NATIONAL ETHNIC PRESS AND MEDIA COUNCIL OF CANADA

Conseil national de la presse et medias ethniques du Canada

Canada’s Other Voices

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Thirty individuals from the various cultural communities of Canada, are honoured this year by the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, for their work and services rendered to their community during the previous years. Also fifteen ethnic publications are recognized on the occasion of ETHNOMEDIA WEEK 2005 celebrations, for their editorial concept or visual presentation (art work).

The presentation of the Awards is planned for the 15^th of September 2005, at 6:00 PM, at the Main Legislative Building of Ontario and is hosted by the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at the

Lieutenant Governor’s Suite. The ceremonies are to be attended by up to 250 individuals and the invited political leadership of the Province and the Country.

For more information please call Thomas S. Saras at: 416- 921 4229 or 416- 854 4229 Or Email at saras@nepmcc.ca

NAMES AND BIO’S OF HONOUREES

Mohammad Masoom Hotak

Mr. Hotak was born in 1947 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He migrated to Canada in 1992 and was a cultural advisor with the Afghan Association of Ontario for many years. He is the author of more than twenty books and has written many articles about history and literature of the Pashto culture. Mr. Hotak is a member of the Afghan Post publication and contributes regularly.

Saber Fermand

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan Fermand immigrated to Canada in 1977 and is a co-founder of the Afghan Association of Ontario. Mr Saber is the President of Council of Afghan Associations of Canada and has served on numerous advisory committees working with several levels of government officials.

Shamsuddin Masroor

Shamsuddin Masroor is a well-known Afghanistan singer living in Toronto. He was born in the City of Kabul, Afghanistan. He has been a professional singer for the past 30 years. In 2001, he migrated to Canada. Since then he is actively involved in the promotion of Afghan folklore music and in the Afghan community. He recently had a concert at the request of CBC Radio and Television program.

Ruwan Jayakody,

Ruwan Jayakody, is well known in the culinary circles of Canada. Ruwan has been selected for the Canadian team to participate in the 2006 Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg. He has made the ‘Canadian National Day Cake’ for Queens Park for 6 years each one enough to feed 3500 people and also baked the ‘City of Toronto Cake’ for three years. His culinary wonders have earned him a chapter in the World Celebrity Chefs published in the United Kingdom.

JOHN CARTWRIGHT

John Cartwright is the President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, representing 190,000 union members. He helped initiate the Campaign for Public Education and the Toronto Waterwatch campaign to defend vital public services in Toronto. He was recognized by the City of Toronto Award of Merit for efforts in promoting apprenticeship for equity-seeking groups. Since becoming Labour Council President, John has worked with affiliated unions to craft an aggressive equity agenda for Toronto’s labour movement. The Council initiated ground-breaking Workers of Colour Conferences, and has elected the most diverse leadership of any central labour body in the country.

Melpa Kamateros

Melpa Kamateros was born in Nicosia Cyprus. In 1991, she helped found “the shield of Athena” a non-governmental organization and established a shelter, where women and children of any ethnicity can stay in safety and security. She has co-ordinated the ‘Ethnic Media Outreach Project’ for the department of Multiculturalism Canada where videos and pamphlets translated in up to 16 languages have been produced. She has also written many articles on isolated immigrant families, family violence and community outreach strategies.

Ms. Kamateros, was also part of the official Quebec and Canadian delegations to the UN at the “Bejing & 10” conference held in New York in February and March of this year.

Peter Capadoucas

The great-grandson of Greek immigrants Peter is a 4^th generation Canadian and his family today proudly admits as six generation in B.C.

He worked as a high school teacher in Vancouver for 33 years and was involved in a number of educational projects. Peter served the Greek Community of Vancouver and was its representative to Vancouver multicultural Society. He served in the cultural society of “Pharos”, and also member of the board of trustees of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver. He organized a number of Greek festivals in Vancouver and currently he is the Co Chair of the revival of the Greek day of the City.

JOHN THEODOSOPOULOS

President of the Hellenic Community of Montreal since June 2004 John has done much to serve the community. He was a Vice President of Education for the HCM Socrates Schools. Originally from Pikerni, Arcadia, Greece, Mr. Theodosopoulos, an architect, who is Vice President Construction for Designespace Inc. in Dorval, Quebec, has not forgotten his roots and goes out of his way to help anyone in need.

Elise Sharabkhanian

Elise Sharabkhanian was born in Aleppo, Syria. She is the daughter and granddaughter of survivors from the Armenian Genocide, who found refuge in Syria. Elise has done considerable volunteer work in the Armenian Community. She is one of the founding members of the Toronto chapter of the Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society. As a volunteer journalist, Elise has contributed many articles and reports to the Horizon Armenian Weekly.

10.

Arsho Zakarian

Arsho Zakarian was born in Egypt of Armenian parents, who have survived the Armenian genocide in Turkey and found refuge in Egypt. Arsho immigrated to Canada in 1969, and is an active member in the Armenian Community. Her volunteer work has been recognized by the Armenian Community and the community at large. She promotes Armenian publications, organizes heritage festivals, produces plays, and serves in various committees. Arsho Zakarian contributes regularly to Horizon Armenian Weekly with her articles and photographs.

11.

Hagop Simon Piliguian

Hagop Simon Piliguian was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in July 1929. In 1969 he settled in Montreal. In 1980 he was elected vice president of the Sourp Hagop Armenian church, where he served until 1986. Today Hagop Simon Piliguian is the president of the recently founded Montreal’s Armenian community center’s Golden Age Association. Finally, as a volunteer contributor for 25 years, he has written and translated articles for Montreal’s Horizon weekly newspaper.

12.
Peter Foustanellas

Arriving in Canada in 1965 the 17-year-old Mr. Foustanellas had only $40 in his pocket, and spoke just a few words of English. He did have a very strong work ethic, which he credits to his mother. His impressive rise from rags to riches started 30 years ago with Argos Carpets, which he built from a one-man operation. Ten years ago, Mr. Foustanellas formed Olympia Homes, after a business deal had gone sour. Mr. Foustanellas is proud to be a Canadian and in the past year has donated one million dollars to the University of Ottawa's Heart Institute, and another one million dollars to the Ottawa Hospital. Not forgetting his roots Mr. Foustanellas is very active in the Greek Community of Ottawa, where he donated time and again big amount of moneys to help the needs of the community.

13.

Khosro Shemiranie.

A native of Iran Mr. Shemiranie, has immigrated to Canada with his dream for freedom. He is an open-minded writer and prepares articles on the human rights. He published articles with critical views about the presidential elections in Iran as well about the violation of the children’s rights. He published a number of articles on political killings in Iran and many interviews with political prisoners, one of them with Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.

14.

TINA TEHRANCHIAN

A branch manager and financial advisor Tina is currently serving as an advisory council member at the Family Service Association of Toronto, and as a director of JVS of Greater Toronto. She is also one of the founding members and chair of the Iranian Canadian Network for Employment and Entrepreneurship Mentoring and is also a member of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. She is holding a Master of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Portland. Tina and her family immigrated to Canada in 1990.

15.

Andy Bakhtiari.

Born in Iran Andy Bakhtiari, he grew in a family of six children; his dream was to succeed in business. In January of 1980 he arrived in Canada with very little money to his pocket and very few clothes in his back. In Canada he started from the beginning learning English and later graduated with a degree in Civil Engineer in 1985. He worked in many companies and later in 1993, he started his own technical company. No more than ten years later, Andy owns and operates more than four companies with over one hundred employees in Canada and U.S.A. He is an active supporting member of the Iranian community ready always to rent his help to every member in need.