2024 COMMUNITY LEADER

This award recognizes an individual’s leadership in the South Asian community and/or wider society. A community leader takes up a new initiative, organizes and executes on their plan, and calls others to action. The work of a community leader is not part of their day-to-day professional activities.

2024 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

This award recognizes an individual’s volunteer service to their community and/or wider South Asian society. A community volunteer provides unpaid service to the South Asian Community/or wider society, participates in established initiatives or institutions, helps to strengthen those initiatives / institutions, and serves as a role model to others.

2024 PROFESSIONAL LEADER

This award recognizes an individual in the South Asian Community who is a leader in their regulated profession (for example, accounting, architecture, dentistry, dieticians, physicians, engineers, law, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, social work, teaching, and veterinary medicine, and so forth) A professional leader has made an exceptional contribution to their profession such as changing the way colleagues think about or practice the profession, the way in which the profession is governed, or has been recognized by their professional peers or governing bodies.

2024 Outstanding Achievement
in STEEM
(science, technology, engineering, the environment and mathematics)

This award recognizes an individual whose work has made new or innovative accomplishments in the non-regulated fields of science, technology, engineering, the environment, or mathematics. This person’s work is not in a regulated profession (i.e., does not have its own governing board or its own code of professional ethics). The nominee may be an entrepreneur, educational tutor, inventor, etc. The nominee’s achievement has led to significant changes or innovation in STEEM products, services, or thinking.

2024 Outstanding Business

This award recognizes a for-profit business in the South Asian and/or greater community. An Outstanding Business may be either well-established or a new start-up. This for-profit business is recognized for its reputation in both its business ethics and quality of product. An Outstanding Business contributes to the community through its support or sponsorship.

2024 Still Going Strong

The Still Going Strong award recognizes an individual over the age of 65 who continues to contribute to and shape the South Asian community in their senior years. This award recognizes contributions in such areas as leadership, volunteerism, innovation, visibility, or professional, artistic, or academic accomplishment.

2024 Outstanding Achievement
in Arts and Culture

The Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture applauds an individual, group, or club who has nurtured and/or promoted South Asian visual, performing, or recording arts. This award celebrates artistic and cultural accomplishments or recognition, or those who are leaders and mentors for their craft.

2024 Outstanding Achievement
in Media

The Outstanding Achievement in Media recognizes an individual or organization whose media presence – television, radio, print, or social media – has made a positive and significant impact in the South Asian community. An Outstanding Achievement in Media contributes to the community through its support or sponsorship and serves as a public face for the South Asian community.

2024 Outstanding Achievement
in Sports

The Outstanding Achievement in Sports recognizes a South Asian athlete or sports team/club whose athletic performance or community contribution has been significant and inspirational. This award applauds athletic accomplishments or recognition, or those athletes who are leaders and mentors for their sport.

2024 Rising Star

A rising star is an individual between the ages of 14 and 19 who has made a noteworthy contribution to the South Asian community. This award recognizes a young person’s contribution in such areas as leadership, volunteerism, innovation, visibility, or professional, artistic, or academic accomplishment. Parental/legal guardian consent is required for nominees under the age of 18.

2 Awards

2024 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

This award recognizes an individual who has made a sustained and meaningful contribution to the South Asian community. This person is notable for changing the landscape of the community. A lifetime of achievement leaves its legacy in such things as new organizations, programs, providing service, or history of the community.

2024 Outstanding Nonprofit Agency

The SAIA Board of Directors will select and present an award to a registered non-profit agency which is making an impact for members of the South Asian community.

The recipient does not have to be a South Asian organization – but may be an organization or initiative that directly benefits or adds value to the South Asian community or could be an ally, an organization or initiative which seeks to improves the lives of the South Asian community.

2024 CULTURAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The Cultural Community Association Award is awarded to a cultural community organization for raising the visibility of a cultural, regional, or ethnic group. This award recognizes the organization’s contribution to the multicultural landscape of Calgary, cultural pluralism, respectful diversity, and meaningful intercultural understanding. This award recognizes the work of a community-managed organization and its members, rather than an achievement by an individual.