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Ginger Gosnell-Myers, a member of the Nisga’a and Kwakwak'awakw Nations, Indigenous Fellow with the Centre, and the City of Vancouver’s first Indigenous Relations Manager is nominated in the Reconciliation in Action category for over 20 years of work with Indigenous communities, especially in decolonization and urban Indigenous planning. She has done an exceptional job of reframing public understanding of urban Indigenous realities and creating ways for Indigenous knowledge to be incorporated in urban planning and capital development projects. Her award-winning work has changed the City of Vancouver, playing an integral role in making it the first official City of Reconciliation, advancing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ensuring that Vancouver’s urban identity respects, includes and reflects Indigenous relationships, culture and identity. Gosnell-Myers is currently the Chairperson for Greenpeace Canada and is in high demand as a speaker at provincial, national and international events.

Amina Yasin, Director of Public Hearings and Planning and the Renovate the Public Hearing initiative, Fellow at the Centre, and Co-Chair Commissioner of the Vancouver City Planning Commission is nominated in the non-profit category for her contributions and commitment to building equity in public space planning. An award-winning urban planner and community advocate, her work in land use, affordable housing development and urban planning has consistently centred equity, the uplifting of Black women and girls, disability justice and human rights. As commissioner, she helped established the Justice, Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion subcommittee, which reviews planning inequities and organizes community engagement panels. In addition to her work at the Centre, Yasin works and advocates on various boards, committees and commissions, and is often quoted and featured as an urban planning expert.

In addition to their nomination, each nominee is eligible to receive the Connecting the Community Award, which is decided by public vote, open until April 12. Award recipients will be announced at the Women of Distinction Awards Gala on May 9, 2023. Tickets to the gala are on sale now. You can  and  online.