Ahmed Banave, President of the Kurdish Community Center in Calgary and a board member of the Kurdish Federation in Canada, has been honored with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for 2024. The award was presented by Conservative Party MPs in recognition of his decades-long service to the Kurdish and broader communities in Canada.

Banave, a well-known figure within the Kurdish diaspora, has been committed to helping not only the Kurdish people but also other immigrant and local communities. A survivor of the Anfal genocide in 1988, Banave fled to eastern Turkey before immigrating to Canada in 1994.

In 1996, Banave established a Kurdish school that educated over 70 students in the Kurdish language and culture. He later launched a Kurdish magazine, contributing to the preservation of the community's heritage.

For more than 30 years, Banave has been actively involved in community service, helping to create several Kurdish organizations dedicated to supporting and protecting the Kurdish community. Despite challenges such as limited resources and internal divisions, Banave has remained steadfast in his efforts to promote unity.

Banave has also been instrumental in advocating for the Kurdish voice in Canadian politics, organizing celebrations, demonstrations, and charitable events. His work ensures that members of the Kurdish community regularly engage with Canadian lawmakers on key issues.

During the 1990s, when the Kurdish community was still finding its footing in Canada, Banave played a crucial role in helping new arrivals by assisting with medical appointments, translations, and personal events such as funerals and weddings.

For the past 20 years, Banave has run his own automotive business, offering employment opportunities to Kurdish newcomers, many of whom arrive with little work experience or knowledge of English. He has helped countless individuals build new lives in Canada.

Banave expressed his gratitude for the award, saying, "I am committed to continuing my service to the community. I will help all future newcomers strengthen the Kurdish community and preserve its roots and heritage."

He also thanked Tom Kmiec, former head of the Canada-Kurdistan Friendship Group in the Canadian Parliament, for his support in receiving the honor.