聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 An immigrant who is working as a continuing care aid at the Gateway Lodge has been honoured for her generous nature by being named immigrant of the year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Melinda Sevilla was celebrated at the Second Biennial Immigration of Distinction Awards Ceremony at the Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton on November 19, and received the Partners in Immigration and Integration (PII) Immigrant of the Year Award due to her hard work in her occupation and in volunteer opportunities.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She attended the event with many family members and friends including Ken and Linda Rolheiser and Laurie Tomcalla of Canora.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Despite being celebrated for warm generosity, Sevilla seemed to be the most grateful for being honoured with the award.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 think the first word that comes to mind is 鈥榞rateful,鈥欌�� said Sevilla.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sevilla was grateful to many people, particularly her family, which consists of her partner Stewart Doan and her two daughters, Hannah and Hannelle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really great and patient,鈥� she said of her daughters, adding that she has been told by many people how understanding her girls are. 鈥淲hen I take people in and give them a place to stay, I always ask my daughters first.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She remembered and was grateful towards her parents and three brothers, who she said taught her well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sevilla mentioned that 鈥渙f course鈥� she is grateful to God, for 鈥済iving me the opportunity to experience the gift of life.鈥� Her faith encourages her to take part in the duty of being kind to others.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sevilla also acknowledged the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church鈥檚 parish, which she joined upon moving to Canora in 2008 and which she served in as a youth minister and now as a youth group co-ordinator. The parish recognized Sevilla鈥檚 award during a mass on November 27.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Parkland Filipino Canadian Association, of which Sevilla has been president since 2013, was another group to which she expressed gratitude.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have an amazing Filipino community in Canora that makes me consider the great roots we have. This award is a reminder that no matter what challenges we face, we can truly make a difference,鈥� Sevilla said. The Association received the Immigrant Group of the Year Award at the event.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Aside from a symbol of gratitude, Sevilla considers the award to be an 鈥渁ffirmation that I did great things,鈥� she said, and as an inspiration as she continues her journey, which she stated was certainly difficult.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sevilla came to Canada in 2003 under the live-in caregiver program, according to her biography from Yorkton Partners in Immigration and Integration. It took her five years to receive permanent residency after working at various nursing homes in Estevan, Yorkton and Kamsack. She was finally reunited with her family when she moved to Canora in October of 2008.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hen I left for Canada, my youngest daughter was five months old. The next time I saw her, she was six,鈥� said Sevilla to indicate the hardships she had to face.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is perhaps these challenges that made her more inclined to give generously since starting her life in Canora.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy for me to give because I remember not having anything. I don鈥檛 wait for recognition; I just want to give back.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Despite being busy with work and raising her two daughters, Sevilla spends her spare time helping newcomers in any way she can, said the biography. She often offers her home to those in need and provides financial help for those going through crises.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f someone knocks on the door, I will always say 鈥榶es,鈥欌�� she said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sevilla is 鈥渢ouched鈥� that she received this award as acknowledgement for making a difference. 鈥淭his is something that can鈥檛 be bought,鈥� she said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sevilla is now the Filipino community鈥檚 biggest supporter and advocate and serves as an inspiration to many of the Filipinos in the region, according to the biography.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As an immigrant, Sevilla knows that it 鈥渢akes a lot of courage鈥� to show one鈥檚 true self when arriving in a new community, but she said she is inspired to continue with her efforts.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淜indness is free. Hopefully the Canora community will learn to never stop trying to make a difference.鈥�
