JZ'S ARTICLE: MEN OF HONOUR AWARDS AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENT

         JZ’S  MOTTO: SERBE HUMANITY IN REALITY

 MEN OF HONOUR AWARDS

AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENT

BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER

TORONTO: The Regional Municipality of York organized the 2019 Men of Honour Awards in support of York Region.

The first of its kind, the  awards gala was an inspirational event.The nominees met the criteria set. It was held at the Le Parc, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, on January 17, 2019. The proceeds to benefit the Centre for Dream.

The Men of Honour award honours and celebrates the men who cares and enhance the well-being of the community in York Region.

                                                   The judges were: Frank Bosnjak, Dr Jasveen Rattan, Tabitha Rose and Dan Shaikh.

 NOMINEES:There were seven nominees for Lifetime Achievement Award.

                                                   There were six nominees for Honourary Award. Distinguished community leader Khalid Usman was one of them.

                                                   There were nineteen nominees for  Business Excellence Award. Shahid Hashmi,  Amir Shamsi, Mian Nadeem and Shahab Hassan were among them.

                                                   About Shahid Hashmi, it was written in the souvenir as: “Shahid Hashmi has countless achievements, both professional and community related. Shahid has worked in various capacities where he served, hosted numerous programs for Region of Peel, organizations standing for women rights, Red Cross, NFP organization, Lions club and has maintained a heavy political involvement. He was awarded Queen Elizabeth II Gold Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals in 2002 and 2012 respectively. He continues to contribute to the community without realizing any profit and self-promotion.”

                                                   There were eleven nominees for Community Hero Award. Khalid Usman was one of them.    

                                                   There were thirty six nominees for the Community Service Award including Shahid Hashmi, Amir Shamsi, Khalid Usman and Shahab Hassan.

                                                   There were nine nominees for leadership in Advocacy & Innovation Award. Sohabe Hashmi, eldest son of Shahid Hashmi was one of them.

                                                   Sohabe was praised in the souvenir as: “He has spent countless hours towards charitable causes for awareness and fundraising, working with international and Canadian charities. He has contributed to the community as a professional accountant, volunteering in a CRA income tax program helping people who cannot afford to pay for their returns. He has kept his plate full by serving in elections and by-elections, and has helped raise funds for charities across the world namely, Bosnia, Indonesia, Pakistan and for especially Rohingya Crisis.”

                                                   There were ten nominees for Special Achievement Award. Mehdi Amin was one of them.

                                                   There were ten nominees for Young Professional Award. Armin Shafee was one of them.

                                                   There were only two nominees, Jeff Leung and Sid Kiyoshi Ikeda, in the nominees for Green Initiative Award.

                                                   Seema Hasmi, spouse of Shahid Hashmi and mother of Sohabe Hashmi, was invited on the stage to present awards to nominees of a category.

GREETING MESSAGES: In his message, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau congratulated and extended his warmest greetings to all those who attended the Men of Honour York Region Award Gala.

                                                   He said: “This event offers wonderful opportunity to recognize the achievements of outstanding men in the York Region. I would like to congratulate everyone being honoured for their contributions to their community. Your many accomplishments makes you most deserving of this special recognition. I also would like to thank the members and volunteers of Canada Top Choice Charitable Foundation for making this event possible.”

Wayne Emerson, York Region Chairman and CEO, said: “York Region is one of the most diverse and rapidly growing communities in Canada. The contributions of the celebrated community heroes reflect and support York Region’s of enhancing community health and well-being.”

The other dignitaries who congratulated and greeted were the Town of Georgina Mayor  Margaret Quirk,  Virginia Hackson Mayor of East Gwillimbury, Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, Linda Jackson, Regional Councillor, City of Vaughan,  and Nirmala Armstrong, former Markham Councillor.  

The Honourary Co-Chairs were Wayne Emerson, York Region Chairman, Margaret Quirk, Georgina Mayor, Virginia Hackson, East Gwillimbury Mayor,  Frank Scarpitti, Markham Mayor,

Linda Jackson, Vaughan Regional Councillor,

  Nirmala Armstrong, former Markham Regional Councillor.

                                                   The event organizers were

Rosanna Penilla-Bharucha, Founder of Men of Honour, Tabi Moazzam, Co-Founder of Men of Honour, Tom Muench, Event Co-Chair, Jennifer Sy, Event Co-Chair.

                                                   Members of the event organizing committee were

Emma Caicco, Colin Tyler, Laura Artibelo, Filip Plaskota Soraya Mangal.and   

 Shahid Hashmi said about Sohabe Hashmi as: “Sohabe was recently nominated and awarded a very prestigious award from ‘York Region Men of Honour’ Award in the “Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation”, an important category. It was a joint category and his recognition pertain to his leadership in community service and charitable causes.”                                                                         JZ’S PROFILE:  Founder of SHIR International Network (Serve Humanity In Reality---SHIR), declared by Judges as one of 75 Finalist Best Canadian Immigrants, an Honour for the Pakistani Community. Joined Journalism Profession in 1974 (Daily `SUN’, Karachi) and still serving as a professional journalist (2014). Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner (Awarded by National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada—NEPMCC. Award presented by Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Canada), Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner (Presented by North American Desi Idol), Member/Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The National Club and The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `DAWN', Canada, ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan (From 1986-1999), Chairman, CANOPI, Director of Children Dignity Foundation (CDF---Canada & Pakistan) and Honorary Director, Canpak, Chamber of Commerce, and Honorary Director Information, Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), is contributing purely on Voluntary and Honorary Basis in order to serve all people and communities. Contact: jazamedia@hotmail.com To read more JZ’s exclusive articles , please visit: nepmcc website (Editorial S          ections. Scan years from 2004).