The annual banquette of Bharat Times was held on the 16th of December 2012. The evening brought together writers, newspaper editors and leaders of the local community from different ethnic groups to exchange thoughts, discuss and to receive awards. It was not a day to drive because of the freezing snow, and cold, but inside it was cozy and warm. The honorable Lasane Blanchette-Lamothe, a member of Canadian parliament was the guest of honor. Dr. Monika Spolia kicked off the party, welcoming and introducing prominent writers, thinkers and journalists. The highlight of the evening included the award ceremony. Writers Lifeline honors individuals from different parts of the world on the basis of the nominations it receives. Five awardees were selected for 2012. Awards were presented by the honorable Lasane Blanchette-Lamothe. She appreciated the services of Bharat Times for promoting peace within Canada, and congratulated the five awardees, namely Professor Dr. Mandvi Singh from India; Professor Dr. Olimpia Iacob from Romania; Pakistani Canadian Advocate Shoaib Sadak , Professor Dr. Anuradha Sharma, and Dr. Monika Spolia. The honorable Lasane Blanchette-Lamothe, Dr. Stephen Gill and Mr. Mukhtar Hassan released books by Manes Liautaud, a Canadian journalist, and Mr. Shoaib Sadak. They were collections of short stories. Brief information about awardees: The first awardee was Professor Dr. Mandvi Singh, vice chancellor of IKS University located in the province of Chhattisgarh, India. This province came into existence a few years ago. The word Chhattisgarh in Hindi means thirty-six forts. During the British period this area was ruled by thirty-six rajas. Now these states or kingdoms have been amalgamated with India. The daughter of the ruler of this area died young. The ruler and his wife donated their palace for the establishment of IKS University. The recipient of this award, Professor Dr. Mandvi Singh, belongs to the royal family. She has authored books and research papers. She was honored for her administrative abilities, dedication to the cause of education and creative activities. Dr. Monika Spolia, managing editor of Bharat Times, received the award on behalf of Professor Dr. Mandvi Singh. The second awardee was advocate Shoaib Sadak, a short story writer who was born in Pakistan. Mr. Naeem Talat, a columnist for different Urdu newspapers, introduced him. Mr. Shoaib Sadak has authored collections of short stories which have been translated in other languages, and appear regularly in the Urdu media. His stories are educational, and enlightening. Tobassam, an Urdu poet from Canada, has called him in one article, the Krishan Chander of Canada. Shoaib Sadak was honored in recognition of outstanding achievement as an Urdu short story writer for unmasking cultural hypocrisies and for promoting the cause of writers and poets as chief editor of Adbi Chehra, an Urdu literary magazine. The third awardee was a scholar and translator from Romania, Professor Dr. Olimpia Iacob. Prof. Olimpia Iacob is with the Department of Modern Languages at Vasile Goldis West University of Arad, Romania. She graduated from the Faculty of Letters of the Al. I.Cuza University (Iasi) with a doctorate on the theory of translation. Her interests include poetics, linguistics, stylistics, and translation studies. She is a member of the Writers’ Union of Romania. She has authored books and several research papers. The award was presented by the honorable Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, and received by Dr. Monika Spolia, managing editor of Bharat Times. The fourth awardee was Professor Dr. Anuradha Sharma, author of three books and several research papers. The award was presented like others by the honorable Lasane Blanchette-Lamothe, and received by Mr. Syed Mukhtar Hassen on behalf of Dr. Sharma. Mr. Hassan is managing editor of Nawa-i-Pakistan, a popular and respectable weekly Urdu and English newspaper from Montreal. Dr. Sharma was honored with Writers Lifeline International Literary Award in recognition of her dedication to the cause of women and activities as a literary critic and anthologist. The fifth awardee was a familiar name for the ethnic communities of Canada. It was Dr. Monika Spolia, who was born in Punjab, India and grew up in Canada. She completed her Doctorate in Anthropology and Political Science. She has often been on the forefront for expressing her ideas, and organizes events to shape out a culture of unity in diversity. Using years of her experience in writing, research, and journalism, she founded Bharat Times, an ethnic print media in Montreal in 2003. Bharat Times is admired widely because of its popularity, and its role in promoting peace. Awards are not new for Dr. Monika Spolia, a person of manifold attractions. She was recognized as Writers Lifeline Editor of the Year for her dedication to the cause of ethnic journalism and for promoting understanding through cultural activities and as the managing editor of Bharat Times. Dr. Stephen Gill traced the background of Writers Lifeline. It was bought from the Highway publishers in Thunder Bay, Ontario, when its editor was retiring in the early eighties. In those days for offset printing, printers depended on phototypesetting that was complicated, expensive and time-consuming. He brought a few copies of the early issues of Writers Lifeline, published every month. Some attendees grabbed copies to keep as historical souvenirs. Dr. Stephen Gill also spoke for a while on the theme of democracy and peace which were touched by the honourable Lasane Blanchette-Lamothe. Dr. Stephen Gill added that peace and prosperity go together. The nations which enjoy peace also enjoy prosperity. It is true on the individual level also. A person without peace is struck with stress and stress is the cause of multiple diseases. God is peace and to be healthy individually as well as nationally peace is vital.