If you know of a deserving individual, business, organization or youth doing exceptional work in multiculturalism in B.C., nominate them for the 2012 Provincial Nesika Awards. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, 2012.

First proclaimed in February 2008, the Provincial Nesika Awards are organized and sponsored by the Province of B.C.'s Multicultural Advisory Council to honour and celebrate British Columbia's cultural diversity and Indigenous communities. They recognize the individuals, businesses and organizations whose exceptional work helps bring our diverse cultures together.

Nesika (Ne-SAY-ka) is "we, us, our" in Chinook. It comes from a trade language used by many different Aboriginal linguistic groups along the west coast of North America. Chinook was used extensively in British Columbia during the 19th and early 20th centuries to help Aboriginal people communicate, first among themselves and then with European newcomers.

The four award winners (in the individual, business, organization and youth categories) will be recognized at the Awards Event on Nov. 23 during B.C. Multiculturalism Week. Winners in each category will receive an award trophy and $5,000 to further support the work of multiculturalism in the province.

To learn more about the Nesika Awards, visit EmbraceBC at: http://www.embracebc.ca/

The nomination form is available at: https://extranet.gov.bc.ca/forms/embracebc/nominations.html

Learn More:

EmbraceBC, the B.C. government'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

To view 'BC People: Portraits of Diversity' on BC online, visit: http://www.bcpeople.ca

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement|
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104