FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Pioneers for Change

Toronto, ON, March 28, 2023 – Skills for Change (SfC) is known for pioneering programs that respond to shifting immigration and workplace trends and lead to employment. For 40 years, Skills for Change has assumed a leadership role in addressing policy issues and undertaking public education and research on issues affecting immigrants and refugees. At the same time, we have innovative service models specific to internationally trained professionals. Today, a range of accelerated programs are offered to fit the needs of the people arriving from all over the world. By providing holistic, wrap-around, and vocational services, SfC has established itself as a leading service provider for immigrants, refugees, and newcomers serving more than 16,000 clients annually. SfC believes that its clients represent economic growth, innovation, diversity, and new opportunities for all Canadians. Canada is growing and evolving, quite quickly, and so, effectively integrating new ideas, perspectives, and opportunities is a crucial element in building welcoming, equitable and sustainable communities, and a Canada where every immigrant succeeds.

Since 1992, Skills for Change has celebrated the achievements of immigrants with our signature event, “Pioneers for Change” (PfC), representing the vision of a diverse and inclusive Canada. PfC celebrates ongoing commitment to celebrating immigrants and continues to break down barriers so that newcomers can thrive. We seize this opportunity to recognize those members who demonstrate outstanding dedication, going beyond and exceeding expectations, and recognize them in appreciation.

Past award recipients include former Governor General of Canada, Adrianne Clarkson, Canadian businessman and star of Shark Tank, Robert Herjavec, former Skills for Change client and teacher Altaf Quadeer, and CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival Cameron Bailey.

Do you know someone who deserves such an award? Nominate them now!

Nominations may be submitted by a company, organization, or individual familiar with the nominee’s portfolio of accomplishments.

This year’s award categories are:

Leadership Award
This nominee is an individual who has shown extreme dedication and exceeded expectations in supporting and leading community initiatives. This dynamic leader should have a track record of accomplishments within their sector. They should act with boldness by taking smart risks to advance organizational and personal goals. Risks may have yielded both successful and unsuccessful outcomes – and learned from both. Furthermore, this individual has created opportunities for others within the community to have access to resources and platforms to empower them and grow personally and professionally.

Advocacy & Social Impact Award
This nominee has made contributions and impact by advocating equal access to programs, services and resources to support marginalized communities. This individual has worked to educate decision makers, the public and the media regarding struggles marginalized communities face on the daily. Their work should focus on raising awareness through activism which encourages others to make an impact.

STEM Innovation Award
This nominee is actively involved in breaking down barriers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field and providing innovative solutions that help change the world we live in. They successfully apply new technologies – or existing technologies in an innovative manner to enhance and further grow the STEM sector. Their dedication is seen within their efforts in raising awareness and creating opportunities to make the STEM sector accessible to all.

Arts & Entertainment Award
This nominee is a creative individual who has demonstrated artistic excellence and/or innovation in their chosen artform. Artforms can be (and are not limited to) music, film, television, broadcasting, literature, theater, etc. Their chosen expression has contributed to the diversity of Canada’s arts and entertainment scene. The nominee promotes the various creative industries in a positive way through arts, culture, heritage, education, and ethnicity.

Immigrant of the Year Award
This nominee is an immigrant or refugee to Canada that has made continual positive contributions to Canadian society. Through this award, we honour and celebrate the talent, excellence, and impact of the individual’s hard work and dedication to represent the immigrant community and the people of Canada in general.

Corporate Champion Award
This award recognizes a single organization’s dedication to equity, diversity and inclusionary practices. Their outstanding commitment to practice, events, applied research, policy, programs, and other activities helps to foster equitable, sustainable and measurable change for marginalized and under-represented members of our society.

Lifetime Achievement Award
This nominee is an individual who has demonstrated outstanding vision, dedication, and commitment in creating impact within marginalized and underrepresented communities throughout their whole career. Year after year, this individual has dedicated their work and effort in contributing to the empowerment and growth of these communities and networks through their leadership. This award recognizes this individual’s influence and innovation in creating ground-breaking impact and supporting marginalized and underrepresented members of society to have access to programs, services and resources to grow, as well as for being a role model/mentor for everyone through their work.

Under 30 Award (ages 14-18)
This award recognizes the outstanding achievements and career potential among youth (14-18). The realm/sector is not limited; this youth should demonstrate leadership, advocacy and commitment to making social change.

Under 30 Award (ages 19-30)
This award recognizes the outstanding achievements and career potential among youth (19-30). The realm/sector is not limited; this youth should demonstrate leadership, advocacy and commitment to making social change.

Skills for Change Alumni Excellence Award
This nominee is a former Skills for Change’s services graduate who has gone above and beyond within their professional life. This award recognizes this individual’s track record of outstanding contributions and their efforts to further support Skills for Change’s mission.

Impact Changemaker Award
This nominee is an exceptional “changemaker” whose work focuses on educating decision makers, the public and the media and/or affecting policy and legislation through effective research advocacy at the local, provincial and/or national levels. The advocacy work should exceed normal expectations of regular advocacy practice and should be inclusive and respectful of the values and personal autonomy of those who are affected by it. This award recognizes this individual’s dedication in raising awareness and creating impact within the areas of policy, legislation, and social justice.

Entrepreneurship Award
This nominee is an ambitious visionary who is leading a successful, dynamic business. They have successfully combined creativity, innovation, and business strategies and demonstrated mastery of their skills and knowledge in their sector. Through their blooming business, they push our economy to the next level and play a crucial role in Canada’s economy.

Nomination Criteria

Nominees are evaluated on ways in which they perform above and beyond expectations in the areas listed below. Nomination letters should indicate and differentiate between contributions which are generally expected and contributions that go above and beyond the nominee’s regular responsibilities. Please make sure ALL nomination criteria are addressed and give specific examples. You are encouraged to ask your nominee to supply further information if needed.

• Significant contribution to the field of nomination.
• Positively influences people by demonstrating leadership.
• Is a permanent resident of Canada or holds Canadian citizenship.
• Identifies as an immigrant/refugee.
• Has not previously won the award.
• Are in good standing with their professional organization (if applicable)
• Self-nominations are not applicable.

How to Nominate Someone

1. Send your nominations to pfc@skillsforchange.org. Please include the nominee’s first name, last name and award for consideration to the subject line of the email
2. Provide one (1) letter of nomination and two (2) additional letters supporting the nomination based on the criteria listed above (This can be a nominee’s CV). Additional letters will not be reviewed.
3. The complete nomination package (nomination form, one nomination letter, and two letters of support) must be received all at once in one PDF file – not separately. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered. Email the PDF to the above mentioned email address. The nomination form, nomination letter, and the two letters of support should be typed or written/printed legibly.
4. Please note that if more than one nomination packet is submitted for the same employee, only the first nomination packet received will be reviewed.

About Skills for Change

Founded in 1982, Skills for Change is a leading non-profit organization serving immigrants and refugees in Canada. Our mission is to build welcoming and equitable communities. We offer over 25 programs and services and annually serve more than 16,000 immigrants and refugees. 

Media Contacts: 

Sampada Kukade, VP of Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, skukade@skillsforchange.org or 416-658-3101, ext. 234.