Anti-Racism data Legislation – Engagement session
By: Ms.Rabia Dastgir
On Dec 9th, the Pakistani Canadian Women’s Society in collaboration with Surrey Women’s Centre organized a dinner for community members, in Taste of Lahore restaurant Surrey, in which almost 50 persons include MLA Rachna Singh were present. This event was to engage on questions regarding Race-based data collection. A brief introduction about Race-Based Data and its importance was given. It was also explained how the data will be collected and used by the Government. Attendees were informed that their participation in the survey was voluntary, and that consent could be withdrawn at any moment. The attendees were divided into 6 focus groups, each group had 8-9 members including a facilitator further described below.
SMale, South Asian (Pakistani origin) between age 40-70 ranging income bracket (20k-150k annually)
Male, (Pakistani, Philippines, Syrian) between age 30-50 ranging income bracket (30k-200k annually)
Females, (Pakistani, Iranian) between age 30-55 ranging income bracket (30k-80k annually)
Females, (Pakistani origin) between age 40-65 ranging income bracket (30k-200k annually)
Males and Females (Pakistani Muslims) Age range 45-60 income bracket (40-100k annually)
Females, (Pakistani Origin) between age 35-50 income bracket (3580k annually) Of the 50 attendees, most of them completed the questionnaire during the session.
URREY Hospitals Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Azra Hussain and her daughter Hebah Hussaina have both been recognized in the 2021 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award, presented by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) recognizing 105 outstanding women across Canada, who advocate for workforce diversity and inspire tomorrow’s leaders.
For the first time in Canadian history, a mother and daughter team has won their respective WXN categories. Surrey-based Azra Hussain and Hebah Hussaina were presented with the KPMG C-Suite Executives and the RBC Future Launch Future Leaders awards respectively. The Top 100 Awards span the private, public and not-forprofit sectors, with the winners selected by WXN’s Diversity Council of Canada. “Azra is a committed and visionary leader, whose strategic mindset and professional business acumen has been integral to Surrey Hospital Foundation’s growth. Her original, innovative research has propelled our relationships with our donors, partners and communities to ensure every dollar the Foundation receives has the greatest impact on the betterment of community health,” says Jane Adams, President and CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “We are so incredibly proud of Azra and her daughter’s achievements. It is such a great female empowerment story to have a winning motherdaughter team who show strength, resilience and fearlessness to inspire more women in the generations to come.”
Azra is a gifted leader, bringing more than 20 years of executive experience to her role as Chief Operating Officer at the Foundation. With her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) professional designations, Azra brings a unique skill set to her responsibilities of financial oversight, fundraising, talent management and operations to the Foundation. She also believes in lifelong learning and advancing the power of collaboration that allows for innovation and advancement at both an individual and team level. She sits on the Board of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver and
1. Geographic: South Asian
2. Country of Origin: Pakistan
3. Religion: Islam
Aside from this, the majority of participants preferred to be classed under the country of origin and language as a major marker of cultural background for a specific need to have more facilities available to them in their own language.
Next Event: Scheduled for December 18th, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), volunteers with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s (AHP) International Conference Committee and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Task Force, Surrey Board of Trade’s Women In Business team and the local Tax Clinic to assist low-income groups with their annual personal tax filing.
Born in India, Azra’s story spans from immigration, integration to an inclusion journey. Her unwavering courage to overachieve and excel, give back to the community, and become a role model for young future leaders continues to inspire many including her two children, both of whom are already experienced TEDx speakers. Her life’s story has built the base for her commitment to being a role model in resilience.
“My father instilled in me the importance of charity and giving back to our communities, and it’s a virtue that I’ve taken with me throughout my career including my work at the Foundation,” says Azra. “It is an honour, privilege and incredibly proud mom moment to be part of the same awards as my daughter; to see her make her own successes and achievements by being a positive influence and making a difference in the path she takes.” In 2015 at the age of 15, Azra’s daughter Hebah started the Youth for Care initiative, a not-for-profit youth group that organizes fundraisers and raises awareness for Surrey Memorial Hospital, and fosters connections between youth and the hospital. Now, at the age of 22 with a BSc Integrated Science degree from UBC, Hebah is already a TEDx and BC Tech Summit speaker, community leader and advocate, who is passion