Edmonton’s Ian Mathieson has been named as the 2013 CTV Citizen of the Year.
Mathieson, a consultant with the Centre for Race and Culture (CRC), has been acknowledged for his work opening cultural discussions.
“I am somebody who is brought in to help move forward a discussion or a dialogue about cultural diversity or racial equity or inclusion – all of those things,” he told CTV News.
“Our vision as an organization is an inclusive society free of racism.”
He explained that he often worked with groups and individuals in a training and education role.
“When I do training it’s to help people move forward in their understanding of issues like racism, build inter-cultural understanding, build self-awareness, reduce bias, those kinds of things.
“We’re pretty happy when everybody has a little bit of a shift or a change in their attitudes or values. That’s really our goal, to help people move along that spectrum.”
Holding a Master of Arts from Austria’s University of Innsbruck, an MA from the Universidad para la Paz in Costa Rica as well as a Bachelor degree from the University of Alberta, Mathieson said he was very honoured to have been nominated by a former co-worker at the CRC.
“I’m really touched that I was chosen,” he smiled modestly.
The award was handed out during the final day of the Heritage Festival, an event which Mathieson says can help bridge international understanding through discussion.
“I think that is where the real value comes, when you have that moment where you can sit down or stand and talk to somebody about their cultural background and their experiences here in Canada.”
This is the third year the CTV award has been handed out.
It was designed to recognize someone who has worked to promote awareness and understanding for cultural diversity.
