Fabian Dawson describes his three decades of journalistic life as “ordinary”.

But his work is nothing less than extraordinary, according to his peers.

Last week, the Deputy Editor-in-chief of The Province and Editor of Vancouver Desi, was awarded a Darpan Magazine Extraordinary Achievement Award for his work as an acclaimed journalist and contributions to media and society at the South Asian publication’s fourth annual awards ceremony

““It’s an honour and privilege for me, my family and colleagues at The Province to be recognized this way,” said Dawson, who’s also been awarded the Queen’s  Diamond Jubilee Medal Medal and cited for excellence in journalism in Canada, U.S., England and Asia.

“I am just an ordinary journalist,” said Dawson who accepted his award for ‘Industry Marvel’ — one of 10 award categories — at the red carpet event at Surrey’s Royal King Palace and Convention Centre last Friday evening.

The annual Extraordinary Achievement Awards ceremony aims to recognize those within the South Asian community doing extraordinary things — not only within the community itself, but those contributing to the greater Canadian community as well.

“He has been instrumental in forging many great collaborative journalistic programs with the ethnic and community media,” said Harbinder Singh Sewak, the publisher of the South Asian Post, Asian Pacific Post and The Filipino Post.

“This is a timely recognition,” said Sewak, who will next month be honoured for his work in the media at the World Sikh Award, an annual global ceremony based out of the United Kingdom.

Dawson has been cited for his work on the phenomenon of honour killings, surrogate motherhood in India, and for a series titled Abandoned Brides —  which investigated the plight of women left behind in India by their foreign husbands. His journalistic work has led to four documentary films, a made-for-TV movie and newly released book, Justice for Jassi, which delves into the honour killing of a B.C. woman in India, according to Vancouverdesi.com. The Darpan Extraordinary Achievement Awards also recognized American physicist known for his work in fibre optics, Dr. Narinder Kapany, 18-year-old Whitecaps FC elite player, Jasmin Dhanda, and past chair of the Canada-India Foundation, Barj S. Dhahan — to name a few. This year the publication saw nominations flood in from not only B.C., but from across Canada, the U.S. and India.

“It is such a well-deserved honour,” The Province editor-in-chief, Wayne Moriarty, said of Dawson’s achievement award. “It’s been grand fortune that we’ve had the opportunity here at The Province to build strong and meaningful relationships with South Asian communities throughout the Lower Mainland. No one has been as important in building those relationships as Fabian.”

Born and raised in Malaysia, Dawson and his wife, Anne, are of Indian origin. The couple migrated to Vancouver in 1988. They have two children.

 

 

DARPAN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: 2013 WINNERS 

 

Robin Dhir — ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY: In honour of extraordinary achievements and contributions to charitable ventures in the South Asian community and beyond

 

Sukhdev Grewal –  COMMUNITY CRUSADER: In honour of extraordinary achievements and contributions as an inspiring leader within the South Asian community

 

Barj S. Dhahan –  CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT: In honour of extraordinary achievements as a leader and entrepreneur in the South Asian community

 

Fabian Dawson — INDUSTRY MARVEL:  In honour of extraordinary achievements as an acclaimed journalist and your influential contributions to media and society

 

Dr. Narinder Kapany –  INTERNATIONAL SENSATION:  In honour of  extraordinary achievements and commitment to enhancing lives through scientific contributions and groundbreaking developments on a global scale

 

Sukhmeet Sachal –  YOUNG WONDER: In honour of extraordinary achievements in academia and community initiatives

Ajmer Rode — ARTISTIC VISIONARY:  In honour of extraordinary achievements and contributions to South Asian arts, culture and literature

 

Jasmin Dhanda — SPIRIT OF SPORT: In honour of  extraordinary achievements and contributions as an inspiring athlete

 

Virasat Foundation, Bhupinder S. Malhi & Jaspal S. Randhawa — HERITAGE DEFENDER:  In honour of extraordinary achievements in the preservation, promotion and development of South Asian arts, culture, tradition and heritage

 

Dr. V. Setty Pendakur — BREAKING BARRIERS: In honour of  extraordinary achievements as an influential leader, educator and contributor to society, who continues to inspire future generations

 

Gallery photo credit: Darpan Magazine