Igor Dobrovolskiy Nominated for RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards

Voting ends May 13, 2016
Voting ends May 13, 2016.

Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada Artistic Director and Co-Founder Igor Dobrovolskiy has been nominated for the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards of 2016.  He was shortlisted by a national panel of judges as a Top 75 finalist. This will be the 8th annual RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards program, which is presented by Canadian Immigrant magazine, and sponsored by RBC.

These prestigious awards are about shining a light on inspirational stories of immigrants to Canada. It recognizes inspiring immigrants who have come to Canada, achieved success and made a positive difference living here. Whether it’s a community advocate or volunteer, a successful entrepreneur or a cultural icon, this is the first Canadian national award program that recognizes immigrants’ achievements from all walks of life The awards have seen winners from all walks of life, from entrepreneurs to artists to community volunteers.

Each nomination was inspiring and deserving which made it a challenging task to narrow it down to a shortlist of 75 finalists.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. I moved to Canada 15 years ago from Kiev, Ukraine. I left my home due to the economic collapse of Eastern Europe. I found myself in the small city of Moncton.  I have built a professional ballet company and I have raised my young family here in this new home. I am proud that the work I am doing is being acknowledged nationally,” said Igor Dobrovolskiy. Past winners RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards have included everyone from  Governor General Michaëlle Jean to filmmaker Deepa Mehta to restaurateur Vikram Vij to choreographer Gradimir Pankov.

Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada Igor Dobrovolskiy immigrated to Canada with his wife Yuliia in 2000. He is an award winning director and one of Canada’s most prolific choreographers—having created twelve full length ballets, one one-act ballet and 48 short works to date for Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada. Igor Dobrovolskiy’s creative work catapulted Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, on to the international stage.

Beginning in 2006 Dobrovolskiy’s works created for the company has toured regularly through-out Europe- Belgium, Switzerland, France and Germany and the United States. In 2014 Igor received The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for High Achievement in the Arts. This award recognizes professional artists who have distinguished themselves by the artistic excellence of their achievements and their contribution to the arts in New Brunswick.

Voting is now on to select the top 25 finalists at: http://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/vote. Two other New Brunswickers made the shortlist, Naz Ali restaurateur of Caribbean Flavas in Fredericton and internationally known DJ Nasty Naz, as well as Kumaran Thillaindarajah CEO of Smart Skin, a Fredericton-based startup founded in 2008 that creates pressure-sensitive skin technology with a variety of applications.