Emcy Award Winners

Leader-Post employee Elmer Eashappie was honoured at the Enriching My Canada and Yours (EMCY) Awards gala. Eashappie, who worked to bring First Nations stories to a broader audience, was recognized for his contributions by being presented the media award in promoting Canada's rich diversity.

A member of the Carry the Kettle First Nation, Eashappie's commitment to equity is one that permeates his professional and his personal vision for himself. The role that he has take on is one of "cultural bridge'' between mainstream and First Nations communities.

When I thought about how important and powerful the media is, I thought it would be a good vehicle to transport and relate the messages about aboriginal people. "It was only probably in the last 10 years that I had an opportunity to talk to the elders and learn from them.''

Elmer has not lost sight of his primary goal, “we can use media to change mainstream attitudes toward First Nations people while at the same time showcasing our First Nations Community’s contributions to a vibrant economy in the province of Saskatchewan”. 

Braced with the simple truth “everybody should have a home”, Hannah Taylor is Canada’s youngest advocate for this country’s homeless community. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1996, Hannah is the third of four Taylor children. At five years old, Hannah witnessed a devastating scene. A man was eating from a garbage can while they drove by. Hannah was immediately filled with sadness and questions. Since that defining moment, Hannah has learned about hunger and homelessness. She believes that everyone deserves a roof over their head and enough food to eat, as basic human rights. She has spoken about homelessness to one person at a time and to groups as large as 16,000. Hannah believes that in caring we can all make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless. Under Hannah’s guidance, The Ladybug Foundation Inc. was founded in May 2004. Through Hannah’s efforts, well over 1 million dollars has been raised directly and indirectly for projects that provide frontline services to the homeless across Canada to help feed and provide shelter and safety for homeless people. Hannah continues to visit the shelters that the Foundation supports. It was during one visit to a teenage homeless shelter in Toronto that Hannah experienced a moment that she will never forget. As she was leaving the shelter, hugging each child, one of the quietest children stepped from the back and said “Until today I thought no one loved me and now I know you love me.” Hannah has inspired and is at the forefront of developing a National education project called “Make Change” that will launch this year. This program will be available to every school aged child in Canada, letting them experience that it is within all of us to “get involved to make a difference” in our world.