Over 1200 people converged in full force on June 9 to celebrate the ‘Best of the Best’ as The Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards and Gala Night at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Downtown Toronto. This premiere social and business event’s theme this year was ‘Engaging Partners, Implementing Strategies’.

The Awards Gala hosted a number of Canada’s influencers who enjoyed a mix of dinner and entertainment, award presentations and speeches. 

Honorable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister for Natural Resources was the Chief Guest for the evening.

Phaneesh Murthy, President and CEO of iGate was the keynote speaker. ICCC President Satish Thakkar talked about ICCC’s efforts over the past 35 years to create a better understanding between Canada and India.

“The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) has worked hard with dedication and strived to create a better understanding of India in Canada and Canada in India, provided unstinted support to India’s causes and concerns in a tangible way, and built close links between India and the Indian Diaspora, and Canada,” said Mr. Thakkar. He has been heading the Chamber for the past year.

“Today, we are the largest and fastest growing bilateral Indo-Canadian organisation in Canada. Both the Canadian and the Indian establishments depend upon our Chamber to be a key facilitator in fostering economic relations. Zeal and enthusiasm are two words that aptly describe our Chamber’s approach during its three-and-a-half decade’s journey from nebulous and tentative beginnings in 1977 to its present august status,” said Mr. Thakkar.

The event recognised prominent Indo-Canadian achievers from across the country in several categories through the evening. These included:

• Female Entrepreneur: Pravina Budhdev, CEO Huntington Travel Group of Companies

• Male Entrepreneur: Harpreet Sethi, CEO, The Grand Victorian Convention Centre and Radisson Plaza in Mississauga                      

• Female Professional: Dr. Madhur Anand, Director of Global Ecological Change Laboratory

• Male Professional: Sunit Radia, William Procter Sales Master, Market Strategy & Planning, Procter & Gamble Inc                              

• Young Achiever: Akash Sahney, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, My Voice

• Technology Achievement: Suneet Singh Tuli and Raja Singh Tuli ofData Wind Ltd                              

• Corporate Executive of the Year: Sriram Iyer, President and CEO, ICICI Bank

• Humanitarian of the Year: Chandrakant Sachdev, President, Rainbow Capital Properties Inc                        

• Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement award: Dr. Pawan Singal, Professor of Physiology and Director of Cardiovascular Studies at St. Boniface Hospital and the Universityof Manitoba, Winnipeg

• President's Award: Preeti Saran, Consul General of India in Toronto        
  

• Member of the Year: Kasi Rao, Senior Advisor, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce