To celebrate the 25^th anniversary of their activities promoting the Swedish language and culture in the Lower Mainland, the Vancouver chapter of the Swedish Women’s Education Association (SWEA Vancouver) is organizing a campaign and photo exhibit with the theme “Swedish Spirit”.

What characterizes the Swedish Spirit?

The year was 1908 when the first Swedish organization in Vancouver saw the light of day. Today there are eight such organizations, SWEA Vancouver included. The aim of the project is to identify and celebrate people in Vancouver, who have played an important role in making the Swedish community the success it is today. Young and old, men and women, born in Sweden or in Canada – these people are the hard-working volunteers that continuously sacrifice their free time to work in different Swedish organisations or who play important roles in Swedish community.

Who are the people with a Swedish Spirit? We invite everyone to nominate the hero among us. In addition to a personal style reflected by the Swedish Spirit, they have to share one or a few of the following characteristics:

• A past or present volunteer for one of the Swedish organisations.
• A professional life that has contributed to grow the awareness of the Swedish community, Sweden, Swedish or Swedish culture.
• Any other activity that has made a difference for the Swedish community in the Lower Mainland.

How to nominate a person with a Swedish Spirit

If the project scope makes you think about someone with a Swedish Spirit, share it with us! Write a short description with the person’s full name and a description of why you think this person has been important for the Swedish community in the Lower Mainland. Please keep your written description to less than 120 words. You can write it in English or Swedish. You can nominate someone you know, know of or even yourself. You can also nominate someone who already has been nominated. Repeat nominations will strengthen that person’s chances of becoming elected for the exhibit.

There are two ways you can share your nomination:

1)    Write an email with your nomination and description to the chair of SWEA Vancouver, Anna Norrström (vancouver@swea.org).

2)    Post your nomination with a description on the SWEA Vancouver Facebook website: https://www.facebook.com/events/660374274012577/

The nomination process starts on June the 13^th and is open until September 1st. Candidates will be selected by the current board of SWEA Vancouver and invited to participate in a photo session with talented photographers and SWEA Vancouver members Jannicke Kitchen and Mia Logie.

The photo exhibit will be displayed in a virtual way. The photos will be presented together with the description of each selected individual. The exhibit will be presented on the evening of the 25^th anniversary gala for SWEA Vancouver as a celebration of the Swedish community in the Lower Mainland and the important role that SWEA Vancouver plays in it. Thereafter the presentation will be presented using the social media channels of SWEA Vancouver (Vimeo, Facebook and Twitter).

The project will also be described and shared on the SWEA Vancouver website, FORUM – the member magazine of SWEA International and SWEA-bladet – the member magazine of SWEA Vancouver.