SCWIST-Manitoba Lead Dr. Anju Bajaj is the recipient of two prestigious awards
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Bajaj was first introduced to SCWIST when her class received a Youth Scholarship award to assist with the production of the Bison Regional Science Fair, which she founded.
She quickly became more involved with SCWIST, becoming the Manitoba Lead and often helping the Youth Engagement team extend their reach during special events such as Science Literacy Week and Science Odyssey.
Outside of SCWIST, Bajaj is a force in her community, where she can be found mobilizing students to succeed in STEM and supporting remote First Nations communities.
Her hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed.
In 2021, Bajaj was awarded the prestigious Prime Minster’s Award for Teaching Excellence. These awards celebrate the people who are contributing to Canada’s culture of curiosity by inspiring young people to reflect, to question and to challenge.
“Educators play a foundational role in our children’s lives and help them grow into thriving adults,” said Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. “During my time as a teacher, I met so many outstanding educators who dedicate their lives to inspiring the next generation of leaders in classrooms right across the country. To the teachers and educators we are recognizing today, I would like to say thank you for everything you do and congratulations.”
Bajaj has also been awarded the Community Services Award for 2022 by the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada. This award goes to those who go over and beyond in their cause – related to respecting human values and rights, community, and social development.
“I am so humbled to be accoladed among world-class leaders,” said Bajaj. “Receiving a distinguished service award recognition and winning Prime Minister Teaching Excellence awards mean that I have an obligation to continue mentoring the younger generation through my career and showing them the essence of tenacity, determination, and work ethics. Everything we do has a cause and effect, whether it’s something small or great, our actions contribute to and affect society in one way or another. We have to hold ourselves responsible for the quality of our lives and the lives of our future children. We have to lead by example and know that we are being watched by more people than want to. Social media has greatly extended our capabilities of reaching the masses, and we have to be mindful of the content we release into the world. Receiving awards is not just for show, it is a symbol of respect and acceptance of a greater responsibility that is my legacy and could potentially change the world.”
“I wish to bring happiness, laughter, motivation, and inspiration to as many people as possible,” Bajaj continued. “As an immigrant woman, and Canadian Citizen, I dedicate my awards and achievements to other immigrants that speak more than one language, who struggled or are currently struggling to fit in and compete with millions of other people who have more advantages and resources. I would never have imagined being where I am today. I still have a lot of work to do, but I am happy to know that I’ve come so far.”