Vote now for Lenya Wilks at canadianimmigrant.ca
DIVERSEcity’s Lenya Wilks is a Top 75 finalist for the 2025 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards! It’s now time to vote to narrow down the winners at: canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants.
If you’re not already in the know, here’s a little bit about the amazing Lenya!
Born and raised in Jamaica, she moved to Manitoba, Canada, with a deep passion for uplifting others. She uses her voice in service and her voice in song to spark connection, healing and change.
Now based in British Columbia, Lenya serves as director of partnerships at DIVERSEcity, where she leads cross-sectoral initiatives that centre equity, inclusion and belonging, while creating space for underrepresented voices to be heard and valued.
Before relocating to BC, she was deeply engaged in Manitoba’s community sector. She advocated for newcomers and racialized communities through community coalitions, youth programs, program development and collaborative partnerships. Simultaneously, her passion for music flourished.
Lenya attended Brandon University as a jazz vocalist, gaining new skills and building her versatility. She has shared the stage with global icons such as reggae legend Beres Hammond as his opening act from 2007 to 2010, shared the stage with Grammy Winners Inner Circle and collaborated with artist like Tarrus Riley and Chuck Fender. Her powerful and emotive voice has graced both national and international stages, earning acclaim for its depth, soul and sincerity.
For Lenya, music and community work are deeply interconnected — each a vehicle for storytelling, empowerment and social transformation. Whether leading a strategic partnership or performing to a packed audience, she brings a unique blend of artistry and activism to every space she enters.
She currently serves on Vantage Point and UNITI boards, contributing to inclusive governance and forward-thinking organizational leadership.
In 2024, Lenya was named one of Canada’s top 100 Black Women to Watch 2024 by the Canada International Black Women Excellence Organization, and she was also awarded the Sisters in Canada Safe Haven 2024 Community Champion Award.
Her story is one of resilience, creativity and unwavering dedication to building a more just and connected world — one note, one conversation and one act of service at a time.