PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
CSCC Director and the Slovenian Honorary Consul General in Toronto Mr. John Doma received the most prestigious award for Social Responsibility in Slovenia IRDO – Slovenian Institute for Social Responsibility Development and PRSS – The Public Relations Society of Slovenia (in partnership cooperation with a number of Slovenian professional and interest organizations) has announced the recipients of the Slovenian award for Social Responsibility HORUS 2016 at the Knight Hall of the Castle of Maribor.
“Just like the visionary companies, that became some of the most successful ones in the world, the recipients of the HORUS awards are a proof that the social responsibility can pay back in long as well as in the short run” Hon. professor Dr. Matjaz Mulej, president of the Hours organizational committee and the president of the professional council at the IRDO institute said at the award ceremony. Companies that have achieved at least 51% of all possible points in the first round, have been nominated as the finalists for the HORUS 2016 Award. The winners of the tender for the Slovenian award for social responsibility Horus 2016 are as follows:
Horus Award 2016, for strategic integrity of the legal person:
- category of Institutes And Other Organizations: AJPES – Agency of The Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services,
- category of Micro-Enterprises: IDentiks Card Systems Ltd.,
- category of Small Business: Saubermacher – Utilities Murska Sobota Ltd.,
- category of Medium-Sized Companies: SNAGA, company for waste management and other municipal services, d.o.o ..
- PRESS Recognition: Public Utilities company Komunala Brežice d.o.o ..
Recognition of Projects:
- category of Micro Enterprises: Contall d.o.o.
- Category Lerge Enterprises Lidl Slovenia d.o.o.
The Special Recognition category as per proposal of general public and the organizers of the project included a multiple candidates in various categories: Special awards in the General Category: Jurcek Nowakk, Dr. Danica Purg, Dr. Tanja Bagar. The Award for the Entrepreneur with Slovenian roots, which operates in neighboring countries or around the world: John Doma, Canada. Other nominees in the category Award for the Entrepreneur with Slovenian roots, which operates in neighboring countries or around the world were: Andreja Valtanen from Finland, Darijo Križ from Sweden, Ivan Štraus from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Jure Leskovec from USA, Marko Benda from Bulgaria and Pavel Košir from USA. Mr. John Doma received the highest amount of points of all nominees in the category (352 of 404 points or 87.13% of maximum points available) with the next nominee receiving 82.18%.
A short description of Social Responsibility initiatives put in motion by Mr. Doma: Workplace Social Responsibility A born leader, John Doma has successfully built a workplace culture that encourages health and wellness and social/environmental responsibility in his team. John promotes the Bateman MacKay team core value of PRIDE: Proactive, Responsive, Integrity, Dedicated, Entrepreneurial. Actively working with a progressive health organization, he established healthy eating and wellness programs including comprehensive health assessments and an education component. For some organizations this type of supplemental workplace program is something of a paradigm shift; for John it made perfect sense. Environmental initiatives include a workplace recycling program with the team living the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle edict in their everyday routines; and the firm fully migrated to a paperless environment. Slovenian Community and Youth In his Consul duties he has dedicated himself to promoting Slovenian culture, innovation and business with a focus on networking and youth participation. During his tenure he has re-invented the Canadian Slovenian Chamber of Commerce increasing paid membership from 6 to over 120 companies, making it his mission to promote trade and dialogue between Canada and Slovenia. In 2014, he spearheaded a trade mission that invited Slovenian business delegates to Canada to liaise with Canadian companies. In 2015, John created the first ever Canadian Slovenian Music Festival (www.canslofest.com). His efforts included rallying local businesses in sponsoring the festival. This hugely successful event saw performances by artists such as Vlado Kreslin, Spot Light Orchestra, Julia Mihevc, Abbey Kompare, Lynn Marie Rink, and Joe Miskulin. The Festival brought the Canadian and Slovenian communities together and gave positive exposure to the Slovenian community, culture and music. A founding member of the Slovenian Canadian Scholarship Foundation, more than 20 years later John still sits on the Board of this foundation that promotes Slovenian youth in their pursuit of academic excellence. John is one of the founders of the Toronto Business Academy. He assisted a group of Slovenian youth to start a certificate program in business. Now in its third year, the program has been a wonderful success, exposing Slovenian youth to the Canadian business environment, and facilitating relationships with Canadian Slovenian youth. Recognized for his ceaseless commitment to the Slovenian community, in 2015 John’s efforts were recognized with the Exceptional Volunteer Award from the Slovenian Home Association.
John Doma’s statement after receiving the award: “I would not have been capable of the work I do without the support of our Canadian Slovenian organizations. The good people in Canada and Slovenia have over the years been the reason for any success that I may have achieved. I know that without the ongoing love and support from my extended family, my parents, my children and my wife Margaret, none of the work I do would have been possible. For this and much more, they have my unending gratitude.” The Canadian Slovenian Chamber of Commerce wishes to congratulate our director John Doma and is looking forward to support more business initiatives further connecting Canada and Slovenia.