Naushad Hirji stands at the front of the room trying to sum up the essence of the award winners being celebrated at the South Asian Heritage Day Awards for Excellence.
“Excellence is superiority … It is a value, a goal to be pursued if you want to make a mark in society,” says the chairperson of the Social Services Network, an organization that connects people of South Asian backgrounds with needed services. “It is going far beyond the call of duty. They have made up their mind to improve the quality of life of others.”
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Bahadur Madhani, a recipient of the Order of Canada, spoke about the important part volunteering plays in South Asian culture.
“From the moment we can walk and talk, we volunteer. The volunteering is grounded in this community (which) results in it staying with us.
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And the winners are:
· Mul Ray Sethi, senior activist
· Nisar Sheraly, educator
· Baldev Mutta, social activist
· Eva Pakyam, woman activist
· Neethan Shan, youth activist
· Shamsh Kara, community leader
· Kamil Sadiq, life achievement
Ismailimail 