Canadian Ethnic Media Association

A press release issued by OMNI-TV after the announement of the Order of Canada list  July 1, 2009

TORONTO (July 2, 2009) —– OMNI Television is pleased to announce that Madeline Ziniak, National Vice President of OMNI Television, is among 60 new appointments to  the Order of Canada,  our country’s highest civilian honour for lifetime achievement.

CEMA Chair Madeline Ziniak

The official announcement was made yesterday by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada; recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

As Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.) – a designation which recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity — Madeline was cited for “her contributions as the major driving force behind the development and growth of multilingual and multicultural television in Canada.”

Madeline has received numerous community, government and industry honours for her dedication throughout her career.  In 2001, she was named to The Order of Ontario, in recognition of her commitment to multiculturalism and its expression through TV. Read the rest of this entry »

Copy of a press release from the Canadian Ethnic Media Association distributed by Canada News Wire (CNW)

TORONTO,June 25 — The 31st annual Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) Awards were presented at a gala in Toronto,  Friday, June 26.

Winners range from Stephen Hui for  an aricle in Georgia Straight on the plight of the In-Shuck-chs on a reserve near Vancouver to a documentary by Lalita Krishna on a Toronto photographer’s work with at-risk youth of the Peruvian rain forest.

Eight CEMA Awards were presented.  In  addition, the Sierhey Khmara Ziniak Award, named for CEMA’s founder,went to  the person who through journalism has spoken for Canadian  multiculturalism. Read the rest of this entry »

Speaking to a packed audience of CEMA members, on Friday June 5th Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal opposition urged them to think of the year 2017 (Canada’s 150th anniversary) as the year in which Canadians recognize the direction in which this country is headed globally. Their reach as communicators to Canada’s diverse peoples is of utmost importance in disseminating information on the potential future of this country, he said. Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. Consul General in Toronto, John R.  Nay, told CEMA members on June 4 that his three-year stay in Ontario has been among the most pleasurable of his tours of duty. He will be taking another posting after the beginning of July but was not able at the moment to disclose his successor’s name.

U.S. Consul General in Toronto John Nay addressed CEMA's Speaker Series on June 4.

He told a packed meeting: “On this particular day I am extremely proud to be a U.S. citizen after listening to President [Barack] Obama’s speech in Cairo. It might potentially be the start of a new peace initiative by Muslim nations and  Israel.” Copies of that speech were made available to those attending the meeting .

The Deputy Secretary of State had just completed a visit to Canada, and Nay, referring to this visit, said it pointed to the importance President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton were attaching to U.S.-Canada relations. Read the rest of this entry »

CEMA treasurer Irene Chu and her sister, Dr. Wei Djao, have launched Ginger Post, a new English-language web magazine. Dr. Djao’s daughter, Lian Chen, also joins the group as promotion and marketing specialist.  

Ginger Post contains first person accounts of life in Canada by Chinese immigrants, fascinating recipes and items of historic interest.

Irene says she hopes the web ‘zine will be of interest not only to mainstream and Chinese-Canadian readers, but also to members of other ethnic groups to encourage them into chronicling their own stories.

Readers’ comments are encouraged.  Why not check them out?
www.gingerpost.com/