MEDIA ADVISORY
Calgary, ALTA December 7, 2022 – GlobalFest Celebrates Community Achievement with Queen’s Jubilee Award learn more about the community members dedicated to diversity and inclusion in Calgary.
This November, GlobalFest nominated five outstanding community members dedicated to leadership, action, and community in Calgary for the Queen’s Jubilee award. These five individuals have been instrumental in the creation and longevity of GlobalFest and in championing diversity in the city. The Queen’s Jubilee medals were bestowed to the recipients for their incredible service to Calgary and beyond at the GlobalFest holiday celebration.
Ray Charles Lee is the first medal recipient and a pivotal community member. As the son of an immigrant, he became a Citizenship Court Judge and, in turn, brought citizenship ceremonies at Elliston Park, resulting in over 1,000 individuals becoming citizens at GlobalFest. Ray also led numerous efforts to acknowledge Chinese-Canadian immigrant community experiences.
Marietta Pangan is a new Canadian from the Philippines and is a true leader in her community. With a strong belief in volunteerism, community engagement, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion, Marietta has worked tirelessly to bring Filipino representation to Elliston Park.
Dale Perrett has been a volunteer leader with GlobalFest since 2008 and has been an integral part of the team. She is extending support to other community agencies when she is not volunteering or recruiting volunteers for GlobalFest. In fact, as a long-time rotary member, Dale was the first female president and secretary of her Rotary Club. Dale also brought Shelterbox, a global agency that provides emergency relief, to GlobalFest to inform festival-goers about their vital work.
Affectionately known as Big Steve, Stephen Gillette is the longest-standing member of the GlobalFest board of directors and has been a community champion, leader, and volunteer for many years. Stephen’s passion for supporting individuals led him to his fundraising efforts in support of Hospice Calgary. Stephen is an entrepreneur, father, and community champion dedicated to making a difference.
Ken Goosen, chief operations officer of GlobalFest, is a recipient of the Queens Jubilee Award. Ken has been a pillar in the Calgary community for many years. Ken has worn many hats as an active Scout leader for ten years, has sat on numerous boards and school parent associations, both as a volunteer and member, and helped take the Calgary Philharmonic to St. Johns, Newfoundland, to participate in Festival 500. With all of these journeys, Ken always makes it known that the importance of community involvement and engagement remains central to what he does.
GlobalFest is proud to honour these individuals who make our community better every day and look forward to seeing the further development of their initiatives and involvement in the community.
About GlobalFest
GlobalFest is a not-for-profit society dedicated to celebrating and showcasing Calgary’s cultural diversity and artistic excellence within our communities locally and across the globe. We are committed to producing an inclusive, world-class, multi-faceted arts and cultural festival that will enhance Alberta’s reputation as a truly international destination.
For more information, please contact:
Kendra Vanwijk | Marketing and Events Coordinator
P: 403-569-9679 | E: programs@globalfest.ca
