Awards Gala 2016

What a Night!

In an evening of jovial celebration, CAI held its first awards gala at the venerable, historic Carlu in downtown Toronto on April 4, honouring Mary Jo Haddad and Sheldon Levy.

More than just an awards gala, the evening was a celebration of the values embodied by our honourees, and which CAI holds very dear: multiculturalism, civic engagement, leadership and excellence.

In his welcoming remarks, CAI President Raja Khouri spoke of the Canadian Arab Institute as the antidote to hate and a champion of multiculturalism “not as a slogan, not just as a policy, not even as a touted value, rather, for what it means to the way we live our lives and relate to each other.”  He concluded with a re-iteration of CAI’s vision for an inclusive and respectful society in an empowered and engaged citizenry, and added, “We stand for Canada – at its best!”

We were privileged to have with us a wide array of political, civic, community, academic and business leaders who, by their presence, endorsed these values and CAI's message of respect and inclusion.

GALA PHOTO GALLERY HERE

GALA VIDEO GALLERY HERE

Among the evening’s notables were:
Provincial politicians
The Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
Reza Moridi, MPP and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
The Hon. Mitze Hunter, Associate Minister of Finance
Patrick Brown, MPP and Leader of the Official Opposition

Federal politicians  
John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Adam Vaughan, MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister Affairs
Arif Virani, MP and Parliamentary Secretary  to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees
Ahmed Hussein, MP York South – Weston
Ali Ehsassi, MP Willowdale
Iqra Khalid, MP Mississauga – Erin Mills
Marwan Tabbara, MP Kitchener South - Hespeler
Raj Saini, MP Kitchener Centre
Rob Oliphant, MP Don Valley West

Municipal politicians
Denzil Mennon-Wong, Toronto Deputy Mayor
Joe Cressy, Councillor
Joe Mihevic, Councillor

Former elected officials
The Hon Bill Graham, Chancellor of Trinity College in the University of Toronto and former federal cabinet minister
The Hon. Maria Minna, former federal cabinet minister

University Presidents
Meric Gertler, President, University of Toronto
Mamdouh Shoukri, President, York University
Mohamed Lachemi, President, Ryerson University