Delegate awards
Honourable Mention - Ellen Fairclough Award
Ellen Fairclough was the first female federal cabinet minister in Canada and became secretary of state. She introduced a bill for equal pay for equal work as well as advocating for equal opportunity. She was also a part in the creation of the Department of Women's Labour Bureau. Later she worked in the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and then became postmaster general. However, Fairclough did not stop after her work in politics, she went on to be a senior executive in a trust company, then a chairman of Hamilton Hydro. Finally, Ellen Fairclough career ended off with her as Treasurer in the Zonta international women's group. Ellen Fairclough led a very successful life in politics all while using her platform to encourage gender equality. Her work was very impressive which is why we would like to give this award to someone who, like Fairclough, is definitely worth mentioning. |
Best Novice - Shannen Koostachin Award
Shannen Koostachin was a youth activist that dedicated herself to improving the quality of schools and education on First Nations reserves. Having grown up in Attawapiskat, Shannen attended school at a run down building that was eventually forced to shut down due to diesel fuel contamination. In protest of the horrible conditions, Shannen helped launch the Attawapiskat School Campaign. The students of the campaign urged Canadian children to write to the federal government and demand better education for First Nations kids. In response, thousands of letters flooded Ottawa. Shannen took her new role in stride, speaking at numerous conferences and to thousands of people as an advocate for better Indigenous education. In 2010, Shannen passed away in a car accident, but her memory lives on through Shannen’s Campaign, the collective effort to establish high quality education in all Indigenous communities. As a young advocate, Shannen embodied all the qualities that an exemplary novice delegate should have. Despite being new to advocacy, she overcame the challenges of inexperience and brought thousands into her community’s movement. The Shannen Koostachin Award will be given to the best novice delegate, reminding us that you do not need to be experienced and advantaged to affect change. |
Best Advocacy - Bayard Rustin Award
Bayard Rustin, born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, was a civil rights activist and advocate of pacifism. He used a combination of methods to fight against the discrimination he was faced with; such as the pacifism of the Quaker religion, the non-violence resistance inspired by Mahatma Ghandiji, and socialism adopted by A. Phillip Randolph. Rustin’s story is much more than that, during World War II he worked for Randolph to fight racial discrimination in war-related hiring. He was also arrested for two years for refusing to register to be drafted in the war. In North Carolina, Rustin was arrested and sentenced to labour for weeks with a chain gang after he took part in protests against the segregated transportation system. Later, in 1953, Rustin was caught publicly involved in homosexual activity and was jailed for 60 days. Yet that does not stop him from living as an openly gay man. Bayard Rustin also worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and played an important role in creating the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He assisted King and suggested ways to cause civil disobedience. He spoke publicly and brought attention and awareness to economic equality within the Civil Rights Movement along with right for gays and lesbians. This award will be presented to the delegate who, like Bayard Rustin, thinks the most creatively, demonstrates and stands by their ideas the best, and has admirable speaking skills. |
Best Delegate - Roméo Dallaire Award
Perhaps one of the most well-known figures of the Canadian armed forces, Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire commanded the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda both prior to and during the Rwandan Genocide. When the UN ordered all peacekeeping troops to leave Rwanda, Dallaire remained along with a contingent of Ghanian and Tunisian soldiers to fulfill the obligation that the United Nations should have -- protecting those seeking refuge from violence and bloodshed. For his service and courage, Dallaire was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, the United States Legion of Merit, and the Aegis Award on Genocide Prevention. However, Roméo Dallaire is not only a military man. After being medically discharged, he became an advocate and humanitarian, founding the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, spotlighting his own struggle with PTSD, and confronting the global community with its inaction during the Rwandan Genocide. The 'best delegate' award will be presented to the delegate who, like Roméo Dallaire, demonstrates the most holistic qualities of leadership, diplomacy, advocacy, and action. |
Best Delegation - Yashod Ramsaha Award
Yashod Ramsaha was the first Secretary General of CPSS MUN, when the club officially first started in the school year of 2015-2016. Yashod has spent his first studying at the University of British Columbia, and is now studying at Ryerson University for a degree in Political Science. He is currently doing some Humanitarian work with Professors Enns (from Ryerson), designing online course material for impoverished children in refugee camps in impoverished nations. CPSS Model United Nations recognizes and commemorates his hard work in Humanitarian studies, thus naming Yashod after the Best Delegation award. The best delegation award will be presented to the school that has the best performance overall. The award to the best delegation, doesn't necessarily mean that the school has won the most awards, it focuses on their overall performance; which school shone the brightest during the conference.
Yashod Ramsaha was the first Secretary General of CPSS MUN, when the club officially first started in the school year of 2015-2016. Yashod has spent his first studying at the University of British Columbia, and is now studying at Ryerson University for a degree in Political Science. He is currently doing some Humanitarian work with Professors Enns (from Ryerson), designing online course material for impoverished children in refugee camps in impoverished nations. CPSS Model United Nations recognizes and commemorates his hard work in Humanitarian studies, thus naming Yashod after the Best Delegation award. The best delegation award will be presented to the school that has the best performance overall. The award to the best delegation, doesn't necessarily mean that the school has won the most awards, it focuses on their overall performance; which school shone the brightest during the conference.