The 20th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards were presented Thursday night (March 9) in Abbotsford to businesses, organizations and individuals in Abbotsford, Langley, Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz.
The event, which honoured recipients in eight categories, was attended by almost 400 guests at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre.
Archway Community Services presented the event in partnership with the Mission and Chilliwack Community Services as well as Langley New Directions Vocational Testing and Counselling Services.
“It’s very humbling to see such amazing work being carried out by so many of our nominees,” said Manpreet Grewal, Archway director of Multicultural and Immigrant Integration Services. “It’s been 20 years of celebrating these incredibly beautiful stories.”
TV personality Fiona Forbes filled in as the MC after long-term host Fred Lee came down with laryngitis.
Throughout the event, artist Chase Gray drew an intricate Indigenous art piece featuring the Cultural Diversity Awards logo, which was unveiled near the end of the evening.
Keynote speaker Aaron Pete – a Chawathil First Nation councillor, entrepreneur and podcast host – spoke about his journey from a food-insecure household with a single mom to finding his way to law school and his band council.
