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Naheed Nenshi is the first visible minority and the first Muslim to be elected mayor of a major Canadian city, representing a Calgary that's growing in diversity - and he won the seat after helping to mobilize an impressive voter turnout, at 53 per cent, staggering numbers for a municipal election.

Mobilizing civic participation through a campaign front backed by an innovative social media approach, Mr. Nenshi accumulated thousands of fans on Facebook, where he was able to communicate directly with his supporters, and appeal to a younger demographic.

A Harvard graduate, Mr. Nenshi is an accomplished business professional and Canada's first tenured professor in the field of non-profit management, at Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business.

Nominator: Peter Yanota, Calgary

"Naheed Nenshi's victory serves as an inspiration to Canadians of all backgrounds"- nominator Peter Yanota.

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