United Nurses of Alberta honoured with multiculturalism award

United Nurses of Alberta was honoured with a 2017 Robinson Koilpillai Multiculturalism Award by the Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation at its annual Harmony Brunch in Edmonton on March 19.

UNA Second Vice-President Daphne Wallace was on hand to receive the award for the union’s support of its broadly diverse membership and its contributions to humanitarian missions throughout the world through financial grants to members who provide volunteer medical support abroad.

The organizers also noted UNA’s view that access to Canada’s and Alberta’s publicly funded, publicly operated health care system is an essential right of all Canadian residents regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

“Many people in the province of Alberta are unaware of the important work that UNA does for the protection of human rights and the promotion of multicultural values,” CMEF said. The award was presented by CMEF Vice-President and Harmony Brunch Chair Beryl Scott, a Registered Nurse and tireless UNA activist who retired in 2011.

The award is named for Robinson Koilpillai, teacher, vice-principal and principal with the Edmonton Public School Board, who devoted his life to building bridges among people and cultures. Koilpillai, who was born in Prakasapuram, India, died last year at 92.

UNA represents more than 30,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied health care workers in Alberta. CMEF is an Edmonton-based, non-profit volunteer society engaged in public education and community development. Through its projects and partnerships, CMEF advocates for a wide range of multicultural values and promotes awareness of the opportunities and benefits of Canada’s evolving multicultural society.