The CMCCF Cultural Communities Social Justice Awards ceremony on March 24, 2026 at Government House of Manitoba, hosted by Her Honour, the Honourable Anita Neville, brought together over 100 people, including community leaders, youth, partners, family members, and guests.
This heartfelt event celebrated those who have made lasting contributions to social justice across Manitoba’s diverse cultural communities, offering a moment of reflection on how collective action is shaping a more equitable future. This event was particularly meaningful as it marked the nearing conclusion of a key CMCCF initiative. Through our network spanning Portage, Brandon, Thompson, and Winnipeg, as well as engagements in Vancouver and Toronto, we’ve fostered vital dialogues. As we approach the end of April, we hope these relationships will continue, with participants carrying the conversations forward.
The Social Justice Awards showcased how we’ve brought together both youth actively engaged and emeritus leaders who paved the path. Now, a new generation is stepping up, focused not just on justice, but on peace-building initiatives nurtured through Peace-First: CollaborationNet. In this way, the ceremony didn’t just mark an end, as it underscored why these awards, and the networks they represent, are essential for the future of justice and peace in our communities.
The content that follows includes the official announcements of the winners, both youth and emeritus along with photos and biographies highlighting their early achievements and impact. You’ll see images of the event, the awards given, and Her Honour at the center of it all, presenting certificates to each winner, recognizing their contributions, whether youth or emeritus, and ensuring their legacy is celebrated.
YOUTH SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD WINNERS
Emily Jiang Award Champion (15-20 Year - Old Category)
Emily Jiang is a student leader dedicated to restoring dignity in her community while fostering confidence and inclusion. Her commitment to social justice includes her Care Kits Winnipeg project, where she has led the creation of over 600 care kits and involved 15 schools across Winnipeg to collect and assemble kits with essential supplies and handwritten messages. These kits support one of the most in-need communities in Winnipeg, North Point Douglas, through distribution of the Mama Bear Clan. Emily also advocates for cultural inclusion. She organized
her school’s first AsiaFest, now an annual tradition, to address the lack of recognition for Asian Heritage Month, bringing together over 50 volunteers to celebrate diverse Asian cultures. As the founder of Speak to the Top, her school’s first public speaking club, she transformed her own fear of speaking into a space that empowers others to overcome their fears and embrace vulnerability.
At school, Emily is an Honours with Distinction student who also takes on a variety of leadership roles, serving as President of Key Club, President of Speak to the Top, Director of Festival Théâtre Jeunesse, and Secretary of Student Council. Outside of school, she balances working part-time with fulfilling her role in Project Pulse Winnipeg as University Relations Director and volunteering at St. Amant Centre. In her free time, Emily enjoys traveling, long-distance running, and competing in public speaking.
Eliana Gebreselassie Honouree of Merit (15-20 Year - Old Category)
Eliana Gebreselassie is a dedicated student, youth leader, and
aspiring healthcare professionals committed to advancing equity and community well-being. She is the co-founder of UWC Med4Youth and an executive team member of Project Pulse Winnipeg, where she works to make health education more accessible and engaging for youth through interactive workshops and community initiatives.
As Prime Minister of her Student Council and an active member of Youth United, Eliana leads with a focus on
collaboration and amplifying diverse voices. Her leadership is grounded in a strong commitment to creating inclusive spaces and fostering meaningful connections in her school and broader community.
Eliana is deeply involved in community service across Winnipeg, volunteering with organizations such as Harvest Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre, as well as supporting children through mentorship and church-based programs. Her faith plays a central role in her life, shaping her dedication to compassion, dignity, and service to others.
Passionate about child health and development, Eliana hopes to pursue a career in pediatrics. She’s especially interested in addressing disparities in access to care and empowering young people through education and advocacy. Through her work, she strives to create lasting, positive change in the lives of those she serves.
Avani Sahi Honouree of Merit (15-20 Year - Old Category)
Avani is a passionate youth leader and community volunteer
committed to social justice and inclusion. She co-founded the Youth United club, securing $1,000 in funding for initiatives like Kits for Kids, which provides care kits to children with complex needs in foster care, and Libraries for Learning, aimed at bringing new books to schools with outdated resources. Each summer, she works in a daycare, supporting children’s growth and development.
Her volunteer experience includes delivering water in hospitals and supporting Prairie Strides’ equine therapy program for individuals with disabilities; a meaningful role since she has been passionate about horseback riding since childhood. Inspired by the stigma and lack of understanding around mental health in her own community, she has actively engaged in conversations to break down these barriers. This commitment has fueled her aspiration to become a physician dedicated to challenging mental health stigmas in diverse communities, emphasizing empathy and holistic understanding beyond diagnosis. She hopes to incorporate animal-assisted therapies into her practice, recognizing the role animals can play in healing and mental wellness.
Naomi Jhayleen Sarmiento Honouree of Merit (15-20 Year - Old Category)
Naomi Sarmiento is a second-generation Filipino immigrant attending grade 12 at Niverville High School. She is actively involved in youth leadership, and holds a strong passion for politics and global issues.
Some work that Naomi has done includes curating a three-day program to celebrate Asian Heritage Month within her community. Through this she had reignited the interest of culture and diversity within her community by letting students indulge in various conversations, workshops, and panels.
Naomi’s leadership is also shown throughout both her school’s Student Leadership, Student Action Group, and the Youth Parliament of Manitoba.
Her work and studies still continue to be recognized through her new journey, where she plans to attend the University of Winnipeg this fall to reach the goal of pursuing a career in law.
Jayden Kirstenzen Bermejo Villanueva Honouree of Merit (15-20 Year - Old Category)
Jayden Kirstenzen was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, and grew up in the multicultural environment that shaped her into the person she is today. She’s spent her life moving schools and across borders, connecting with people who come from all walks of life and all over the world. Moving to Canada in March 2024, she started over and finally transformed her life into what she knew she wanted it to be.
Joining a multitude of clubs at Maples, she made a home for herself in Maples Debate Club where she found her voice and a passion for advocacy. Involving herself in youth political simulations like the Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Model United Nations Assembly here in Manitoba, she has carved out a space for herself in youth advocacy. She seeks to pursue a career in Law, and to specialize in the field of International Human Rights to help the world work towards an equitable and sustainable world. Jayden has truly made it her life’s passion to make a difference in the world. There is always work to be done in pursuit of a prosperous and equitable world, and Jayden seeks to aid in this journey.
I am extremely thankful for this award and this recognition of not only my passion but my actions towards a better future. I will be sure to continue to earn and deserve this award.
LIFETIME EMERITUS ADVOCATE AND WISDOM KEEPER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Dr. Michael Eze
Dr. Michael Eze is an Elder in Umunna (Igbo) Cultural Association of Manitoba Inc., and in the Nigerian, and African Communities. He was on the Winnipeg RCMP “Commanding Officer’s Committee on Cultural Diversity.” He founded the “Igbo Educational Lecture Series” of University of Winnipeg (UW) Global College (GC), and co-founded the CG “Forum for Peace, Human Rights, Equity and Social Justice.” These forums enable enhancement of peace-and-harmony, equity and justice, entrenching human rights among peoples. He galvanized the RCMP, Winnipeg Police, leaders in academia and business in
dialogue and public discussions, towards achieving common goals: especially to benefit Indigenous peoples and the underprivileged.
Dr. Eze, a Health-Enhancement and Public Health Biochemistry professor, was GC Director, Institute for Health and Human Potential. He engaged local and international experts in biennial Symposia at UW, addressing health inequities involving especially Indigenous peoples and the underserved. To enhance best practices in developing world Institutions, he championed establishment of UW-University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Exchange Program, enabling his attracting numerous graduate students from Nigeria to Winnipeg and other Canadian Universities, as part of their Nigerian degree requirements. He also sent two Canadian students to UNN for specialized infectious disease courses, fulfilling UW credit requirements thereby.
Strini Reddy
Born and raised in South Africa in the infamous apartheid era, Strini and his young family left South Africa in 1960 and lived in three other countries before finally settling in Canada in 1971.
He served as a teacher and administrator in northern Manitoba before moving to Winnipeg where he worked as a consultant at the Department of Education. He then moved to Frontier School Division where he became the Chief Superintendent. He eventually served as
Executive Director of the MB Association of School Superintendents.
Strini is well known for his work in anti-racism and social justice. He is the co-founder of the summer learning education program designed to prevent summer learning loss among inner city children and served as Chair of the MB Healthy Child Advisory Committee for 10 years helping to develop the province’s early child development policies.
He currently acts a key leader in the Rotary Club of Winnipeg’s Honouring Indigenous Peoples Committee which focusses on building relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous communities, and supports the education and well-being of children and youth in several of the more remote northern indigenous communities.
His lifelong commitment to human rights, anti-racism and education has earned him many awards among them Canada’s highest civilian honours: the Order of Manitoba in 2000, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award in 2013, and the Order of Canada in 2016.
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