Bursary Recipients

2021 Diversity in Canadian Publishing Bursary Award: Nicole Riguidel

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Today the Indexing Society of Canada / Société canadienne d’indexation (ISC/SCI) announced that Nicole Riguidel is the winner of the 2021 ISC/SCI Diversity in Canadian Publishing Bursary Award.

Nicole Riguidel is a Métis woman from Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan. Growing up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan fed her love for animals and the outdoors, leading her to complete a Bachelor of Science in Animal Bioscience and to work as a veterinary technician. Hoping to expand into a career involving books, Nicole recently graduated with a diploma in Library and Information Technology and currently works as a library technician in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

As an aspiring indexer, Nicole looks forward to the opportunity to combine her background in the sciences with her library and information technology skills. Outside of work, she can be found crafting, reading, spending time outside exploring new hiking trails, or at the dog park with her Greyhound–Border Collie cross, Daisy.

Congratulations, Nicole!

2020 Diversity in Canadian Publishing Bursary Award: Sandra Muchekeza

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August 31, 2020, Toronto: The Indexing Society of Canada / Société canadienne d’indexation (ISC/SCI) is pleased to announce that Sandra Muchekeza is the 2020 ISC/SCI Diversity in Canadian Publishing Bursary Award recipient. The selection committee received ten applications, from which four applicants were shortlisted.

Sandra Muchekeza was born and raised in Kenya before moving to Australia for her Bachelor studies in Psychology. After completing her studies, she joined her family in Toronto, Canada where she started a career in Project Management in the not for profit sector. Over time, Sandra developed a keen interest in Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and works hard to ensure the voices of the marginalized are heard.

Sandra is currently the Executive Director at the Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage (CCACH) based in Edmonton, Alberta. CCACH supports activities that enhance the social, economic and educational life of African and Caribbean heritage communities in Edmonton. Passionate about the rights of women in every aspect of their lives, Sandra sits on the Board of YWCA Edmonton an organization that fights for the right to equal economic opportunities for women and girls and works towards ending gender-based violence.

Sandra loves the world of books so it is hardly a surprise that she and her sister founded a children’s books publishing company called Asili Kids. The company produces and distributes books which have content and characters that children of African heritage can identify with and introduces children from all over the world to African stories.

Married with two young boys Sandra loves spending quality time with her family, dabbling with photography, trying out new food recipes and of course, reading.

About the award

Since 2014, when the hashtag #weneeddiversebooks appeared, the Canadian publishing industry has slowly been waking up to both the lack of diverse voices and the demand for them. With this bursary, ISC/SCI aims to help achieve equality of opportunity for aspiring indexers belonging to underrepresented and/or marginalized groups. The bursary covers fees for an approved indexing program, two years of ISC membership with listing, and entry into the Mary Newberry Mentorship program.