Midhurst/November 14, 2025 – Last night, the County of Simcoe proudly hosted the annual Newcomer Recognition Awards, celebrating the achievements of immigrants, as well, organizations and businesses in our region who champion inclusivity with awards presented in 7 distinct categories.
Chosen through an open nomination process that is overseen by a committee of community stakeholders, this year’s Newcomer Recognition Award honourees are:
- Small Business Owner – Hakka Zone
- Newcomer Inclusive Service Delivery – UPlift Black
- Educator Excellence – Manon Heran
- Immigrant Artist – Inga Filippova-Williams
- Ethno-Cultural Group – Olundara Foundation
- Youth Community Champion – Aditi Sharma
- Immigrant Mentor – Kanika Gupta
The awards ceremony took place at Tangle Creek in the Township of Essa, where award winners, partners and elected officials came together to recognize the vital impact these individuals have on our communities.
“The County of Simcoe is proud to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming region,” said Warden Basil Clarke. “Congratulations to this year’s Newcomer Recognition Award recipients for their inspiring achievements. I would also like to thank our organizing committee, our dedicated staff, and our generous sponsors. A special thank you goes to Honda Manufacturing of Canada, who has returned as our gold sponsor for the second consecutive year, for helping make this celebration of diversity and inclusion possible.”
About the County of Simcoe
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
