Last night, the County of Simcoe proudly hosted the 14th annual Newcomer Recognition Awards, celebrating the outstanding contributions of newcomers, organizations, businesses, and community leaders who help make our region a welcoming and inclusive place to live, work, and thrive.

Selected through an open nomination process overseen by a committee of community stakeholders, this year's Newcomer Recognition Award recipients were recognized across eight award categories:

• Educator Excellence - Sue Collingbourne

• Inclusive Housing Practices - Brolin Devine & Aiesha Aggarwal

• Immigrant Artist - Alina Hromko

• Immigrant Mentor - Devraj Sirohi

• Newcomer Inclusive Service Delivery - Innisfil ideaLAB and Library

• Service Excellence - Melissa Fletcher

• Small Business Owner - Beatriz Zanatelli

• Youth Community Champion - Fatima Abdulaziz Khattak

• Youth Community Champion - Mateo Velasco Alva

"Congratulations to this year's recipients for their dedication, leadership, and contributions. Their efforts not only enrich our communities but also help ensure Simcoe County remains a place where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed," said Warden Basil Clarke. "We also extend our sincere thanks to our organizing committee, community partners, sponsors, and staff whose support makes this important celebration possible. With these accomplishments, and so many other programs and initiatives, we continue to make Simcoe County an even more welcoming region for newcomers."

A special thank you is extended to Honda of Canada Mfg., this year's Gold Sponsor, for helping make the Newcomer Recognition Awards a memorable celebration of diversity, inclusion, and community achievement.

To learn more, visit: https://simcoe.ca/newcomer-recognition-awards/