Ramtin Sotoadeh, President, has received recognition from the Right Honorable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, for his inspirational leadership and dedication as a founding member and former President of the IC Network (a mentoring organization, established to assist professional newcomers with obtaining employment).

The Dufferin-Peel Adult Learning Centre awarded Ramtin a certificate of appreciation for his participation in a skills program for foreign-trained professionals.

In 2002, his continuous efforts to support employment for newcomers earned him additional recognition and appreciation from JVS Toronto.

Ramtin Sotoadeh has been active in a wide range of community initiatives, including York Region’s United Way, and York’s peace project: “Peace Tree Garden”.

The Peace Tree Garden shares with other countries and communities its roots in a 2004 film by Mitra Sen, founder of the international Peace Tree Day. The film presents the story of two little girls, one Christian and one Muslim, who dream of celebrating one another’s sacred holidays. The Peace Tree, as an idea, evolves and consequently becomes an emblem of peaceful celebration, shared by all our faiths, symbolizing and promoting unity in diversity.

The strength of this symbol is seen by Mayor David Miller having declared June 1, 2006 as Toronto’s first annual Peace Tree Day. Various regions of the city have already adopted the annual celebration, as have school communities all over the world.

York Region’s Bruce’s Mill began work on its Peace Tree Garden in 2007. The garden plans to bring together plants from global cultures, and showcase a medicine wheel with quotes on it by world peace leaders like Gandhi. Of course, the centerpiece will be the Peace Tree, richly decorated with the religious symbolism of diverse cultures, signifying the different ways to one peace.