Canada’s
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, the Hon.
Jason Kenney hosted a reception to launch the call for nominations
for the 2013 Paul
Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism.
Special guest Bridget Foster, the 2012 Paul Yuzyk Award recipient,
and the late senator’s daughter Vera Yuzyk representing the Yuzyk
Family, were present. The launch and award presentation took place at
Citizenship and Immigration Canada Headquarters in Ottawa on November
22nd,
2012.
In his remarks, Minister Kenney spoke of Senator Yuzyk, who in addressing the findings of Canada’s Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, raised the reality of cultural diversity in Canada and spoke of the “Third Force”, neither British nor French in the Canadian population. “It was Senator Yuzyk who first introduced [the idea of multiculturalism in recognizing Canadians of all origins] in our parliament and our political discourse in 1965 and who himself personified that third force … an appropriate person, as a kind of inspirational force, whom we could recognize in the work of others and who have followed,” said Kenney.
The 2012 Paul Yuzyk Award winner is Bridget Foster “the godmother to virtually all of the immigrants and refugees it seems to me who have settled in Newfoundland… helping newcomers of all backgrounds who needed advice, help, language assistance, job searches…” at the Centre for New Canadians in St. John’s, Nfld. stated Minister Kenney.
Vera Yuzyk spoke briefly on the role of her father advancing the concept and promoting the adoption of a Canadian multiculturalism policy. On behalf of the Yuzyk Family, she thanked Minister Kenney for initiating the Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism, and by “recognizing my father’s legacy in this field and through it, other Canadians like Mrs. Foster who has worked to develop excellent services that have helped many New Canadians in Newfoundland and Labrador and [those] across Canada better integrate into Canadian society and to help build a more inclusive Canada.”
PHOTO
L. to R.: Vera Yuzyk, Hon. Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Bridget Foster, the 2012 Paul Yuzyk Award recipient