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When Lucia Ali first received an email informing her, she had been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, she ignored it, assuming it was a scam. It wasn’t until she was formally invited to the ceremony that she realized the recognition was real.
“It was a surreal moment,” Ali said. “When you have the opportunity to serve, serve with all your heart.”
Ali, a former two-time president of the South Sudanese Canadian Association of Ottawa, has spent decades shaping the local South Sudanese community, advocating for unity and ensuring cultural preservation for future generations.
On March 16, the Honourable Mona Fortier, PC, MP, presented Ali with the medal, recognizing her decades of leadership and service to the South Sudanese community in Ottawa.
Ali’s journey to Canada began in 1992, when she arrived from Kenya, settling in Ottawa. Originally from Wau, Sudan, she grew up in Khartoum before leaving for Kenya as a young mother. She arrived in Canada with her eldest daughter and over the years, she built a life in Ottawa, raising three daughters who have since pursued successful careers in mental health, justice and healthcare. She is also a proud grandmother.
Her early years in Canada were not without challenges. Adjusting to the cold, learning English and finding employment were among the obstacles she had to overcome. But through perseverance, she built a career in social services, working as a frontline worker at Shepherds of Good Hope, one of Ottawa’s leading homeless shelters.
“It opened my eyes,” Ali said of her work. “I met people who had once been doctors, engineers—people who had built the CN Tower in Toronto. Life took a turn for them, whether because of mental health, addiction, or other circumstances. But what I learned is that here in Canada they are treated with dignity.”
Ali’s leadership in the South Sudanese community began in 2006, when she was approached to run for president of the South Sudanese Canadian Association of Ottawa.
Initially hesitant, she accepted the role and served a two-year term. She later returned for another term, continuing her efforts to strengthen the community.
During her presidency, the association secured funding and organized a wide range of programs, including Indigenous language classes for children, sports initiatives for youth and swimming classes for women.
“We had an active bank account, we collected funds and we provided activities for the community,” Ali said.
Despite challenges, including tensions caused by the 2013–2016 conflict in South Sudan, Ali remained committed to maintaining unity in Ottawa.
Akur Mathiang, the Information Secretary for the South Sudanese Canadian Association of Ottawa and a longtime colleague and friend, praised Ali’s dedication and inclusive leadership.
“She is a resilient person,” Mathiang said. “During times of conflict, she stood up for the community, called for prayers and worked to bring people together. She led without tribalism, always prioritizing unity.”
However, Ali acknowledges that South Sudanese unity in Canada remains a challenge, particularly in comparison to other East African communities.
“Other communities think about the future and that’s why they accomplish more,” Ali said. “We need to focus beyond ourselves and think about the children coming after us.”
Looking ahead, Ali believes the next generation must take charge to ensure the South Sudanese community in Ottawa continues to thrive. She recognizes that as the community grows, so does the need for better organization and modern solutions to sustain its progress.
While she did not specifically highlight data collection as a major issue, she acknowledged that initiatives like gathering demographic information and community statistics would require the involvement of tech-savvy youth.
“These things require technology,” she said. “This is where the young people come in. We tried to build a website before, but we struggled with the technology. The next generation needs to take this on.”
She urges parents to encourage their children to participate in community events and take pride in their heritage.
“No matter where you are born, eventually, you’ll want to visit home,” Ali said. “It’s important to know where you come from.”
As someone who has spent years serving both the South Sudanese community and Ottawa’s most vulnerable populations, Ali remains passionate about dignity, respect, and working together for the greater good.
“We need to stop the hatred and work together,” she said. “The award I received wasn’t for anything extraordinary—it was for simple things that people do every day. And that’s how we make change in our community.”
Ali hopes that in the future, leadership in the South Sudanese association will be diverse, bringing together young and old, men and women, to ensure the community’s growth.
“I pray that all this negativity will end,” she said. “That we will elect a president who brings us together and builds a positive community for a better future.”
Her message to the younger generation is clear: step up, take over, and lead with purpose.
“We, the older generation, should not be the only ones looking after the community,” she said. “It’s time for the young people to take over and look after us.”
