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Description
Photograph of John Halani and Sue Hammell with an unidentified individual at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

John Halani was a hotelier in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.) born in Masaka, Uganda. Halani came to B.C. in 1972 after escaping the persecution of the Idi Amin regime in Uganda. Halani, a 35-year-old business owner, had his assets confiscated by the Amin regime as he was leaving Uganda. His first job in Vancouver was with a glass company, from there he was able to lease out the Robsontrasse hotel in downtown Vancouver. By 1975, Halani was running the Tropicana Hotel across the street. Halani had an active political career, including being named honorary consul for Uganda in B.C., and was involved with the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. and other advocacy groups. He also served on multiple community boards, including as chair of the Ethno Business Council.

Sue Hammell is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Green Timbers, serving multiple terms since 1991. She held key roles, including Minister for Women's Equality, and co-founded the Minerva Foundation for BC Women. Hammell also worked internationally to support female leaders and served as Executive Director of the Surrey Aboriginal Society.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of Riasat Ali Khan with an unidentified individual at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

Riasat Ali Khan was born in India, but his family shifted to Pakistan after independence. Khan immigrated to Canada in 1959, working in the correctional services. Khan was a prominent leader of the Pakistani-Canadian community in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.). Khan was the founder of the Pakistan-Canada Association, which opened the first mosque in 1963, the Al Jamia Masjid in Vancouver, B.C. He served as the head of the B.C. Immigrant Services Society. Khan was also a board member of the B.C. Cancer Society and a delegate to the Committee for Racial Justice.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. Among the group of individuals are Nick Panos and Lucio Bruno Sacchetti, and other recipients of the awards. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

Nick Panos is the owner of Omega Travel, a business he started in 1974 in the heart of Greek town in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.). Initially established to help the members of the Hellenic community of B.C. travel to Greece to spend their holidays with their families, Omega Travel has evolved to become one of Western Canada's expert travel agencies. Panos is also one of the founders of the original Greek Day celebrations in 1974, and instrumental in its 2005 revival. Panos was honored with a BC Community Achievement Award in 2009 for serving his Hellenic community in local, provincial and national organizations and thereby enriching and strengthening ties within his community.

Lucio Bruno Sacchetti (July 19, 1945 - August, 22, 2021) was born in Castelli (Teramo), Abruzzo, Italy to Marino Sacchetti and Doralice DiGabriele Sacchetti and grew up in Belgium and Italy. Upon completion of his studies in Italy Sacchetti emigrated to Thunder Bay in 1966, as the last member of his family to do so. Upon arrival, he began working for the agriculture-based engineering company, CD Howe, where he worked his way into managing some of the largest projects on the company roster and around the world. In 1981, he moved his family to the west coast for work. In 1991, with four partners, Sacchetti founded his own muti-disciplinary consulting engineering company, CMC Engineering. He was also an important member of the local and national Italian Canadian community. He served as the president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada West and was a founding member and chair of ARPICO (Associazione di Ricercatori e Professionisti Italiani nel Canada Occidentale), a non-profit, volunteer-based society that advocates and promotes public awareness of science, innovation and research activities involving Italian researchers and professionals. Sacchetti was awarded several honours from the Italian Republic, including the Italian order of merit, "Commendatore della Repubblica Italiana" in 2017.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of a group of unidentified individuals at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. Among the group of individuals are Nick Panos and Lucio Bruno Sacchetti, and other recipients of the awards. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

Nick Panos is the owner of Omega Travel, a business he started in 1974 in the heart of Greek town in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.). Initially established to help the members of the Hellenic community of B.C. travel to Greece to spend their holidays with their families, Omega Travel has evolved to become one of Western Canada's expert travel agencies. Panos is also one of the founders of the original Greek Day celebrations in 1974, and instrumental in its 2005 revival. Panos was honored with a BC Community Achievement Award in 2009 for serving his Hellenic community in local, provincial and national organizations and thereby enriching and strengthening ties within his community.

Lucio Bruno Sacchetti (July 19, 1945 - August, 22, 2021) was born in Castelli (Teramo), Abruzzo, Italy to Marino Sacchetti and Doralice DiGabriele Sacchetti and grew up in Belgium and Italy. Upon completion of his studies in Italy Sacchetti emigrated to Thunder Bay in 1966, as the last member of his family to do so. Upon arrival, he began working for the agriculture-based engineering company, CD Howe, where he worked his way into managing some of the largest projects on the company roster and around the world. In 1981, he moved his family to the west coast for work. In 1991, with four partners, Sacchetti founded his own muti-disciplinary consulting engineering company, CMC Engineering. He was also an important member of the local and national Italian Canadian community. He served as the president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada West and was a founding member and chair of ARPICO (Associazione di Ricercatori e Professionisti Italiani nel Canada Occidentale), a non-profit, volunteer-based society that advocates and promotes public awareness of science, innovation and research activities involving Italian researchers and professionals. Sacchetti was awarded several honours from the Italian Republic, including the Italian order of merit, "Commendatore della Repubblica Italiana" in 2017.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of an unidentified individual with Tony Parsons at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

Anthony "Tony" Parsons was born Anthony Parsonage in Gosport, England in 1939, the son of an RAF Officer and an Italian mother. He was educated in various British schools until he was nine, when in 1948 his family decided to move to Canada. In Canada his schooling continued in Toronto, Ontario where he studied Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Institute of Technology. At 17, his schooling was interrupted when he was hired to be a radio disc jockey at CJCS in Stratford, Ontario. From Stratford, he moved in quick succession to CHOK Sarnia, CJOY in Guelph and on to CHML in Hamilton, where he made the transition from DJ to news reporter. By this time, Parsonage had shortened his surname to Parsons. He had his first television job as reporter/anchor with CFTO-TV where he anchored the late evening news. In 1975, Parsons took a posting in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the West Coast correspondent for CTV National News. Parsons occupied the anchor desk at BCTV (now known as Global BC) for 26 years. In 1989, he was made news director for BCTV, and was later named Vice-President, News. Parsons retired from Global at the end of 2009. During his years in Vancouver, Parsons was the recipient of various awards, including being named Italian Man of the Year by the Brotherhood Interfaith Society in 2002, receiving the Bruce Hutchinson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jack Webster Foundation in 2004, and being awarded the Queen's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Gold Medal for outstanding service in the community as a journalist. Parsons was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Hall of Fame in November 2009.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of Chandra Bodalia with Tony Parsons at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

Born in 1948 in Sisodra, a village in Gujarat, India, Chandravadan "Chandra" Bodalia was a talented artist who pursued higher education in commercial arts and painting at the prestigious Sheth C. N. College of Fine Arts in Ahmedabad. After immigrating to Canada in 1976, Bodalia settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he initially worked various jobs, including creating art props and souvenirs for cultural events. In the late 1980s, Bodalia embarked on a career as a photojournalist, documenting the lives of South Asian Canadians with unparalleled dedication. Bodalia photographed important events for the South Asian Canadian community across B.C. and highlighted the unique stories and experiences of the community. He covered a range of events and various facets of life, from community programs and celebrations to cradle to grave events such as weddings, birthdays, cultural festivals, honoring events, political gatherings, and religious ceremonies. The photographs also reflect the intercultural connections and collaborations within the immigrant communities in Canada as well as transnational ties to the South Asian region. Bodalia's work appeared in local newspapers such as The Voice and The Link, earning him widespread recognition and over 20 awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Times of Canada. Bodalia passed away in 2017.

Anthony "Tony" Parsons was born Anthony Parsonage in Gosport, England in 1939, the son of an RAF Officer and an Italian mother. He was educated in various British schools until he was nine, when in 1948 his family decided to move to Canada. In Canada his schooling continued in Toronto, Ontario where he studied Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson Institute of Technology. At 17, his schooling was interrupted when he was hired to be a radio disc jockey at CJCS in Stratford, Ontario. From Stratford, he moved in quick succession to CHOK Sarnia, CJOY in Guelph and on to CHML in Hamilton, where he made the transition from DJ to news reporter. By this time, Parsonage had shortened his surname to Parsons. He had his first television job as reporter/anchor with CFTO-TV where he anchored the late evening news. In 1975, Parsons took a posting in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the West Coast correspondent for CTV National News. Parsons occupied the anchor desk at BCTV (now known as Global BC) for 26 years. In 1989, he was made news director for BCTV, and was later named Vice-President, News. Parsons retired from Global at the end of 2009. During his years in Vancouver, Parsons was the recipient of various awards, including being named Italian Man of the Year by the Brotherhood Interfaith Society in 2002, receiving the Bruce Hutchinson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jack Webster Foundation in 2004, and being awarded the Queen's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Gold Medal for outstanding service in the community as a journalist. Parsons was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Hall of Fame in November 2009.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.
Description
Photograph of unidentified individuals addressing the audience at the B.C. New Canadian Entrepreneur Awards event. The awards were sponsored by the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia in conjunction with corporate sponsors.

The Ethno Business Council of British Columbia (Ethno BC) was established in 1988 to recognize and celebrate the achievements of New Canadian entrepreneurs. Ethno BC acknowledges the contributions that multicultural businesses make to the British Columbia economy by recognizing the achievements of successful entrepreneurs who were born outside of Canada, and who have been in business for at least three years in Canada.