The SEIU-West Workers of Colour Multicultural Mentorship Committee recently sent members to attend the People Bridge Advocacy (PBA) Awards Gala.
Whenever members attend an event, they need to provide a report on the event they attended. Please have a read through to see what this event was about:
It was an honour to be at the event, for this I am grateful to SEIU-West.
What stood out immediately was the atmosphere. The room carried energy, unity, and purpose. This was more than an awards ceremony; it was a visible expression of multicultural and cross-cultural partnership and leadership in action.
The performances were a highlight. Oskāyak Song and Dance Troupe, the Muyu Dance Group of Ecuador, and the vocal performance by Sheena Iidefonso brought authenticity and cultural richness to the evening. It did not feel performative; it felt rooted. Advocacy spaces should reflect the communities they claim to serve, and this event did that well.
The strong presence of elected officials, including the mayor and multiple MLAs, added weight to the evening. Their attendance signalled that equity-driven community work is gaining broader civic recognition.
Honouring Prof. Joseph (Joe) Garcea throughout the event added depth and reflection. The Community Legacy Memorial Award in his name was a powerful reminder that real change is measured over decades, not headlines.
The award recipients themselves reflected a wide spectrum of impact from arts and culture to public safety to grassroots advocacy. Recognizing the Saskatoon Fire Department for community safety, alongside cultural and nonprofit leaders, showed a thoughtful understanding of what community wellbeing truly requires.
Dr. Vincent Bruni-Bossio's (Vice Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan) keynote delivered a message that resonated strongly: stay disciplined in one's mission. Not every opportunity aligns with your mandate, and chasing everything weakens focus. Strong organizations know when to lead, when to collaborate, and when to step aside.
His point about funding being one mechanism, not the only mechanism, for change was particularly important. Values, credibility, and alignment are equally powerful drivers of long-term impact.
The evening reinforced that coalition-building works best when organizations maintain clarity about who they are and what they stand for.
The event was well organized, flowed smoothly, and balanced celebration with substance. The buffet-style dinner created space for meaningful networking, and I was able to connect with leaders across nonprofit, political, and community sectors.
Overall, it was an inspiring and well-executed evening that demonstrated principled leadership, cultural pride, and the power of focused collaboration.
Leta:
What an inspiring evening it was to listen to all the speakers, especially the keynote address of Dr. Vincent Bruno-Bossio, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan.
We discussed opening a circle to let new innovations take shape in our community.
We were impacted by the legacy of the late Professor Joseph (Joe) Garcea, whom most the awardees knew as their mentor for what they believed in for society.
Arlene:
The PBA Gala is very special to me, as I have attended the gala since its first year.
The multicultural attendance of different races and communities gathered together for this event. This was the first time that I met people from the country Azerbaijan, and they told us that their country is in the middle of West Asia and near Europe. They were very nice people.
The thing that really hit me was Dr. Vincent Bruni-Bossio, a speaker who shared his different stories about his family and his interest in knowing what community meant. He said that the PBA reminded him of his family and the humanity and kindness of the people started from our family; the sense of belonging, which is right. The impact that he created on the crowd during his speech was amazing. People listened and were attentive to what he was saying, and all agreed with what he was sharing. Before he ended his speech, he asked us to set our mindset on having empathy within our community, even when we have lots of challenges, as we don't know what will happen tomorrow and in the future. This was a very well said concept and an inspiration to all of us.
