Halifax, NS -  GO, presented by FUSION Halifax,  is a celebration of young movers, shakers, and difference makers in Halifax. Peer-nominated and peer-driven, nine outstanding individuals will be recognized for inspiring change in Halifax in 2011.

The awards, hand crafted by NovaScotian Crystal, will be presented at the gala event, themed ‘Celebrating our City’s History’, on October 1, 2011 at the World Trade and Convention Centre.

“It is important that we, as future innovators, take the time to understand the long journey that Halifax underwent to become the great city it is today,” says Monica Njoku, Chair, 2011 GO Awards. “We want to connect our current leaders with our past leaders who, like the nine award winners, did something extraordinary in their everyday lives.”

2010 marked the inaugural year for the signature FUSION Halifax event with more than 250 guests, 20 sponsors, and 26 finalists on hand at the sold out event.

“The GO awards brought together young leaders, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters; you could feel the energy, the new ideas to create more momentum in our city,” says Jennifer Berry, Chair of FUSION Halifax. “There are people out there everyday who make a difference and we want to hear from those who notice and appreciate that passion.”

Nominations for this year’s awards open today, June 6 and close August 5.  All categories are designed to recognize people ages 20 to 40, except for the Metropolitan and Urban Design awards, which are open to all HRM residents.  Companies may also be nominated for the Urban Design award and a person can be nominated in more than one category. Information and an online form are available at www.fusionhalifax.ca/go . 
 
The 2011 GO Award categories are:

FUSION Member of the Year: Recognizes a member who embodies the spirit of FUSION Halifax – and inspires others to make their city a better place to live, work and play.

Humanitarian Award: Recognizes someone who has made a large impact in Halifax by voluntarily giving of his or her time and talents to benefit the city.

Urban Design Award: Recognizes someone who works to engage all partners in forward thinking dialogue to create a vibrant, sustainable and enjoyable city through smart urban design and development.

Ignite Award: Recognizes someone who inspires interest and partnership in arts and culture in HRM.
 
Health and Wellness Award: Recognizes someone who is passionate about health and wellness. They motivate, engage and represent overall health and wellness.

Newcomer Award: Recognizes a newcomer to Canada who been in the country less than five years (as of December 31, 2011) and made a progressive impact to Halifax.
         
Sustainability Award: Recognizes someone who lives, works, and plays in an environmentally sustainable manner, while educating and engaging others.

Innovation Award: Recognizes someone who has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurship, or intrapreneurship, in a product, service, or efficiency, created inside or outside of your organization.

Metropolitan Award: Recognizes a Haligonian who is a city promoter of overall progress, prosperity, success and wellness for Halifax.

Sponsors to date include: Nova Scotia Come to Life, Nova Scotia Business Inc., World Trade and Convention Centre, McInnes Cooper, Globe and Mail, 101.3 The Bounce, Haligonia.ca, NovaScotian Crystal, Fusion Print, Michelle Doucette Photography, Office Interiors, and Ticket Atlantic.

For information on becoming a GO sponsor, contact fusionhalifax.ca
 
About FUSION Halifax:

FUSION Halifax is an organization created by and for young people who are inspired to make their city a better, more sustainable place to live, work and play. Through its nearly 2,500 members, volunteer committees and dynamic networks, FUSION Halifax showcases existing opportunities - and unleashes new ones - that encourage civic and community engagement.

FUSION runs on the strength and energy of volunteers and with the generous support of organizations like Nova Scotia Come to life. For more information or to join FUSION Halifax for free, visit www.fusionhalifax.ca.

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For more information please contact:

Heather Lavers
Director of Communications
FUSION Halifax
(902) 219-1487
fusionhalifax.ca