Writing on behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express how thrilled and honoured we are to have Ms. Sylvia Kuzyk join us this year as our keynote speaker for the Youth Parliament of Manitoba’s annual Speaker’s Night gala.
I first had the pleasure of meeting Sylvia at the 2012 YM/YWCA Women of Distinction Awards dinner. It was my good fortune to be seated next to her at a table occupied by several outstanding women who, through the course of their personal lives and careers, have had a positive and long-lasting impact on their communities and various vocational domains. Sylvia immediately struck me as a very kind, genuine, intelligent, caring and committed individual. Her calm demeanour and inviting personality have set her apart from countless others working in the extremely fast paced and competitive news industry.
Sylvia’s passion for community involvement and engagement was always apparent in her work. Her superior public speaking skills, awareness of challenges and issues affecting youth today and advocacy of solutions are only a few of the reasons why she is a fitting keynote speaker for our community event. Her ability to overcome obstacles such as gender stereotypes in the early stages of her career and consistent determination to provide quality news service to her legions of viewers are evidence that Sylvia is both a highly skilled and motivated individual. She is an exceptional leader and role model for the youth of our province, in particular those wishing to pursue a career in journalism and news broadcasting.
Youth Parliament of Manitoba would like to recognize Sylvia’s personal and professional contribution to her community not only as a pioneer of quality journalism but also as an engaged citizen who is committed to fostering an atmosphere of empathy and support in the lives of others.
We are looking forward to hear Sylvia deliver her keynote address on the evening of April 17th. Please consider joining us, or sponsoring a ticket for a YPM member, as it is sure to be a memorable evening. Ticketing and more information can be found at speakersnight.ypmanitoba.ca.
Kamal Dhillon
Deputy Premier (Vice-Chairperson)