Canadian Ethnic Media Association unveils award winners for 36th Annual Gala, June 20th

TORONTO, June 17, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) will present its 36th Annual Awards Gala, at 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 20^th at the Velma Rogers Graham Theatre, 333 Bloor Street East, Toronto.

Each year, through this gala event, CEMA recognizes and celebrates excellence in media, while also acknowledging Canadian Multiculturalism Day, held annually in June.

Rogers Media talents Lucy Zilio and Kenneth Li will co-host the evening which, as always, will feature diverse entertainment.

OMNI Television will tape and produce for broadcast a one hour special presentation for air on Sunday July 27^th, 2014.  Local times are as follows: 

Station	Time
OMNI.1	9pm ET
OMNI.2	7pm ET
OMNI Alberta	9pm MT
OMNI BC	9pm PT

"We are privileged to honour colleagues who are devoted to serving and reflecting the diverse audiences of this country," says Madeline Ziniak, Chair of CEMA and National Vice President of OMNI Television. "This year's submissions reinforce the critical importance of Canadian ethnocultural media in presenting community perspective on contemporary issues."

CEMA Award Winners for 2014 are:

PRINT - MATTHEW KWONG, Freelance Journalist
For his engaging story published in the Toronto Star on Black Ontario students finding their heritage at a U.S. College.

RADIO - MYKA BURKE, Journalist, CHIN Radio - Ottawa
For the compelling feature "Climbing Canadian Mountains – Swiss Style", broadcast on CHIN's German Language Radio Show.

TELEVISION – NEWS SERIES - JASVIR SINGH SHAMEEL, Reporter, OMNI Television
For an analytical six-part series about auto insurance in Ontario on OMNI News: Punjabi Edition.

TELEVISION – DOCUMENTARY - ARAF MOHAMMADI, Documentary Maker
For the very touching TV documentary "Survivor from Magadan", about a survivor who spent 10 years in Stalin's labour camps.

TELEVISION - HARNARYAN SINGH, Host and Play-by-Play Commentator
For CBC's Hockey Night in Canada in Punjabi, a groundbreaking language hockey broadcast.

INNOVATION AWARD - DUNCAN McCUE, Journalist, CBC News, The National
For his trailblazing work associated with the delivery and development of the journalism program at the University of British Columbia, and the "Reporting In Indigenous Communities" (RIIC) website.

SIERHEY KHMARA ZINIAK AWARD - PHIL LIND, Vice-Chair, Rogers Communications
For dedication to Multiculturalism and its expression through the medium of television.

The Sierhey Khmara Ziniak Award, named for CEMA's founder, is presented annually to an outstanding individual who, through his or her work, has spoken for Canadian multiculturalism.

About CEMA: The Canadian Ethnic Media Association, formerly known as the Canadian Ethnic Journalists and Writers Club, was founded in 1978 as an inclusive organization for print, radio television and the Internet. CEMA publishes a website at: www.canadianethnicmedia.com.

SOURCE: Canadian Ethnic Media Association

Media Contacts: Jules Elder -[phone]; Email: [email protected]; Bill Yancoff - 416-250-6605; Email: [email protected]