FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INAUGURAL MANITOBA IMMIGRANT RECOGNITION AWARDS (MIRA)

HANDED OUT AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Winnipeg’s Largest Immigrant-Serving Agency Recognizes Inspirational

Immigrants at 65

th Anniversary Event

His Honour Philip Lee and Shirley Chang Immigrant Centre Staff and Board Fetno Kemo and Liz Redston, RBC

(Past President of the Immigrant Centre)`

The Immigrant Centre is pleased to announce that three Manitoba Immigrants were recently

honoured at the inaugural Manitoba Immigration Recognition Awards for their contributions

to the province of Manitoba as newcomers. The awards were presented during the Immigrant

Centre’s 65

th anniversary celebration held at Government House on October 2.

The recipients of the first annual awards were:

Lawyer Mario Santos, presented with the “Exceptional Friend Award” for his unfailing support

and legal guidance for the work of the Immigrant Centre and on behalf of newcomers to

Manitoba.

Former refugee Fetno Kemo, presented with the “Inspiring Newcomer” award, sponsored by

the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), was honored for his personal story, motivation to succeed,

and as an inspiration to other immigrants who chose Manitoba as their home.

The Honourable Philip Lee, Manitoba’s first Chinese-Canadian Lieutenant Governor,

presented with the “Outstanding Contribution Award” for his lifelong commitment to the

Chinese and wider immigrant community through, his public service and volunteerism.

The awards ceremony was part of a reception hosted by His Honour Philip Lee and Her

Honour Anita Lee in recognition of Immigrant Centre’s 65 years of offering settlement

services in Manitoba. The event, which included live jazz and a light supper, was attended by

Friends of the Immigrant Centre including members of Winnipeg’s business community, staff,

board members, volunteers, and funders .

All three recipients gave heartfelt and moving speeches. Fetno Kemo spoke of his long

struggle to get himself and later his wife out of Ethiopia to the safety of their new home and

their future with their two young daughters in Manitoba:

“Finally, my genuine case was accepted and sent to Australia, USA, and Canada, I choosed

Canada and Canada choosed me. My hope was revived and my future became brighter…

you’ve brought me to Freedom, where I can be whatever I want and do it freely, the rest I will

do for myself.”

About the Immigrant Centre

The Immigrant Centre (formerly the International Centre), is based at 100 Adelaide Street in

Winnipeg’s Exchange district. Our vision is to be Manitoba’s community leader in providing

immigration and settlement services for immigrants to connect, integrate, and fully

participate in Canadian society.

In 2011, the Immigrant Centre assisted over 16,000 newcomers to settle in Manitoba

through an extensive range of programs and services. Further information on the 2013

Manitoba Immigrant Recognition Awards, which will be expanded to include nominations

from across the newcomer community, will be available shortly on our website at:

www.icmanitoba.com

For more information about the work of the Immigrant Centre including tours, or to arrange a

meeting with Executive Director, Linda Lalande, please contact Vicki Sinclair,

Communications Coordinator, at (204) 943-9969 Ext 298, or by email at:

vsinclair@icmanitoba.com-

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