By Suniti Devi Dasi
Premkishor Das (Dr. Prashant A. Jani), a dedicated member of ISKCON Thunder Bay and Director of the Vedic Cultural Centre, has been awarded the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism 2025. This is one of the highest civilian honors presented by the Government of Ontario. Conferred upon only 20 individuals across the entire province each year, the award recognizes outstanding, long-term contributions to community development through volunteer service.
This prestigious award celebrates Premkishor Das’s tireless efforts over the last 16-plus years in using cultural and spiritual programs to build inclusive, compassionate, and vibrant communities across Northwestern Ontario and beyond. At the heart of his service is the dynamic growth of the Festival of India and Festival of Colours—an annual public celebration of Vedic culture, spiritual music, dance, and prasadam. What began in 2009 with just 60 attendees in Thunder Bay has now grown to serve over 7,000 people annually, with the event becoming a regional highlight for both locals and newcomers.
Under his leadership, these festivals have expanded to reach smaller and often underserved communities such as Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Terrace Bay, Fort Frances, London (Ontario), and most recently, Sydney (Nova Scotia). These events are not only cultural showcases but vehicles of spiritual upliftment, offering kirtan, drama, traditional dance, free vegetarian meals (prasadam), and book distribution—bringing the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and Srila Prabhupada to thousands in remote regions.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/ontario-canada-honors-iskcon-thunder-bay-devotee/
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