NDP celebrates community leaders fighting for racial equity in Ontario at Rosemary Brown Awards

SCARBOROUGH — Today, the Ontario NDP Caucus is presenting the 2025 Rosemary Brown Racial Justice Awards to celebrate the individuals who have demonstrated, and are actively demonstrating, leadership in the fight against racial discrimination and the advancement of equity.

“It would not be possible for me to be the first Bangladeshi-Canadian elected Canada without trailblazers like Rosemary Brown who paved the way. That’s why it is so important to celebrate and empower this generation of trailblazers who carry on her legacy and make Ontario a more equitable place where everyone belongs,” said Ontario NDP Deputy Leader Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest).

In honour of Rosemary Brown, the first Black woman to sit in a Canadian provincial legislature and the first woman to run for the leadership of a federal political party, the awards represent her lifelong fight against sexism, racial inequalities, poverty, both locally, provincially, and globally. The ceremony took take place at the Kennedy Convention Centre in Scarborough, recognizing honourees and bringing together community leaders, activists, and politicians.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles added, “Rosemary Brown was a trailblazer, for Black Canadians, women, and for everyone who has ever dared to imagine a more caring and a more just world.”

“Across Ontario, so many people are doing powerful, courageous work to advance racial justice and human rights. That’s why we named these awards in Rosemary’s Brown’s honour—because her life reminds us that better is possible.

“Tonight is an opportunity to gather and not only celebrate, but also reflect on how we can continue to work together to fight for equity, dismantle racial injustice in Ontario, and lift each other up.”

Below is a list of this year’s honourees:

Amy Go, Lifetime Award

Amy Go is a nationally recognized social justice advocate whose life’s work has focused on advancing equity and immigrant rights. She has spent over 30 years advocating for culturally appropriate care and system change, particularly for immigrant and racialized communities. As a key voice behind redress for the Chinese Head Tax, Amy has been a leader in Canada's anti-racism movement.

Mae Nam, Advocacy Award

Mae Nam is a labour and human rights lawyer and partner at Ryder Wright Blair & Holmes. The daughter of Filipino and Korean immigrants, she represents unions and workers in key labour and Charter cases, including a landmark win for pro-Palestinian student protestors at the University of Toronto. A lifelong organizer, Mae co-founded a support center for Filipina migrant workers and ran as a federal NDP candidate in 2019.

Tanya Talaga, Individual Award

Tanya Talaga is a renowned Anishinaabe and Polish-Canadian journalist, author, and filmmaker dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices. A columnist for The Globe and Mail and former Toronto Star journalist, she is the acclaimed author of Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Relations. Tanya also co-directed a CBC docuseries and founded Makwa Creative, which produces powerful Indigenous-centered media.

Dania Majid, Women Award
Dania Majid is a human rights lawyer and a dedicated advocate for Palestinian and Arab communities in Canada. She is the co-founder and president of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, where she has led groundbreaking work on anti-Palestinian racism. Dania also co-founded the Toronto Palestine Film Festival and has spent over a decade defending housing rights in Ontario.

Wanasah, Group Award
Wanasah is a non-profit mental health agency doing transformative work to address the urgent mental health needs of Black youth and their families in Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods. Rooted in Black and Muslim communities, Wanasah offers free, culturally grounded services and leads initiatives to reshape mental health care with equity and dignity at the core.

Venus Ramos, Youth Award

Venus Ramos is the co-founder and chair of Kabangka, a ground-breaking organization that unites young Filipino/a/x-Canadians and fosters their civic engagement, leadership, and increased representation across Canada. Born in the Philippines and raised in Winnipeg, Venus has been a powerful advocate for youth leadership. She co-founded the Filipino-Canadian Students' Organization at the University of Ottawa and has served as a Parliamentary Affairs Advisor in the Senate of Canada.