Meet Our 2025 Mark and Dorothy Danzker Scholarship Winners
Krissadie Armstrong
Krissadie Armstrong (she/her) has proudly represented her Irish heritage in Winnipeg for over a decade through Irish dance with the Brady Academy of Irish Dance and regular performances at Folklorama’s Celtic Ireland Pavilion.
In 2024, she served as Youth Ambassador, representing the Irish Canadian community at Festival events and beyond. Passionate about cultural diversity, she has shared Irish dance at her high school’s “Diversify” celebration and hopes to pursue work in endangered language preservation.
Beyond her cultural contributions, Krissadie is active in musical theatre and is a Governor General’s Academic Medal recipient.
Katherine Arnaud
A proud French Métis woman from La Broquerie, Manitoba, Katherine Arnaud was raised on her family’s fifth-generation farm. Katherine’s Métis roots, love of community, and appreciation for music and the outdoors have shaped her values of responsibility, gratitude, and compassion. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts at Université de Saint-Boniface while pursuing Human Resource Management at Red River College. Passionate about mental health, Katherine works with Project 11, supporting well-being through education and prevention. Inspired by her family, her music, and her Métis heritage, Katherine strives to uplift others with empathy and care.
Kaylene Blackwood
Kaylene Blackwood is in her final year of Business Administration degree at Canadian Mennonite University, majoring in accounting. She is currently completing a full-time internship at Deloitte, gaining experience with one of the Big Four accounting firms. Beyond her academic and professional success, Kaylene is passionate about the arts and community. She sings with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and has been a long-time member of the Hi-Life Steel Orchestra, a community steel drum band. Through music, she proudly shares her Caribbean heritage at cultural events such as Black History Month, school programs, and community celebrations.
Azra Hrncic
Azra Hrncic, born in Winnipeg to Bosnian parents, has been immersed in Balkan-Slavic culture since childhood. Azra is deeply passionate about preserving ethnocultural heritage, particularly the traditions of folk wear, dance, and music. She has spent more than a decade volunteering and performing with cultural ensembles, beginning with the Serbian Pavilion “Beograd” and Serbian KOLO ensemble, and later joining SPK Iskry Polish Folk Dance Ensemble and KEFI Greek Folk Dancers of Manitoba. Alongside performing, she has contributed as Szatnia (women’s wardrobe coordinator) on SPK Iskry’s executive team, showcasing her dedication to cultural preservation both on and off the stage.
Joyce Ji
Joyce Ji, a Chinese Canadian student at the University of Manitoba, is pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Science with a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is passionate about celebrating diversity and fostering student connections. As a second-generation immigrant, Joyce has proudly embraced her Chinese heritage through leadership and volunteer roles, including serving as an Adult Ambassador at Folklorama’s Chinese Pavilion, supporting the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre and the Manitoba Chinese Family Centre, and helping to revive the Manitoba Chinese Youth Committee after a four-year hiatus. Dedicated to cultural preservation and community engagement, Joyce continues to share her heritage with pride and purpose.
Katherine Omand
Katherine Omand, a lifelong Highland dancer, was inspired by the Pavilion of Scotland at just four years old and has performed there for over 15 years—first as a demonstration dancer, then with the Ena Sutton Highland Dancers. She served as Youth Ambassador in 2022, later becoming Social Media Coordinator while continuing to volunteer in other areas. Beyond performing, Katherine competes, teaches Highland Dancing, and is pursuing a Carpentry Apprenticeship, having recently completed her Level 1 courses at Red River Polytechnic Institute. She plans to use her scholarship to advance her apprenticeship and is looking forward to her first trip to Scotland to immerse herself in its culture.
Kaya Pecold
A proud Polish Canadian, Kaya Pecold began Polish dance at the age of seven and has performed every year at Folklorama’s Polish Pavilion. A recent graduate of St. Boniface Diocesan High School with honours, she will begin studies at the Asper School of Business this fall. Kaya is also a member of the Polish Folk Dance Ensemble SPK Iskry, where she recently performed internationally in Greece. Inspired by her ensemble and dedicated to preserving her culture, she hopes to attend choreography school in Poland to continue contributing to the legacy of Iskry.
Laura Unruh
Laura Unruh, a dedicated Highland dancer, began dancing at the age of four and has since competed worldwide, while also serving as an assistant teacher at her dance studio. Deeply connected to her Scottish heritage—rooted in her great-grandfather’s legacy of founding the Lord Selkirk Boys Scout Pipe Band in Winnipeg—Laura is committed to preserving and sharing her culture. She promotes Scottish traditions by teaching and performing at cultural events, including Chinese New Year celebrations, the Gimli Icelandic Festival, and a Shabbat Ceilidh that brought Scottish and Jewish communities together. Through her work, Laura continues to inspire the next generation while ensuring Scottish culture thrives in Winnipeg.
About the Mark & Dorothy Danzker Scholarship for Excellence
Together with the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, Folklorama is pleased to present the Mark & Dorothy Danzker Scholarship for Excellence, an annual award of excellence for ethno-cultural heritage preservation. The Scholarship honours the memory of philanthropist and former Winnipeg city councillor Mark Danzker and his wife, Dorothy.
HISTORY
Mark Danzker was born in Poland in 1902. His family immigrated to Canada in 1907, settling in Winkler before moving to Winnipeg in 1911. With his mother’s passing in 1909, his formal education ended, and he entered the workforce at the age of 10. The next year he left home to work in a lumber camp, and by the age of 16, he bought a pharmacy in Lac du Bonnet. Eventually, he was successful with investments, oil exploration, and development companies, as well as the owner of Danzker Dress Limited, a manufacturers’ wholesale company that saw the Danzkers travelling through western Canada working with many independent shop owners.
While the Danzkers did not have children of their own, they were very active in the community. Dorothy worked for many years supporting the Misericordia Hospital as a volunteer in their gift shop. Mark was particularly active in amateur and professional sports, bringing the minor league team, the Winnipeg Goldeyes, to the city in 1954. He also played a major role in attracting the Pan-American Games to Winnipeg in 1967. Mark served as a Winnipeg City Alderman from 1960 to 1968 and was awarded the Manitoba Good Citizenship Award in 1974. He was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo in 1957 and named a member of the Order of Canada in 1978.
SCHOLARSHIP OVERVIEW
- Eight (8) post-secondary scholarships of $1,000 each are available
- Scholarships are awarded each September
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship, the applicant must:
- Be accepted to or be currently enrolled in a university, college, or other recognized post-secondary institution within Canada with a full course load (as defined by the institution)
- Be between the ages of 17 and 25 years
- Be a resident of Manitoba for a minimum of the past six (6) months
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
- Demonstrate active involvement in preserving ethno-cultural heritage through volunteerism and/or employment
- Have achieved a minimum academic average of 70% or a cumulative 2.5 GPA
- Have not been a previous recipient of this scholarship
- Not be a Folklorama Board or staff member or immediate family of same
Applications for next year’s Mark and Dorothy Danzker Scholarship for Excellence will open in early 2026.