Fourth Annual Mathieu Da Costa Awards Presented
OTTAWA, February 24, 2000 -- The Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women), and Marilies Rettig, President of the Canadian Teachers' Federation, today presented Mathieu Da Costa Awards to nine students from across Canada for their artwork and compositions celebrating the contributions of people from diverse cultures to Canada's development."The life of Mathieu Da Costa not only notes the contribution of Canadians of African heritage," Dr. Fry explained, "but also the diverse beginnings of Canadian society. This program is an opportunity to remind Canadians of our multicultural heritage and history."
The annual Awards Program is named in honour of Mathieu Da Costa, the first recorded Black person in Canada, who served as an interpreter between the early 17th century French explorers and the Mi'kmaq people. This year, 402 students participated in the Awards Program to mark Black History Month. The students, aged nine to nineteen, were asked to demonstrate how specific individuals from Canada's diverse ethnocultural and Aboriginal population have contributed to the building and development of Canada as a nation and a multi-ethnic society in which we have a shared heritage.
Juliette Powell, MuchMusic Veejay, was the Master of Ceremony for the Awards presentation held at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Entertainment for the morning event included Allakomi, an African band from Montréal, and a Canterbury High School performance.
The winners were: Timothy Fung from Vancouver, British Columbia; Lauren Inrig from Delta, British Columbia; Charles Sargent from Calgary, Alberta; Karine Houde from Kanata, Ontario; Isabelle Vachon from Welland, Ontario; Ellen Friesen from Winnipeg, Manitoba; Boeseya Man-VanDyck from Winnipeg, Manitoba; Karen Lowe from Abbotsford, British Columbia; and Sharon Boersma from Petrolia, Ontario.
Information:
Thoren Hudyma
Communications Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
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