Celebrating Inclusive Leadership: The 2025 Inclusion Champions Awards Gala
- ICC
- Oct 14
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 4
A Night of Recognition and Celebration
On September 18th, 2025, Calgary became a vibrant hub of celebration, honoring diversity and inclusion champions at the 2025 Inclusion Champions Awards Gala. This year marked a significant achievement, as the gala recognized three remarkable individuals with the Lifetime Inclusive Leadership Award, honored 22 Inclusive Leaders, and celebrated 12 Inclusive Organizations. The evening transcended a typical awards ceremony; it was a joyous gathering of those passionately committed to building a more inclusive society.
The evening began at 4:30 PM with a warm welcome cocktail reception. Guests enjoyed drinks and light snacks while creating meaningful connections with others who share the same vision for inclusion.
The Land Acknowledgement presented by Rae-Chelle Faith Hamilton, Public Relations Director of the Immigrant Champions of Canada (ICC), served as a moving reminder of the historical context of the land and the vital recognition of Indigenous communities.
At precisely 6:05 PM, Alex Lutzko, the Director of JEADI at ICC, took to the stage to deliver an impactful welcome address. His engaging words emphasized how inclusion should permeate every aspect of society. The room buzzed with excitement and anticipation for the inspiring narratives set to unfold.
Shortly after, a captivating entertainment segment added a light-hearted touch to the evening. This brief interlude underscored that while the gala was a formal event, it was also a celebration of creativity and community spirit.
The Inclusion Address
At 6:25 PM, the audience listened intently as Eve Aboka, President and Executive Director of ICC, delivered the Inclusion Address. With her compelling call to action, she urged attendees to become advocates for inclusivity in their own neighborhoods, workplaces, and philanthropic efforts. Eve's deep passion resonated through the audience, prompting many to reflect on their unique roles as champions and ambassadors for change.
The gala then transitioned smoothly into the awards presentation, the focal point of the evening. The highlight arrived with the presentation of the Lifetime Inclusive Leadership Awards. This year, three extraordinary individuals were honored for their lifelong dedication to promoting inclusivity. Award presenters, Calgary Foothills MLA, Honourable Court Ellingson, Calgary Foundation's Vice President Finance, Craig March, and Bow Valley College's CEO Mr. Misheck Mwaba, shared touching anecdotes about each honoree, highlighting their significant contributions to the community, such as establishing mentorship programs for marginalized youth that have transformed the lives of over 500 participants. Dispersing funding that sustains non-profit organizations and coaching small business owners to achieve entrepreneurial success.
Inclusive Lifetime Leadership Award Recipients
Kene Ilochonwu, K.C. - Co-Founder - Calgary Black Chambers
Born and raised in Nigeria, Kene earned his law degree from Abia State University, obtained licensure through the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, and completed a Master of Laws (LL.M) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. In 2020, Kene made history as the first Black Bencher elected to the Law Society of Alberta in its 113-year existence. As a Bencher, he is responsible for governance through board and committee meetings and for adjudication in hearings related to conduct, admission, and other regulatory matters.
Some of the important work includes the Law Society of Alberta acknowledgment of the existence and impact of systemic discrimination within the justice system and legal profession. He introduced part-time membership fees to provide greater flexibility for lawyers with lower incomes or those leaving the profession. This initiative resulted in an increase in retention among lawyers who might otherwise have left the profession. Additionally, there are more resources and supports for indigenous lawyers, internationally trained lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities.
Kene is motivated to pursue innovative ways for the legal profession to facilitate greater access to justice and maintain relevance for lawyers. Beyond his work with the Law Society, Kene extends his passion for equity into community initiatives. He is the co-founder and board member of the Calgary Black Chambers (CBC). Since 2020, the CBC has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to about 80 Black students and mentored over 300 students to date.
Kene is also committed to supporting others through volunteerism. He mentors immigrants, Canadian-trained law students, and internationally trained lawyers through the Global Lawyers of Canada and Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. He recently served on the Government of Alberta Foreign Credentials Advisory Committee. This committee reviewed Alberta’s legislation, regulations, and processes related to foreign credential recognition for internationally trained professionals, with a focus on identifying barriers and recommending improvements in sectors facing current or anticipated labour shortages.
Eva Friesen - Executive Director - Calgary Foundation
Under your leadership, what achievements at the Calgary Foundation stand out most to you?
Achieving the milestone of granting $1 billion to the community is pretty special.
What first drew you to the Calgary Foundation, and what has kept you motivated to serve there for so many years?
The mission and vision, the commitment of the Board, and the opportunity to impact ALL parts of the community were what attracted me to the Foundation. My past roles impacted human welfare (through the YWCA) and health. This was an opportunity to create a broader impact. What keeps me motivated to serve, why I love my job, can be summed up by two things:
Incredible stories of impact of the people in the charitable sector working hard to solve problems and make this community great. So many skilled, exceptional, and passionate people work in the community. It is humbling. There is no end to the good we can do.
The people I get to work with from the amazingly generous people who give of their wealth because they want to make a difference in an area they care deeply about, to the volunteers, board and committee members who give selflessly of their time to advance our mission, and the staff team that bring their enthusiasm and skills and sense of humor and make every day in the office a pleasure.
How do you define inclusive leadership, and how have you practiced it throughout your career?
To me, this means recognizing and valuing all perspectives, inviting diverse opinions/points of view, knowing that many perspectives and different ways of thinking will lead to the best outcome. It also recognizes that wisdom lies in all parts of an organization, not just the top of the org chart. Inclusive leadership allows and invites all wisdom to come forward and be shared. I do my best to practice those principles.
What lessons have you learned about leading people, organizations, and communities during times of crisis or change?
People care and want to contribute and have the skills and knowledge to solve problems brought on by crisis (2013 flood and the pandemic are just two examples). Sometimes the best leadership is stepping aside and allowing others to do, removing the obstacles in the way of people getting the job done.
Leadership often comes with challenges. What have been some of your most difficult moments in your role, and how did you navigate them?
The biggest challenges have presented themselves when there was misalignment with mission and values. I have learned it is critical to get the ‘right people on the bus’ (to quote Stephen Covey) whether it is in a volunteer or staff role, people who understand and care about the mission and share the values of the organization. When a misalignment is discovered, redirecting someone to a more appropriate bus is not a failure; it is an essential corrective step and usually good for both parties. Sometimes we need to free people to be their best self in another role.
What personal values guide your decisions as a leader?
Integrity is important to me; walking the talk, actions being in alignment with what I say. Compassion and empathy are important. People matter most. No one is an island. Little is achieved without others.
Excellence/quality, hard work, and doing one’s best are important to me. If it’s not worth doing well, it’s not worth doing at all.
Commitment, responsibility, and accountability are important. These elements build trust in a team.
Humility matters; there is always more to learn; learning is never complete.
Dr. Dele Ajele - Co-Executive Director - BNI Alberta South
A certified executive coach, business coach, and consultant with over a decade of experience supporting leaders and entrepreneurs to reach their highest potential. As the co-Executive Director and franchise owner of BNI Alberta South, a regional franchise of the world’s largest business networking organization, he combines his coaching expertise with deep business acumen to help individuals and organizations grow with purpose and clarity.
Dele is married to his university sweetheart, Moji, who is also his business partner. They recently celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary a few days ago and are very thankful for the privilege of a joyful life journey together. Dele and Moji are blessed with four amazing children who are all grown and doing well on their own. They are their pride and joy. They have also been doubly blessed with two grandchildren who have been such a thrill and a great source of laughter.
Dele is passionate about empowering his clients to gain clarity and take results-oriented action. His coaching is grounded in the belief that clarity fuels confidence, and confidence leads to meaningful progress. He also works closely with teams, focusing on maximizing the power of collaboration. Dele believes that when a team fosters a healthy, collaborative culture, its potential far exceeds the sum of its individual members’ capabilities. Dele is deeply committed to his clients' success. He serves as a trusted partner on their journey, walking alongside them as they navigate change, embrace growth, and realize their vision. Whether working with individual leaders or entire teams, Dele brings clarity, compassion, and a results-driven approach to every engagement.
He holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University and is a certified coach in Positive Intelligence Quotient (PQ), equipping him to support both mindset and behavioral transformation. Dele also brings a strong analytical foundation to his work, having earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Dalhousie University. Prior to his coaching career, he practiced as a professional engineer for almost twenty years, working across diverse sectors with his expertise in heat transfer engineering. In 2004, Dele led an energy conservation project for the company he worked for that resulted in a national Energy Efficiency Award by the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC).
Dele is committed to giving back and has served in various volunteer roles as a public speaker, instructor, mentor, and board member. He served as a volunteer instructor with the Alberta Board Development program (2014-2016) and currently the chair of the board of directors of ICC, the treasurer of the board of directors of Alberta Mennonite Brethren Conference, and a mentor with the Scholars Academy students’ program at the University of Calgary.
Inclusive Leadership Awards
The gala proceeded into more awards presentation for Inclusive Leadership Awards and Inclusive Organizational Awards. Angelah Kusero, a well-respected leader in the Calgary Employment community, presented the Leadership Awards alongside Paula Calderon, Executive Director at Canadian Immigrant Women Association (CIWA). Each recipient demonstrated remarkable dedication to creating inclusive environments in various sectors. For example, one awardee, who has pushed for multilingual support services in public schools, has improved access to education for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds, increasing enrollment by 25 percent.
Inclusive Leadership Award Recipients
Sarah French
Cynthia Okafor
Jae Lee
Cynthia Shi
Jasmine Enaibe
Lizette Tejada
Neil Gonsalves
Angelah Flaman
Juliette Omonigho
10. Stephen Wright
11. Brian Lanier
12. Nketti Johnston-Taylor
13. Njide-Harris-Eze
14. Dennis Agbegha
15. Dr. Chika Daniels
16. Umair Khan
17. Lilian Lum
18. Nomso Nnadi
19. Raechelle-Faith Hamilton
20. Alisa Zavialova
21. Milton Ortega
22. Rehana Malik-Mbanga
Inclusive Organization Awards
Next, the Organizational Awards celebrated businesses that have actively promoted inclusive workplaces. Moji Ajele presented these awards, emphasizing that companies must fully commit to advancing diversity efforts. One recipient, a settlement organization, reported that their inclusive hiring practices have led to a 40% increase in employee satisfaction as well as a 15% boost in productivity and participant satisfaction.
Inclusive Organization Recipients
Foot In the Door Initiative
Action Dignity
Immigrant Outreach Society
Bridge To Oasis Foundation
The Family Advocates
The Moji Taiwo Learning Foundation
Wings of Hope for Africa
Struggle Is Your Success
Canada Immigrant Women Association
10. Calgary African Community Collective
11. Hands Lifting Hearts Association
12. Flavours Restaurant
As the awards ceremony concluded, the audience erupted in applause, a powerful acknowledgment of the honorees' achievements. The closing remarks by Marcia Gervais, the Director of Partnerships at ICC, served as a perfect wrap-up, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in making the gala a success.
The evening culminated with a joyful group photo session on the main stage, capturing the essence of unity and celebration. The smiles exchanged among recipients, board members, and volunteers shone with the spirit of collaboration that the gala aimed to promote.
The 2025 Inclusion Champions Awards Gala was not merely an event; it represented a movement toward a more inclusive future. It highlighted that every individual has a role in creating an environment where everyone feels valued. The stories shared, awards presented, and connections made amplified the message of teamwork and collaboration essential for promoting inclusivity. We would be doing the public an injustice if we didn't share about the excellent dance moves from Inclusion Champions as seen below.
Looking ahead, the impact of the 2025 Inclusion Champions Awards Gala will surely resonate within Calgary and beyond. The Gala remains a rallying call for all to champion inclusion in our daily lives and build a world where everyone has the opportunity to flourish, regardless of their background.
Ultimately, the 2025 Inclusion Champions Awards Gala celebrated remarkable achievements, showcased exemplary leadership, the unanticipated dance moves, and reaffirmed ICC's commitment to creating a more inclusive society. The stories of award recipients will motivate future generations to embrace inclusion while ensuring that diversity or our Canadian multiculturalism is always celebrated and appreciated.
Let’s carry forward the spirit of this gala; let's keep advocating for inclusion in our communities and beyond. For advocacy is how we make a meaningful difference.
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