Nominations open for Reconciliation Awards

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 14, 2024.

The City of Lethbridge and the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee (RLAC) are hosting the second annual Reconciliation Awards ceremony and looking for nominations.

These nominations are to recognize both individuals and corporations who play a vital role in Truth and Reconciliation in Lethbridge.

Echo Nowak, Indigenous relations specialist for the City of Lethbridge, says she hopes the Reconciliation Awards will give people not only recognition for the work they have done, but also help others look up to them on their reconciliation journey.

“Recognizing the people that are doing the work is important because I think a lot of people don’t know where to start. I think they’re afraid to start or afraid of doing the wrong things. So, I think showing the community what is being done can spark interest in maybe joining them or reaching out to them and seeing how they can also be involved,” said Nowack.

In total there are seven categories for nominations: youth (5-17), young adult (18-25), community leader, education, Indigenous leadership, corporation or private sector and not-for-profit organization.

Cyndi Bester, co-chair of RLAC, says these awards show the important work which is being done at the local level

It shows what’s being done and the important work that still needs to be done because as an ally we need to educate ourselves, we need to step forward into these conversations,” said Bester.

Nominations for the Reconciliation Awards are open until September 6 at 4:30 p.m. with the ceremony being held on September 23. More information can be found at lethbridge.ca or on the Reconciliation Lethbridge Facebook page.