Alongside Christmas trees, strings of festive garland, and cherry-red poinsettia’s, MCoS and many of our community partners from across the province, gathered on Saturday November 16th, at Government House in Regina, to honour multiculturalism in Saskatchewan.
Kokum Phyllis Kretschmer starts off Honours in a good way.
MCoS Multicultural Honours Awards offered an opportunity for Saskatchewan to honour and recognize the impacts of two citizens and two organizations that exemplified multiculturalism in the province. The event also offered the opportunity to jumpstart Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, which runs from November 16 to 24, 2024.
“I believe strongly in multiculturalism and I’m grateful to live in a country that encourages us to celebrate our traditions. Cultural diversity enriches our lives. Diversity also strengthens our democracy as we benefit from the knowledge and perspectives of people in different circumstances and points of view,” said His Honour, the Honorable Russ Mirasty in his greeting message read during the program by Carolyn Speirs, Executive Director of Government House.
Carolyn Speirs, Executive Director of Government House.
“When we share our own traditions and learn more about each other, we gain understanding, we build trust, and develop new relationships which all create new possibilities. Connecting with people outside our immediate circle, can lead to a more welcoming environment for everyone,” he added, noting his congratulations to all the nominee’s and acknowledging MCoS’ board, staff, and members for our leadership and cultural advocacy in Saskatchewan.
Honours Award Ceremony
During the first presentation of the ceremony, Mohammad Akib Hossain was recognized with the 2024 Youth Leadership Award for his continued work supporting multiculturalism in Regina through work with the Bangladeshi community and anti-racism research with U of R.
Regina-based artist Geanna Dunbar reads her poetry during the program.
“Back in 2021, when I was asked to pack 20 years of my life in just two suitcases, I didn’t know what to pack other than some thermal clothes and a heart full of hope; hopes of building bridges across cultures, learning from others, and sharing my own heritage,” Hossain said during his acceptance speech.
To learn more about Hossain’s accomplishments, watch his nominee video on our website HERE.
The second award of the ceremony was presented to Carol Lafayette-Boyd, recognized with the 2024 Saskatchewan Multicultural Leadership Award for her continued support of African-Canadians through her many years as the volunteer Executive Director of the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM.)
LaFayette-Boyd is also also a Masters track and field athlete and has broken or currently holds, dozens of world records.
“I accept this award on behalf of the many people who are more deserving than I am,” she said, referencing the many people and groups who’ve supported SACHM over the year’s they’ve operated.
“Because … with SACHM, just about everybody in this province, especially in Regina, have been with SACHM the whole time. We’ve done so many things together, and when I look … around the room I see so many people who’ve been there with us,” she added.
To learn more about LaFayette-Boyd’s accomplishments, watch her nominee video on our website HERE!
The final award of the ceremony went to both Burnt Thicket Theatre in Saskatoon, and OneHoop based out of Regina.
Burnt Thicket Theatre was recognized for the creation of their performance We Treaty People, which brought together 49 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.
MCoS Executive Director Rhonda Rosenberg and
Administration Manager Titilayo Omolola were recognized for 15 years of service to MCoS.
“We Treaty People was one way we found to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action … in creating this series we were also experimenting in trying to find a process to tell these stories in a good way, not just tell good stories,” Steven Waldscmidt, Artistic Associate with Burnt Thicket Theatre.
“We aim to honour the 49 artists involved to bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, in friendship as well as collaboration and we sought to enact the Truth and Reconciliation that we know these stories themselves can be.”
And OneHoop—which Jada Yee, Managing Partner at OneHoop noted has only been in operation for approximately a year—continues to make impact across Canada as an economic reconciliation company. The company’s goal, he noted, was to create meaningful impact in each organization they work with.
“And every step we take towards that [meaningful impact], undoes a little bit of the harm and trauma that our people have faced for generations.”
A group photo of MCoS Board of Directors and staff taken following the 2024 Honours Reception.
“On behalf of my partners, I want to say thank you so much, it means a lot. I want to thank the people who create OneHoop, Thomas Benjoe, Cadmus Delorme Candice … Cree Lavallee, and Justine “Tini” Stilborn.”
To learn more about Burnt Thicket Theatre and OneHoop’s impacts, watch their nominee videos on our website HERE.
Celebrating Successes and Impact
A huge thank you to Kokum Phyllis Kretschmer for starting us off in a good way and to Geanna Dunbar for offering a selection of poetry performances, ranging from both serious and deeply honest, to sincere and heartwarming!
We’d also like to take a moment to recognize both Rhonda Rosenberg our Executive Director, and Titilayo Omolola our Administration Manager, who celebrated 15 years with MCoS this year. Thank you to everything you both do to support multiculturalism across Saskatchewan.
To see more about the impact’s our members, partners, and we make across Saskatchewan each year, follow us on our social media channels Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date!
-All photos taken by Regina photographer Danielle Tocker.
–Story by Miguel Fenrich
