Windmill is proud to announce Uzma Bhutto as the winner of this year’s Windmill Empowerment Award, presented as part of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards from Canadian Immigrant magazine and Western Union. Bhutto was selected from over 100nominations to receive this award in recognition of her exceptional efforts in the service of empowering immigrants and refugees in Canada.
A resident of the Kitchener-Waterloo area, Bhutto has contributed nearly 20 years of knowledge and expertise to organizations addressing critical issues such as women's mental health, immigrant integration and social justice including the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW, where she is Director of Development and Training, KidsAbility and the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region. With this award, we are proud to recognize Bhutto’s exemplary professional and community leadership, which has led to meaningful change and greater economic, social and health supports for immigrant women, whose voices she ceaselessly champions.
Windmill CEO Claudia Hepburn said, "We celebrate Uzma Bhutto for her tireless advocacy for racialized women and immigrants, as her work has transformed countless lives and strengthened community.”
We also extend our congratulations to the finalists for this year’s Windmill Empowerment Award:
- Suman Roya, Founder and Executive Director of Feed Scarborough, a fast-growing food security initiative that serves and supports over 8,500 people, mainly newcomers, with access to groceries every week.
- Shamaila Akram, VP, Vulnerable Population Services, Centre for Newcomers, Calgary, who has been recognized extensively for her profound commitment to community service and dedication to immigrant empowerment and inclusive practices through multiple organizations.
- Joanne Owuor, Co-Founder of the new Uzima Network in Fredericton, dedicated to improving the health and overall well-being of Black and racialized immigrant communities. She is also an active volunteer and mentor supporting immigrants.
- Ousama Alkhatib, Manager of Youth Initiatives and founder of the pilot project “Youth in Design” at World Education Services in Toronto. A refugee himself, Alkhatib engages refugee youth as a counsellor and as Co-Founder of Our Art, Our Stories.
Congratulations to this year’s Windmill Empowerment Award finalists and winner! Read about Uzma Bhutto’s life and career journey on Muslimah Stories, a project of the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW.
