Multicultural Top Choice Awards 2009

Press Release: A Masterful Multicultural Mix

Although we praise multiculturalism in Canada it is sometimes hard to surrender ourselves to the full enjoyment of the cultures around us, but on Friday, November 6th, 2009 all that changed! Ethnic businesses and professionals from across the cultural spectrum of the Greater Toronto Area gathered to celebrate excellence in business at the 4th Annual Multicultural Top Choice Awards.
Toronto, Ontario – November 9th, 2009 – On the world stage, multiculturalism is often doubted and renowned all in the same breath. It brings hope of cultural integration and the optimism for cultural tolerance, but it is also faced with social and political bias and the issue of potentially diluting the heritages of the integrated cultures. Sometimes the idea as a whole seems unnecessary and nigh impossible. But there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel and countless individuals and organizations who hold multiculturalism close to heart and fight for its continued adoption and acceptance.

One of those organizations is Top Choice Awards and some of those individuals are David Silvestre, the company’s CEO and Monica Couto, President.

“I have always taken great pride in my culture and valued the importance of sharing it with others, at the same time I always appreciated other cultures equally and enjoyed learning from them. So when we started our award surveys back in 2004, it was natural for me to favour my own community, the Portuguese community, as the basis for the study.” says Mr. Silvestre. “Things were going great but I always had this multicultural idea sitting in the back of my mind, just waiting to get out – I thought that we should bring the survey to other communities and instead of separating them, mix them together.”- David Silvestre.

''Our Goal is to create understanding and resonate national harmony by promoting the positive aspects and impacts of multiculturalism in Canada as well as promote Canada as a key destination to create and sustain businesses across all sectors of industry, despite race, colour, religion and cultural background."- Monica Couto, President of Top Choice Awards.

This “hopeless” idea is now a reality as Top Choice Awards recently finished the annual awards gala, for the 4th consecutive year, named appropriately: The Multicultural Top Choice Awards. This annual awards gala celebrates the achievement of Top Businesses and Professionals in the Greater Toronto Area – with international ventures in the near future – from across the cultural fabric. Upon entering the "universal" themed ballroom, guests marveled over the ice sculpture centre pieces that adorned each table. As they made their way to their seats the were greeted with energetic beams of light that danced around the room, made all the more vibrant by the haze that enveloped the stage. One-by-one nearly 60 awards were presented, each recipient was different than the last, but they all shared a moment of recognition in a room full of winners.

Special presenters on the evening included George Pimentel - Celebrity Photographer, Sean Kearly of Canadian Linen & Uniform Service and John Worden of Hakim Optical, Dr. Kuzmar of St. Clair Cosmetic & Laser Clinic among others. The night's most memorable awards were the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Dick Howard (TSN Sports Analyst and FIFA Technical Appointee), Top Male Music Artist of Canada - Danny Fernandes, Top Television Morning Show in the GTA - City TV's Breakfast Television, received by Co-host Kevin Frankish, Top Newspaper in the GTA - Toronto Sun, Top Radio Program in the GTA - Scott Fox & The Z103.5 Morning Show, which was received by Scott Fox, Ashley Greco and Dave Blezzard.

You need to look no further than the rich entertainment for a taste of the cultures - Chinese Lion Dance by Apex Kung Fu, Brazilian Capoeira by Axé Capoeira and Samba by Samba Brasil, Latin Dancing by Rhythm Fire Dance Company, Hispanic Singing by Daniele Alvarez, Portuguese Singing by Henrik Cipriano, Italian singing by Carlos Coppola, all blended together smoothly with an artistic dance performance by Rugcutterz Danz Artz and the surprise appearance of an exotic python from Reptilia and the sensational Dr. Draw with his furious electric violin.

Putting all the glitz and glamour aside, the underlining importance of the event was multiculturalism and it was that which stood out above all else. To witness Chinese with Portuguese, South Asians with Italians, Jewish with Iranians, Polish with Hispanics and many other communities in the same room at the same time is a huge success for multiculturalists, but to see them celebrating, laughing and cheering each other on is a resounding victory for our community and our multicultural Canada.

The organization ended the event with a big announcement, "the 5th Annual Multicultural Top Choice Awards is already in the works and will be presented by David Sklar & Associates in November 2010."