2025 Award Winners
CANADIAN ICON
JUSTICE SONY AHLUWALIA
Sony Singh Ahluwalia has built a life of service grounded in resilience, fairness, and community. Born in Uganda and raised between East Africa and London, England, he grew up with a deep awareness of migration and belonging. After earning his law degree in Canada, he returned to London as an immigration counsellor, where he represented refugee claimants, taught paralegals in night school, and collaborated with Amnesty International to develop resources for immigration advocates.
Back in Canada, Sony articled with a large law firm before practicing as a sole practitioner in a small town in British Columbia. He later joined the Federal Department of Justice, working on Indian Residential Schools litigation. As lead of the alternative dispute resolution team in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, he helped settle claims and negotiate key agreements, guided by the voices of survivors.
He went on to serve with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa, contributing to two national security inquiries of national importance: the Arar Inquiry under Commissioner O’Connor and Commissioner Iacobucci’s Internal Inquiry into the detention and torture of Canadians abroad.
Returning west, Sony joined the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, later becoming Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor in Edmonton. In May 2024, his lifelong commitment to justice was recognized with his appointment as a Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice.
Beyond his legal career, Sony has given back through community service, including as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta (2020–2024). His journey reflects a lasting dedication to fairness, accountability, and service.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
GURSHARAN SINGH BUTTAR
Media Professional & Community Leader
General Manager and Journalist at My Radio 580 with over 25 years in radio broadcasting. Hosts morning shows and community-focused talk programs, engaging diverse audiences across Edmonton and Calgary. Since starting with a 15-minute weekly segment in 1995, he has established four radio stations.
Community Impact: Led major fundraising initiatives for Edmonton Food Bank, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, and Red Cross of Canada. Active in government-hosted foreign reporting assignments and major community events.
Recognition: Medallion Award from Government of Alberta (2005) for outstanding media services and recognition by Punjab Government (2007) for contributions to Non-Resident Indian initiatives.
Background: Immigrated to Canada in 1986, remaining deeply committed to humanitarian efforts, community service, and connecting diverse communities through media.
COMMUNITY LEADER
BEAN GILL
Philanthropy Leader & Fearless Speaker
Bean Gill is a fearless advocate, speaker, and the co-founder of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre. After a virus left her paralyzed in 2012, Bean rebuilt her life from the ground up – facing trauma, disability, and a deeply inaccessible world.
Community Impact : She transformed personal adversity into purpose, now using her story to challenge stigma, promote inclusion, and empower others living with disabilities. She stars in PUSH, Canada’s first TV series with an all-disabled cast, breaking bias and sparking real talk around belonging.
Leadership :Her accolades include NAIT’s Alumni Award for Excellence, the Womanition Award for Philanthropy, and medals from both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. Bean doesn’t just talk change—she delivers it.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN
ARTS & CULTURE
NAZ SOHNI UPPAL
Pioneering Broadcaster & Creative
Multi-award-winning Edmonton broadcaster and first Pakistani-Canadian Muslim woman to host a solo morning radio show in a major Canadian market (CKER FM, since 2006). Television pioneer at OMNI TV and City TV as “Western Canada’s Bollywood News Expert,” generating over 1,200 radio shows and 300 TV segments since 2012.
Creative Work: Acclaimed for award-winning “Ramadan Moments” and “Hajj Moments” radio features. Author and founder of “Sumayyah’s World Children’s Story Series,” exploring South Asian Canadian teen experiences.
Recognition: Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40, 2 Canadian Ethnic Media Awards, CTV’s Heritage Hero Award. Recently sponsored by Netflix for Banff World Media Festival and selected for Just For Laughs ComedyPro Conference. Her former junior high named a Television and Radio Award in her honor.
Current Projects: Launched new podcast presenting South Asian music from a Canadian perspective, bridging cultural and contemporary audiences.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
IN STEEM
JASKARAN (JAY) KAMBO
CEO & Fintech Innovation Leader
CEO of SpendTheBits and CreationX, transforming technology and finance interactions. At SpendTheBits, developed a digital payment application enabling cryptocurrency (USDC) purchases through Mastercard partnership, focusing on simplicity, security, and cost-effectiveness.
Professional Background: Over 12 years in banking and payments, specializing in SWIFT ISO 20022 modernization. Led teams developing instant-settlement cross-border solutions for Money Services Businesses. Recognized with two global central bank digital currency hackathon awards from Bank for International Settlements.
Current Innovation: At CreationX, develops practical custom AI agents delivered as production-ready APIs for small and medium-sized enterprises and larger corporations.
Expertise: Cross-border payments, cryptocurrency integration, AI agent development, and fintech solutions for businesses of all sizes.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS
SB LLP
Originally founded in 2010 in Edmonton by 2 lawyers, SB LLP has now grown within
15 years to become the largest South Asian majority owned law firm in Canada. We currently employ over 20 lawyers and 30 staff. Of the 7 Partners, the majority are South Asian descent – a source of pride in a historically underrepresented industry.
SB LLP is a full-service law firm, assisting clients throughout Alberta from everything such as buying their first home, setting up their first business, to more experienced clients developing commercial property or providing innovative lending solutions. We also offer services in the areas of Family law, Wills & Estates, Civil Litigation and Personal Injury. We believe in practical, cost-effective legal guidance to help our clients reach their goals and have sought to deliver pro bono services to the South Asian community to assist those that are unfamiliar with or may not have adequate access to the legal system.
RISING STAR
NOORVIR BHULLAR
Student Leader & Community Advocate
Bachelor of Commerce student at MacEwan University (Legal Studies in Business, Psychology minor). Founder and President of MacEwan Seva, leading selfless service initiatives including toy drives, fundraisers for Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, Kaur Movement awareness, and Punjab flood relief. Created Seva Spotlight series highlighting South Asian community voices.
Leadership Roles: Vice President and Co-Founder of Sikhia Jit Foundation (dementia awareness and youth empowerment). Selected participant in World Sikh Organization’s Sikh Youth Leadership Institute. Working to establish Alberta Punjabi Foundation for cultural preservation.
Community Service: Active volunteer with Stollery Children’s Hospital, AZ1 Hockey, Breaking the Silence, and Sahelian, supporting health, youth, and women’s initiatives.
Future Goals: Aspiring ophthalmologist combining medicine, advocacy, and service to improve lives while preserving Punjabi and Sikh cultural heritage.
OUTSTANDING NON-PROFIT AGENCY
Mental Health Advocacy Organization
All-inclusive organization ending mental health stigma within Edmonton’s South Asian community by creating safe spaces for individuals and families to share stories and seek support without fear or shame.
Community Impact: Addresses unique cultural challenges including pressure to “stay strong,” fear of judgment, generational gaps, and limited culturally informed resources. Raised over $250,000 in 11 years supporting local mental health initiatives.
Key Events: Mental Health Walk/Run (2,500+ participants, 16 mental health resources available), Surjan Singh Sanghera Memorial Golf Tournament, and Breaking the Waves at WEM Waterpark. Net proceeds support Edmonton Public School Board Foundation’s mental health initiatives.
Mission: Normalizing mental wellness, creating support networks, inspiring courage to seek help, building partnerships for culturally sensitive services, and strengthening Edmonton’s overall community wellbeing.