Government of Manitoba recognition celebrates his leadership in advancing newcomer belonging, mentorship, inclusion and community participation
Dr. Aloysius C. Anyichie, Founder and Director of Loy Excellentia Initiative, has received the 2026 Manitoba Mosaic Award in the Welcoming Community Champion – Individual category.
Dr. Anyichie is the first individual from Brandon to receive a Manitoba Mosaic Award since the provincial recognition program was inaugurated in 2025. His selection represents an important milestone for Brandon in only the second year of the awards.
The award was presented during a ceremony at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Dr. Anyichie was joined for the occasion by the Honourable Malaya Marcelino, Manitoba’s Minister of Labour and Immigration; Her Honour the Honourable Anita Neville, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba; fellow award recipients; invited guests; and community leaders.
The Manitoba Mosaic Awards recognize newcomers, immigrants, refugees and community champions whose leadership, compassion and creativity help build a more inclusive and welcoming province. The Welcoming Community Champion Award celebrates individuals, organizations and businesses that create supportive environments where newcomers feel welcomed, included and empowered to thrive.
A Recognition of Shared Community Work
Although the award was presented to Dr. Anyichie as an individual, he described it as a recognition of the collective work of students, volunteers, mentors, colleagues, community members and partner organizations.
“I receive this recognition with profound gratitude and humility. Although my name appears on the award, the work it recognizes has been carried forward with many students, colleagues, volunteers, mentors, community members and partner organizations.
“For me, welcoming is more than opening a door. It means helping people experience belonging, recognize their strengths, contribute their gifts and develop meaningful pathways to success.”
Dr. Anyichie is a Catholic priest, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Student Services at Brandon University, Director of the CREAMS Research Lab, and Founder of Loy Excellentia Initiative. His academic, pastoral and community leadership reflects a shared commitment to education, accompaniment, mentorship, belonging and service.
Through Loy Excellentia, he has helped develop programs and partnerships that promote mentorship, empowerment, leadership and educational success, particularly among African, Black, Caribbean, international and other culturally diverse students and community members.
From Welcome to Belonging and Participation
Loy Excellentia was founded on the conviction that welcoming people into a community is only the beginning. Meaningful inclusion also requires supportive relationships, access to information, mentorship, opportunities for participation and conditions that enable people to flourish.
This commitment is reflected in the organization’s student mentorship, educational workshops, professional-development programs, community conversations, Black History Month programming and events that bring students, professionals and community members together.
The organization’s recent activities include the September 6 Summer Picnic and the September 12 Black Students Professional Development Workshop at Brandon University. These events created opportunities for students to build relationships, learn from professionals, share their experiences and identify the academic, financial, career, health, settlement and mentorship supports they need to succeed.
These recent programs represent a continuation of the commitment to belonging and community development recognized through the Manitoba Mosaic Award.
Leadership Across Education and Community
Dr. Anyichie’s work connects scholarship, teaching, mentorship and community engagement. His research brings together culturally responsive pedagogy and self-regulated learning to help educators create learning environments in which students’ identities, experiences, agency and capacity for self-regulation are recognized and supported.
Through the CREAMS Research Lab—Culture, Regulation of Learning, Engagement, Academic Motivation, and Success—he leads research and student-development initiatives focused on engagement, motivation, belonging and educational success.
Through Loy Excellentia, these commitments extend beyond the university into community-based mentorship, professional learning, newcomer support and leadership development.
Dr. Anyichie’s previous recognitions include a 2025 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award and the Manitoba Council for International Education’s International Student Support Award.
Continuing the Work
Dr. Anyichie expressed appreciation to the Government of Manitoba, those who nominated and supported him, Brandon University, the CREAMS Research Lab, Loy Excellentia, and the many students, volunteers, mentors, community members and organizations contributing to the work.
“This recognition renews my commitment to education, mentorship, inclusion and community service. May it encourage all of us to continue building communities where people are not only welcomed but also experience belonging, contribute their gifts and flourish.”
Loy Excellentia congratulates Dr. Anyichie on this important recognition and extends its gratitude to everyone whose contributions continue to advance its mission of Mentorship, Empowerment and Excellence.