PRESS RELEASE: Nominate human rights champions for the 10th annual Human Rights Awards

Edmonton (June 23) - The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights will be hosting their 10th annual Human Rights Awards this year on December 11th, 2016.  Held in commemoration of International Human Rights Day, these awards are meant to recognize those in our community who are making a positive contribution to the lives and well-being of people in Edmonton and beyond.

Every year awards are given out to three recipients for local human rights champions making Edmonton a better place - a place where all are included, participate and belong.  This is followed by the Gerald L. Gall Award for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to and has demonstrated excellence in the protection and promotion of human rights in Canada; and, finally, the Randy Palivoda Public Service Award for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to and has demonstrated excellence in the protection and promotion of human rights in their role as a public servant.

Past winners of these awards include Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi who received the Randy Palivoda Award in 2014 and Marni Panas, Edmonton’s passionate advocate for the transgender community who received the Human Rights Champion award. During last year’s award, Executive Director of Creating Hope Society, Bernadette Iahtail received the Gerald L. Gall Award for her leadership in addressing the systemic issues around children in the care in Alberta while strengthening community reconciliation.

The John Humphrey Centre is currently accepting nominations of deserving Edmontonians who have made an impact in the community. Nominees can go online http://ow.ly/k6AH301kPM3 Winners are selected by a committee of former award winners. 

Nominations close on September 30, 2016. The winners will be announced and honoured during the awards ceremony which will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the ATB Financial Arts Barn.  Our keynote speaker this year is the brilliant Marie-Claude Landry, Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights envisions a world that manifests a culture of peace and human rights in which the dignity of every person is respected, valued and celebrated.  We work to advance a culture of peace and human rights through educational programs and activities, community collaboration and relationship building guided by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

2015 awards recipients; L-R: Nicholas Ameyaw (Randi Palivoda Award), Carla Krause-Clark (Human Rights Champion Award), Bernadette Iahtail (Gerald L. Gall Award), Danielle Monroe (Human Rights Champion Award), Renee Laporte (Human Rights Champion Award), and Judy Lytton (Human Rights Champion Award).