The results are in! Canadian Immigrant proudly presents 2009's Top 25 winners.
Click on each picture below to learn about the individuals you, our readers, chose to win.
The grand finale of the inaugural Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2009 awards culminated in two awards ceremonies on May 25 and May 28. Winners, friends, family members and dignitaries gathered to take part in the celebrations.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada hosted the ceremonies. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney was on hand to present the award to Toronto attendees, along with Nick Noorani, founder and publisher of Canadian Immigrant, and RBC's Andrea Metrick, head, client strategy and multicultural markets.
Senator Yonah Martin officiated in Minister Kenney's stead at the Vancouver ceremony.
Each winner received a plaque, lapel pin, certificate from Citizenship and Immigration Canada and a memento from RBC, the awards sponsor. During the Toronto ceremony, Minister Kenney also presented a citation to Noorani, recognizing his efforts in acknowledging the 25 winners' contributions to Canada.
It is often said that Canada is a nation built by immigrants. Some settle in quietly, while others strive to make their mark. What the winners of our Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2009 share is their desire to make a difference, each in their own unique way, but all leaving Canada a better country than the one they found.
"The Top 25 awards program was designed as a people's choice award to help celebrate the untold stories of Canadian immigrants," says publisher Nick Noorani.
"We are pleased to be involved in an awards program that recognizes the achievements of individuals who are making a difference in Canada," says Andrea Metrick, head, client strategy and multicultural markets at RBC.
More than 300 immigrants were nominated, and after more than 10,000 online votes, the Top 25 of 2009 have now been chosen.
