Ascend Canada’s Post

🎓 Unlocking the Power of Education for Immigrants 🎓 We're thrilled to have Dr. Stephanie Y. Zhou, MD, MSc, CCFP, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Clinical Director at Sunnybrook Hospital, share her insights with us. As a first-generation immigrant, Dr. Zhou highlights the enduring value of education in building a successful life in Canada. Check out our latest video featuring Dr. Zhou and explore the shift in educational priorities across generations of immigrants. 📖 Read more in our article: https://lnkd.in/g95bAW8Z #Education #SoftSkills #ProfessionalGrowth

June is a month of profound reflection and celebration, as we honour both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month. These occasions offer us a unique opportunity to recognize the rich tapestry of identities, histories, and cultures that shape our communities. Pride Month celebrates the vibrant spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community, acknowledging the struggles, achievements, and resilience of individuals who continue to fight for equality and acceptance. It’s a time to stand in solidarity, amplify diverse voices, and promote a world where everyone can live authentically. Simultaneously, National Indigenous History Month reminds us of the deep-rooted histories, contributions, and cultures of Indigenous peoples. It’s a call to educate ourselves, honor the enduring legacy of Indigenous communities, and support their ongoing journey toward justice and recognition. As we commemorate these intersecting narratives, let’s take actionable steps to: Educate Ourselves: Learn about the history, culture, and contributions of both the LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities. Amplify Voices: Share stories and support platforms that highlight the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQ+ and Indigenous individuals. Promote Inclusion: Advocate for inclusive policies and practices in our workplaces and communities. Build Solidarity: Foster connections and allyship between these communities, recognizing the unique and shared challenges they face. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society that honors and uplifts every individual. Happy Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month! 🌍✨ #AscendCanada #PrideMonth #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth

As we conclude Asian Heritage Month, it's important to reflect on its significance and the vibrant celebrations across Canada. This month is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Asian communities to our country's cultural, social, and economic landscape. We hosted events In Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, showcasing the rich diversity of Asian cultures. Looking ahead, it’s crucial to foster inclusive environments where diverse voices are heard and valued. By championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, we can create a more dynamic and innovative workplace for everyone. A sincere thank you to our many sponsors, members, board members and volunteers for making these events possible. It was great to have such energy and enthusiasm throughout the month! #AscendCanada #AsianHeritageMonth

Congratulations to Raissa Amany on being this year’s Student of the Year! Raissa’s accomplishments and community involvement are truly widespread and inspiring. She volunteers at the YCRH and co-leads 60+ youth and 8 youth directors nationwide in child health advocacy. She has collaborated with organizations such as CIHR, UNICEF, and Children’s Healthcare Canada where she spearheads policy changes, including the recent $330M pediatric funds in Ontario She serves as a youth advisor for Good2Talk and contributes to the CYMHA standards working group with the Standards Council of Canada. She is also a Youth Engagement Specialist with Children First Canada where she leads the Young Canadians Parliament program. She continuously shares her experience of having chronic illnesses as a patient partner, consultant, and speaker with community and governmental organizations. And if that wasn’t enough, she is also the co-author of Jamie’s Jar Full of Stars, a children’s book aimed at educating young Canadian children about mental health and well-being. We are so proud of you Raissa and excited to see what your future holds. Congratulations again on being awarded this year’s Ascend Leadership Award for Student of the Year! #AscendCanada #AscendGala2024

Congratulations to Sandip Chaudhury on being this year’s Mentor of the Year! Sandeep has over 20 years of experience working in the financial sector and having most recently supported International Segments, has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants. He takes extensive time and energy to provide tailored guidance with every newcomer, whether it’s a student, mid-career switch, or those reaching retirement. He created a community outreach program with HSBC supporting more than 50+ community groups nationally. His volunteer experience includes Triec Mentoring, Access Employment, Malton Community Center, Destination CEO, Ten Thousand Coffees, Summit Mentorship Network, and BMG Group. His YouTube channel “The Compass Guide” provides valuable advice and industry connections to newcomers. Congratulations again on being awarded this year’s Ascend Leadership Award for Mentor of the Year! #AscendCanada #AscendGala2024

Congratulations to Frincy Clement on being this year’s Woman of Distinction Award recipient. Frincy is an award-winning Artificial Intelligence leader, community builder, public speaker and change maker, with drive and passion for empowering more women to enter careers in AI and STEM. She possesses diverse experience in Telecom, Information & Technology, Consumer goods and Education sectors. She scaled the Women in AI community in Canada since its inception in October 2020, and as the Canadian Ambassador, she led strategic initiatives to inspire, connect, mentor and celebrate women AI professionals and was recently appointed as the Head of North America Region. She has since built the Canadian chapter which now has a presence across 7 cities, led by 14 leaders and 50 + volunteers, supporting the community of more than 1000+ registered members in Canada. She is a community-builder, change-maker and a role model for not only new immigrants, young mothers, women of color and women of STEM, but the next generation as a whole. Congratulations again on being awarded this year’s Ascend Leadership Award: Woman of Distinction! #AscendCanada #AscendGala2024

Congratulations to Rania Llewellyn on being this year’s Executive of the Year! Rania is a transformational change leader and is known for developing and leading high performing teams, while ensuring a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. Most recently she was CEO of Laurentian Bank of Canada and was the first woman to lead a major chartered bank in Canada. Under her leadership, the bank launched a three-year strategic plan, was de-unionized after 53 years, and exceeded all of its financial and non-financial targets. She has received numerous awards, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leader of the Year Award in 2023, being named on Maclean’s 2022 The Power List, and included as one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in 2021. Congratulations again on being awarded this year’s Ascend Leadership Award: Executive of the Year! #AscendCanada #AscendGala2024

Congratulations to Stephanie Y. Zhou, MD, MSc, CCFP on being this year’s Social Impact Award recipient! Along with being a Clinical Director, Assistant Professor and Physican Lead, Stephanie created the first Financial Literacy Curriculum at the University of Toronto, which has now been adopted at other medical schools and her lecture recordings have reached over 170,000 of viewers on Youtube. She is the sole physician Board Member of Toronto Public Health and was instrumental in developing the city’s Mental Health and Substance Use strategy and advocated for a universal Student Nutrition Program, which resulted in 21,000 prevented visits to the ER for drug-related harms, and increased access to free lunch for 612 schools. The impact Stephanie is making will be seen and felt for generations to come. Congratulations again on being awarded this year’s Ascend Leadership Award for Social Impact! #AscendCanada #AscendGala2024

Congratulations to Natasha (Nash) Ferguson on being this year’s Inclusion Champion of the Year! Natasha has been leading the charge in educating and creating new opportunities for women in the construction industry, by telling her story and assisting women, girls and gender diverse individuals in exploring a career in the construction trades. She is one of the only women owning and operating a full-service construction firm, EthelFox Construct Group, and has broken down barriers in the industry which have brought attention to the ongoing challenges that exist in creating gender diversity and inclusion in this historically male dominated industry. Congratulations again on being awarded this year’s Ascend Leadership Award: Inclusion Champion of the Year! #AscendCanada #AscendGala2024