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Diversity Champions Award Nominees 2019

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Port Saint John

Corporate Business Award Nominee

Port Saint is part of the critical transportation infrastructure of Canada and a cornerstone of the New Brunswick economy whose mission is to be the driver of sustainable economic growth in our region through innovation and collaboration.

 

Jim Quinn is the CEO of Port Saint John.  Jim joined Port Saint John nearly a decade ago after a 30-year career in the federal government in Ottawa and elsewhere in Canada. Jim embraces diversity and shares the view that through embracing the experiences and thoughts of others our organization and community becomes richer and stronger.

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Sitel

Corporate Business Award Nominee - Winner

Sitel prides itself on being a truly global presence, not just because they have locations all over the world, but because Sitel embraces the cultures of its associates from all over the world.  One of Sitel’s core values is Working Together which encompasses having fun, building relationships, leveraging collective genius, inspire others and giving back.  By actively seeing to increase the diversity of their site, Sitel is living that core value.  Being recognized for doing something that they believe is critical to be successful as a company is a wonderful honor and reinforces that the company is leading the way both corporately and culturally into the future. 

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Catapult Coffee & Studio

Small Business Award Nominee

Catapult Coffee & Studio strives to provide a supportive work environment for young people seeking to enter (or re-enter) the workforce. Many young people in our community face barriers to employment including mental health, criminal records, generational poverty etc. Others are new to Canada and need a chance to improve their English before joining the mainstream workforce, and several of our team members have cross-cultural experience that helps us create a welcoming environment for newcomers. Catapult seeks to support individuals through on-the-job mentorship and training, and by providing connections to additional supports outside of regular work hours.

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Imperial Theatre

Small Business Award Nominee - Winner

Imperial Theatre is an 874 seat proscenium theatre located in Saint John New Brunswick on Canada’s East Coast.  Originally opened in 1913, Imperial Theatre is hailed as the most beautiful restored theatre in Canada. In operation for 26 years since the grand re-opening, Imperial Theatre is Saint John’s premier performance space. 

 

Imperial Theatre’s mandate is to “enrich, engage and inspire our community through the performing arts.” Programming choices are based on assessment of past and current seasons, including criteria such as artistic excellence, presentation of varied genres and cultures, ticket sales, opportunities for engagement activities and balancing familiar work with challenges.

 

While Imperial Theatre started as a restoration project over 26 years ago, it is more than a building.  It is the heart and soul of our community where we connect and include individuals from all walks of life to connect through diverse arts, culture and heritage.

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Saint John Free Public Library

Small Business Award Nominee

The three branches of the Saint John Free Public Library support our communities by providing opportunities for residents to enhance their knowledge and explore their creative capabilities. With access to almost 2 million items, the library provides further access to reliable information resources for consumer health, career, business, employment, as well as interactive language instruction. We also offer many programs and services for children: family-focused children’s programs lay the foundation for language and literacy development, inspire creativity, explore new technologies, and invite learning through play. Other programs invite adults to learn new skills or enjoy cultural events. Our programs may take place within our walls, through virtual visits, or in local senior's centres, educational facilities, parks, and neighbourhoods. Designed to respond to the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of residents, our programs and services are offered completely free of charge.

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Sankara

Immigrant Entrepreneur Award - Winner

Sankara is a social enterprise which operates an online multicultural marketplace to access authentic cultural grocery, delicious foods and world crafts from cultural restaurants and grocers, independent local chefs, and cultural artisans. Sankara has developed a unique Lunch Box service for adventurous foodies and provides catering services for groups and events. Sankara's cultural events include ticketed Pop-Up Restaurants at Five & Dime where guests experience a featured chef's unique cultural expression from food to music and language. To date there have been over 20 countries represented on Sankara's marketplace through unique food and craft. We have curated 22 Pop-Up Restaurants. 

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Bollywood Dance Studio Inc.

Immigrant Entrepreneur Award

Sankara is a social enterprise which operates an online multicultural marketplace to access authentic cultural grocery, delicious foods and world crafts from cultural restaurants and grocers, independent local chefs, and cultural artisans. Sankara has developed a unique Lunch Box service for adventurous foodies and provides catering services for groups and events. Sankara's cultural events include ticketed Pop-Up Restaurants at Five & Dime where guests experience a featured chef's unique cultural expression from food to music and language. To date there have been over 20 countries represented on Sankara's marketplace through unique food and craft. We have curated 22 Pop-Up Restaurants. 

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Anglophone South School District

Education & Heritage Award Nominee

Anglophone South School District (ASD-S) is home to 23,000 K-12 students, encompassing the communities of southern New Brunswick from Sussex to the Fundy Isles.  With seventy urban to rural schools ranging in size from five students to more than a thousand, ASD-S is committed to celebrating diversity, inclusivity, and excellence in education across our district. Their 3000+ employees, including 1700 educators, value local communities and work closely with families and partners to provide a safe and inclusive learning and working environment. ASD-S believes in the importance of mental, physical, and social/emotional health for our students and staff, and are committed to engaging both in diverse, relevant and contemporary learning experiences.

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Jiaojiao Meng

Education & Heritage Award Nominee

Jiaojiao Meng is a proud Chinese who moved to Canada for studies at UNBSJ MBA program in 2014.  Following graduation from UNBSJ, Jiaojiao was employed with YMCA Newcomer Connections. She works closely with adult youth, partner organizations, and employers from a number of Saint John industries. Jiaojiao’s role is to help build our community and empower youth to make a difference as seek growth opportunities. Jiaojiao has the privilege of working with the YMCA and New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC) as the Youth Employability Project Coordinator while leading the Skills Launch Program in Saint John. 

 

As a proud volunteer, Jiaojiao believes that commitment to Saint John and looking into the future means that all of Canada’s newcomers become a vital part of her personal journey.

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