Surrey, B.C.
Outstanding role models recognized for contributions to community
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
A Filipina-Canadian singer was awarded as one of Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25 for her contributions to the work of a non-profit organization that promotes global peace.
Glisha Nadine Dela Cruz, an audio engineer, singer/songwriter, was among those who was picked by the Surrey Board of Trade among the nominated business and community-minded people under the age of 25, either working in Surrey or working on a business or community-related project in Surrey.
The top 25 winners are annually recognized as role models for their community. This year, the awards reception was held on May 3, 2023 and featured multi-talented storyteller and media personality George Stromboulopoulos as the guest speaker.
Global Peace Alliance BC nominated Dela Cruz, 22.
“It was actually the Global Peace Alliance that nominated me this year and I have been volunteering with them and performing for them since 2016. They’re a non-profit organization and they host all these events just to uplift and encourage the idea of bringing peace to our world and that is always something that inspired me. So I’m just very grateful as well to be nominated by them,” Dela Cruz told Omni News in an interview.
Dela Cruz is the daughter of Filipino Canadian National Congress President, advocate, leader and real estate professional Narima Dela Cruz.
“Our diamond of a daughter, audio engineer and singer/songwriter Glisha will be awarded as one of Surrey’s TOP 25 UNDER 25 by the Surrey Board of Trade, 11 yrs after our son Daryl was also named one (and was then the youngest amongst awardees at age 16). My husband Joel and I have been greatly blessed and utterly gratified; and are always humbled to have been bringing pride and honor through the years to the communities around us,” Narima wrote in a Facebook post.
This year’s winners are the following:
1. Amadea de Wit, Alivio Technologies and SFU Mechatronics System Engineering, 21
2. Anmol Sandhu, The Red Badge Foundation, 20
3. Armaan Dhillon, Kwantlen University Student Association, 21
4. Colton Sandberg, Cove-Healthy Living Service Hub/Surrey Mobilization and Resiliency Table, 25
5. Ekam Panesar, DishPal Restaurant Services Corp, 21
6. Finn Liu, Fraser Heights Secondary School, 16
7. Glisha Nadine Dela Cruz, Audio Engineer, Singer/Songwriter, Global Peace Alliance BC, 22
8. Gurleena Sukhija, Anti-Prejudice Project, 17
9. Helen Sofia Pahaou, Simon Fraser Student Society, 25
10. Huzaifa Wahla, Coolares, 23
11. Ishaan Kohli, SkyAcres Agrotechnologies Inc, 24
12. Ishant Goyal, Freshslice Pizza and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 22
13. Jasmeen Kaur Sran, BC’s Childhood Cancer Society, 18
14. Jasmine Broeder, Surrey Pride Society, 24
15. Joban Sran, A Second Chance- Harm Reduction Society, 24
16. Madison Fleischer, Slava Sweatshirts Inc., 23
17. Monika Jandu, Young Minds Exploring Science, 22
18. Prab Mangat, Generate Agent Leads, 23
19. Qudrat Aujla, BC Children’s Hospital BioBank, 25
20. Ryan Stolys, One Iota Performance Inc., 24
21. Sarthak Tyagi, Smart Navigation Cane and Home Security System, 19
22. Shawn Domingo, Domingo & Associates Real Estate Group, Balens Grooming Products and Snipes for Smiles, 25
23. Sohat Sharma, Melius Mentorship Network, 22
24. Simrit Mangat, NailSight App, 17
25. Zora Heer, LA Matheson Secondary School, 17
Stromboulopoulos, who has worked in television and radio for 30 years, inspired the awardees and attendees.
He currently hosts an Apple Music radio show, STROMBO, which is heard in 160+ countries and has over 70 million subscribers. He also curates an online book club, Strombo’s Lit, for Apple Books.