Baljit Sethi, Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society executive director, is in the running for recognition as one of Canada's best immigrant role models.
Voting is currently underway for the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award, a people's choice award recognizing residents who have had success and made a positive difference since coming to Canada.
"When people leave their home country, they also leave behind their role models," said the contest website. "Now in Canada, they need new positive role models - by recognizing Canada's top immigrants we are providing an entire nation of immigrants with such positive examples."
The more than 650 nominations were culled down to 75 finalists by a judging panel composed of past winners and contributors to Canadian Immigrant magazine.
Sethi said she wasn't aware of who nominated her, but was honoured.
"I felt very happy in a way that people still care about me or somebody thought about me," said Sethi.
Prior to founding IMSS four decades ago, Sethi was a newcomer from India who found she could not seamlessly continue her career as a teacher in Canada. She threw herself into volunteer work with the multicultural community and hasn't stopped.
Winners will be recognized with a commemorative certificate, will be featured on the magazine's website and in an upcoming issue. RBC will donate $500 on their behalf to a charity.
If she is among the winners, Sethi said she would likely direct her share to an organization that benefits women or children.
The final 25 will be selected by a mix of the online voting results and the selections of the judging panel.
Voting is open on canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25 until May 11.
