12th Annual L. Ron Hubbard Humanitarian Awards Honor Outstanding Canadians

Toronto,Canada—The Church of Scientology of Canada recently hosted the 12th annual L. Ron Hubbard Humanitarian Awards honoring six exceptional Canadians for service to the community.  More than two hundred guests attended including local and federal officials, police officers, and religious and community leaders.  The awards were presented to:

Dr. Ken and Ms. Emily Ng, Chairman and President of the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM), for providing services to those newly in the country and uniting the Asian community in cooperative social programs.

Ms. Melanie Dickson-Smith, Coordinator of the Church of Scientology’s Drug-Free Marshals program and Civilian Co-Chair of the Toronto Police Services 52 Division Community Police Liaison Committee, for 10 years of community service educating youth on the harmful effects of drugs.

Mr. Zul Kassamali, Vice President of the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada and President of the Toronto Area Interfaith Council, for fighting intolerance and promoting better conditions for the elderly.

A Lifetime Achievement award was presented posthumously to Mr. Kamil Sadiq, Founder of the Canadian Federation of Intercultural Friendship. Ms. Shamim Sadiq accepted the award honoring her husband’s work to bridge ethnic, racial and religious differences. In 2002, Sadiq received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, awarded to Canadians for significant contribution to their fellow citizens.

Also receiving the L. Ron Hubbard Humanitarian Award for Lifetime Achievement was York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge who began his career with York Regional Police in 1973 and has held the position of Chief of Police since December 2002.  Crime rates have declined throughout his tenure as Police Chief and York Region has one of the lowest crime rates in North America. In accepting his award, La Barge said, “we have worked very hard to transform the concept of community policing in York Region from one of an officer walking the beat to one in which the community helps shape and assist police in delivering effective community safety, crime prevention and law enforcement programs.”

The L. Ron Hubbard Humanitarian Awards originated in 1999 to honor individuals whose humanitarian achievements make a difference in society.  For more information on L. Ron Hubbard visit www.lronhubbard.org.