VANCOUVER – The Writers International Network Canada is a shining example of discovering, nurturing and recognizing writers and artists of diverse backgrounds with love and appreciation. Keeping up with tradition the 4th Annual Literary Festival was a celebration of the literary arts with song, dance, readings and the awarding of prizes.
At WIN we believe that the recognition of one’s work and services by colleagues is the greatest fulfilment, a precious moment, and a proudest event that happens in the life of an awardee. Can you imagine going on the stage with overwhelmed heart as everyone in the audience set their eyes on the award winner, clapping hands?
We must appreciate writers and volunteers because we are all continuously affecting each other every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter because we are so deeply interconnected.
WIN knows that the challenge for new emerging as well as established immigrant writers and artists is to get recognized by the established organizations in Canada. To be recognized is the most challenging thing, because even if one is recognized in the country s/he came from, in Canada the process of recognition is indifferent to immigrants and multilingual writers. These organizations are controlled by its own norms and ideas. As an outsider you are completely ignored and you get no chance to penetrate or get into their sphere of influence. So WIN was created as a sphere of influence to recognize the power of creativity of the works of writers and artists irrespective where they are from.
Writers International Network’s celebration of its 4th Annual Literary Festival and Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Awards Gala on Saturday March 28, 2015 at Richmond Cultural Centre, BC. was very successful.
Following writers and community builders were recognized:
2015 Literary Award Winners
1. Bernice Lever Lifetime Achievement Award ( Bowen Island)
2. Nadeem Parmar Lifetime Achievement Award ( Burnaby)
3. Franci Louann People’s Laureate Award ( New Westminster)
4. Robert Martens WIN Distinguished Poet Award (Abbotsford)
5. Mohinder Soomel WIN Distinguished Punjabi Poet (Burnaby)
6. Marcela Villar M WIN Distinguished Poet Award (Seattle)
7. Sendoo Hadaa WIN Visionary Poet Award (Mongolia)
8. Meenakshi Raina WIN Distinguished Writer Award (Mississauga)
9. Ratka Bogdan WIN Distinguished Poet Award (Florida)
Community Ambassador Award Winners
1. Rebecca delos Reyes Community Ambassador Award (Philippines)
2. Dilbag Gujral Community Ambassador Award (West Vancouver)
3. Una Bruhns Community Ambassador Award (North Vancouver)
4. Vinay Sharma Community Ambassador Award (Surrey)
