each category will receive an award trophy and $5,000 to be donated to a non-profit organization of their choice to further support the work of multiculturalism in the province.

All nominations must be received by Sept. 24, 2012. For more information, eligibility requirements or to download the 2012 Provincial Nesika Awards nomination form, visit: www.EmbraceBC.ca

Quotes:

Minister of State for Multiculturalism John Yap -

“Multiculturalism enhances our social and economic prosperity and puts us on the map as a society that values inclusion and cultural diversity. We’re lucky to have so many diverse communities in British Columbia, so I look forward to many highly qualified nominations.”

Chair of Multicultural Advisory Council Ashli Komaryk-De Lucio -

“The Provincial Multicultural Advisory Council is proud to present and sponsor the annual Provincial Nesika Awards. It is an honour for all council members to be associated with these awards, not only because they recognize the rich cultural diversity of our province, but because they also celebrate successful examples of how innovative ideas and the practice of multiculturalism can help build inclusive communities.”

Quick Facts:

• Nesika (pronounced Ne-SAY-ka) is Chinook 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.
• Almost 30 per cent of British Columbians have 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:

EmbraceBC, the Province’s multiculturalism site: www.embracebc.ca

Information and services for new British Columbians: www.welcomebc.ca

B.C.’s Multicultural Advisory Council: www.embracebc.ca/multiculturalism/multicultural_advisory_council/

Media Contact:

Cheekwan Ho
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation - Multiculturalism
250 387-2934