The 16th annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards were presented to the winners on the 14th of August at a ceremony in TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX.
Presented by Western Union, the Top 25 awards share the inspiring success stories of immigrants and refugees who come from diverse cultures and backgrounds, from coast to coast. This year’s program was also sponsored by COSTI and Windmill Microlending. From an acclaimed chef to a notable comic book author and an extraordinary poet, this year’s awards celebrated the diverse contributions of immigrants who have enriched Canada.
Winners at the ceremony included a Chef, cookbook author and culinary expert Noel Cunningham, Artist, award-winning musician Abel Maxwell, Poet, author and arts educator Nadine Williams among others.
As we get inspired by some of the remarkable individuals honored in the 2024 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, we are excited to share the story of Sahib Singh Rana, who was presented with the ‘Entrepreneur’ Award.
Sahib Singh Rana’s journey is a testament to resilience and accomplishment. In the last ten years, he has built a thriving Middle Eastern restaurant network in Canada, with over 60 Lazeez Shawarma outlets nationwide.
Rana is responsible for managing franchise operations, business development, and community engagement, while his partner, Nada Nasir, handles the culinary side of the business. The most rewarding aspect of his role is bringing people together through delicious food and experiencing the joy of knowing that their customers’ daily lives are positively impacted by their efforts.
The success of Lazeez Shawarma stems from its commitment to genuine flavors, high standards, and a close-knit approach to managing franchisee relationships. Rana’s dedication to remaining true to his values has been a fundamental guiding principle.
“When I arrived in Canada, I encountered situations where I was asked to remove my turban to fit in. I firmly stated that if that was a requirement, I would leave,” he recalled.
“A pivotal moment came when I met an employer who valued me for who I am. This experience taught me the value of perseverance and maintaining my identity while adapting to new environments. This resilience helped me build Lazeez Shawarma from the ground up.”
Rana’s dedication to inclusivity goes well beyond his business endeavors. He is deeply involved in efforts that promote social unity and community engagement. For instance, he generously distributes Canadian flags on Canada Day across all Lazeez Shawarma locations, celebrating the national spirit and fostering a sense of belonging. Additionally, Lazeez Shawarma takes pride in sponsoring Team Canada’s basketball teams, both men’s and women’s, for the FIBA World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympics, underscoring their commitment to supporting Canadian athletes on the global stage.
Here’s a shoutout to all the recipients!
Ashid Bahl (Calgary, AB/Kenya), President and founder, For the Love of Children Society of Alberta
Nisreen Baker (Edmonton, AB / Egypt), Director and screenwriter
Lilian Cazacu (Langley BC/Republic of Moldova), Notary public
Chris Chukwunta (Edmonton AB/Nigeria), CEO, International Renewable Energy Systems Inc.
Noel Cunningham (Toronto, ON/Jamaica), Chef, cookbook author and culinary expert
Delasi Essien (Regina, SK/Ghana), Global nurse consultant, nurse leader and educator
Gervan Fearon (Toronto, ON/England) President, George Brown College
Andrea Gomez (Quebec City, QC/ Colombia), CEO, Omy Laboratories
Crystal Hung (Vancouver BC/ Taiwan), CEO, Icon Marketing
Jaideep Johar (Winnipeg, MB/India), Senior Advisor, Marine Safety and Security, Prairie and Northern Region, Transport Canada
Kelly Kaur (Calgary, AB / Singapore), Author, writer and speaker
W. Andy Knight(Edmonton, AB/Barbados), Professor
Abel Maxwell (Toronto, ON/ Senegal and Togo), Artist and entrepreneur
Shaheen Nanji (Port Moody, BC/Kenya), Executive director, SFU International
Chukwunonso Nwabufo (Toronto, ON/Nigeria), Founder and CEO, OneDrug Inc. and pharmaceutical scientist, University of Toronto
Gordana Radan (Calgary, AB/ Former Yugoslavia), CEO, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
Farahnaz Rezaei (Stratford P.E.I./Born in Iran, raised in Kuwait), Policy, research and evaluation analyst, Office of Immigration
Dacious Richardson (Surrey, BC/ Liberia), Youth leader and safe school liaison
Sheref Sabawy (Toronto, ON/Egypt), Member of Ontario Provincial Parliament
Sevtap Savas (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador / Türkiye), Patient advocate and professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Sahib Singh Rana (Toronto, ON/India), Entrepreneur
Andre Smith (Brampton, ON/Jamaica), CEO, Flip & Floss
Florentine Strzelczyk (London, ON/Germany), Provost and vice-president (academic) at Western University
J Torres (Whitby, ON / Philippines), Writer
Nadine Williams (Niagara Falls, ON/Jamaica), Poet, author and arts educator
Congratulations to all the Winners!!
About Canadian Immigrant
Canadian Immigrant is a national multimedia platform to help immigrants succeed in Canada, with content, resources and events on careers, education and settlement. The brand is the producer of the cross-country Canadian Immigrant Fairs, IEP career path Web Conference Series, and the Frist Generation podcast on the Torstar Podcast Network. Canadian Immigrant is a division of Metroland Media Group, a dynamic media company with leading community and daily news sites, as well as innovative websites including save.ca, wonderlist.ca, and travelalerts.ca. Learn more at canadianimmigrant.ca.
