Statements Archives - Page 2 of 2

Senators’ Statements: Immigrant Employment Councils – Mentorship as Key to Social Cohesion

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada November 30, 2017 immigration, mentorship, Statements

On November 30th, Senator Omidvar welcomed Margaret Eaton of the Toronto Immigrant Employment Council and Jennifer Hollis of Immploy to the Senate. Her statement celebrates Canada's immigrant employment councils. Through employment mentorship programs, thousands of newcomers to this country have been able to find champions of their skills and success, both on and off the job.

Senators’ Statements: Stephen Huddart

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada September 28, 2017 Social Finance, Statements, Stephen Huddart

I think we all agree and realize that the complexity of problems facing Canadians is only growing. We also know that it is impossible to meet all the needs of all Canadians through government grants and funds. Creating a new marketplace of social finance, where proven ideas meet money, seems to me to be a truly big idea and worthy of our attention.

Senators’ Statements: World Refugee Day

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada June 20, 2017 refugees, Statements, World Refugee Day, WUSC

“Even as I grieve for the millions of displaced people in the world, I want to take a moment to share some optimism with you from the work of WUSC.”

Senators’ Statements: Michael Adams, C.M.

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada May 11, 2017 Michael Adams, Order of Canada, Statements

Michael is the founder of the Environics Group of research and communications consulting companies, and more recently he founded the Environics Institute, which is a not-for-profit institute that asks the tough questions that need to be asked and answered.

Senators’ Statements: Alan Broadbent, C.M

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada May 10, 2017 Alan Broadbent, charities, Statements

Alan is one of Canada's leading philanthropists. He is chair of the Maytree Foundation, and I had the honour of serving as its president for close to 15 years. I know intimately that his reach and influence in the world of philanthropy is enormous.

Senators’ Statements: Visible Minority Women

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada May 4, 2017 Diversity, Statements, women

As the divide between men and women exists, so does the divide between minority men and minority women. Minority women earn even less than minority men, so there is a double-barrelled glass ceiling: first your gender and then your race.

My tribute to Canada’s great storyteller, Stuart McLean

Ratna Omidvar Senate of Canada February 16, 2017 literature, Statements, Stuart McLean

“He told his stories with compassion, with humour, with respect and with dignity. He invited Canadians to send him their stories and in his hand these stories were transformed into vignettes of humanity. And so he moved us to tears of joy or sadness, in equal measure and often at the same time.”