This award, created in 2008, aims to recognize persons who work in the shadows to promote intercultural relations in the Saint-Laurent community. This year’s recipient, Marie Barette, is a resident of Saint-Laurent. Now retired from a career in education, Mrs. Barette is particularly involved with groups representing women from different countries. She is an active member of the intercultural choir set up by COSSL’s Women’s committee and CARI St-Laurent’s Women and engagement committee, where she serves as a kind of “godmother” to newly arrived women. By her efforts, generosity, determination and involvement, she is an example of a woman who is engaged in creating a harmonious and welcoming environment for people from all national backgrounds.
The other women nominated for the award share an equally outstanding background in Saint-Laurent’s community and multicultural life: Wahiba Fatiha Kesraoui, a volunteer, Sednie Rosemond, who is involved in the Centre d’encadrement pour jeunes filles immigrantes (Centre for young immigrant women), and Yolanda Maradiaga, director of the COCLA organization.
This event was twinned with the opening of the exhibition Bogolan « avec la terre », by Burkinabé artist Toumani Kouyaté, at the Musée des maîtres et artisans du Québec, and served to kick off the 10th annual Action Week Against Racism. Many activities will be held in Saint-Laurent until March 23, all in the aim of raising public awareness of race-related issues in our society. (Source: St. Laurent borough)
