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TORONTO, ONTARIO-- John Yaremko is the first recipient of the Paul Yuzyk Award for Multicul­turalism, announced Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney during a special ceremony at Roy Thom­son Hall today. “During his 25 years of dedica­tion to the Ontario legislature, Mr. Yaremko was a strong advocate for education, human rights and multiculturalism,” said Minister Kenney. “He is also well known for his philanthropic activities, which includes the 2002 creation of the John and Mary A. Yaremko Program in Multiculturalism and Human Rights at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law.”

The Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism commemorates the late Senator Yuzyk’s pioneer­ing legacy in the areas of multicul­turalism, diversity, and pluralism. Senator Yuzyk, who was a mem­ber of the Senate of Canada from February 1963 to July 1986, played a key role in the development and implementa­tion of Canada’s multiculturalism policy.

Mr. Yaremko was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his strong advocacy for education, human rights, and multiculturalism, as well as his philanthropic activities. The award includes a $20,000 grant, which will be given to an eligible, registered not-for-profit Canadian organization or association of the recipient’s choice.

“I commend Mr. Yaremko for personifying the ideals of Sena­tor Yuzyk and contributing to our diverse and vibrant Canadian society,” added Minister Kenney. Individuals from communities across Canada can be nominated in one of two categories for the Paul Yuzyk Award for Multicultur­alism. The Lifetime Achievement Award honours an individual who has demonstrated life-long dedi­cation to the pursuit of promot­ing a strong multicultural society in Canada. The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to Canadian mul­ticulturalism within the last five years. Nominations for the 2010 Paul Yuzyk Award for Multicul­turalism are currently being accepted until March 2010. For details on Senator Paul Yuzyk, Mr. John Yaremko, the nomina­tion process and eligibility re­quirements, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/paulyuzyk.