Former teen refugee recognized this week for helping immigrants

Five "multicultural champions"werehonoured during an awards galain Vancouver Friday night at the seventh annual British Columbia Multicultural Awards.

The event caps multicultural weekput on by theMinistry of International Trade. One of the youth leadersprofiled thisweek is a former young refugee, whofour years ago, was also given theaward.

Jorge Salazar was just a teenager when he fled his close-knit La Pradera neighbourhood in Medellin, Colombia with his mom, dad, sister and brother, leaving dozens of close friends and family behind.

"These are conversations that we have to have, even though there's a lot of emotions that goes along with them," Salazar said.

In Colombia, his father worked as a human rights researcher with anon-governmental organization (NGO) and his mother was a women's rights activist.

Hisfather'sresearchdrew attention tohuman rights abuses byarmed militiaand as a result he was targeted by right wing paramilitarygroups in the country.

"He was threatened.He was kidnappedand he was released with a warning.Many things like this happened. We felt that if we wanted to stay alive, we had the flee the country," Salazarsaid.

Safety in Canadabut still work to be done

After what he calls a long journey, his family felt asense of safety andrefugein Vancouver.

B.C. accepts close to40,000 new immigrants every year. In 2015, the B.C. government provided nearly $1.7 million to engage cultural groups"to fight racism and discrimination and to promote multiculturalism," according to the Ministry of International Trade.

However, Salazar said he was surprised to find himself facing discrimination and poverty in Canada. He said he was also surprised to learnof human-rights abuses suffered by Canada's Indigenous population.

"I would have never guessed, never guess this was going on here. I really look forward toimmigrants coming here today to learnabout the history and reality of Indigenouspeople today," hesaid.

Today, Salazarworks for theVancouver Foundation asa manager ofa programcalled Fresh Voices. The project works to engage immigrant youth andelected officials to work together on systemic change.

"We need to provideopportunities for all members of this society, in my case immigrants and refugees, to be involved in public policy conversations, regardless of immigrationstatus or cultural backgrounds," Salazarsaid.

He saidthe recognition he got this week from the provincial government is an honourbut also puts the pressure on.

"I feel that I reallyhave to double down on my workto fulfilpeoples' expectations it's really raised expectations," he said.

Salazarwasin attendance at Friday night's event and said he was anxious to hear the names of the five new recipients.

The B.C.government givesawards to individuals and organizationswho usethe artsto break down barriers and unite communities.

Itreceived 146 nominations for the British Columbia Multicultural Awardsin five categories: individual, organization, business, youth and multicultural excellence in government.