Andrea M Fatona
100ABCWomen Database
My top three accomplishments are: becoming a parent, receiving a Canada Research Chair Award, and the making of the documentary entitled Hogan’s Alley (1994).
1) Being a leader at the intersection of Education and Social Justice. 2) Being granted the favour of having such a title as Mother. 3) I AM a breast cancer Thriver!
Leading the labour movement, Fighting at the bargaing table and on the street with workers to win worker right and raise standards for workers, Helping student that need education tools to continue their education
I am a cherished wife, sister, cousin, friend and co-worker.Surviving for more than 32 years in the media business.Delivering night after night. The viewer sees only a fraction of the work that goes on behind the scenes.
Angela Yvonne Clarke – has enormous talents and skills and loves to share with her community. She migrated to Canada in 1969, from the beautiful sunshine Island of Trinidad and Tobago, leaving a young daughter and a successful modeling career. In Canada, there were many opportunities from which to choose, so with purpose and drive, Angela decided to focus on continuing her education. To that end, she attended George Brown College, Seneca College and Marvel Beauty school. She accomplished all this, while working at Simpson’s Department Store. Her drive for success helped her to obtain Diplomas and Certificates in courses such as, Pattern Design, Drafting, Sewing, Tailoring, Bridal Design, Hair Design, Cosmetology and Floral Design. She continued learning through every and any opportunity that came her way. She advanced very quickly to realizing her dream and subsequently sent for her daughter in Trinidad.
My top three accomplishments: instrumental in acquiring $25 million from the Ontario Government to develop a Black Health and Social Services hub in Peel; awarded the 2023 Naseem Somani Memorial Leadership Excellence Award from Brampton Board of Trade; being the first recipient of the Nation Publishing Company’s anniversary scholarship in 1984.
Angela was a resident in Flemingdon Park from 1966 – 1981 with her two sisters Kim, Cindee and Mother Donna. She played Ice Hockey for the Flemingdon Boys House League and other select teams for two or three seasons. Angela also played Softball for the local team in the area. She attended Gateway public school in JK and SK and then transferred to John XXIII Catholic School. Once she finished grade 6, Angela attended Valley Park Jr. High School and then crossed the street to, at the time, the Overlea Secondary School. Her Mother moved the family to Georges Vanier high school, when Angela was starting grade 10.
Ms. James was a member of the Canadian Women’s Hockey team for 10 years, winning a remarkable four World Gold Medal Championships and four International Pacific Rim Championships. In addition, she was a member of the 1992 and 1994 Canadian Women’s Roller Hockey Team, which won gold at the World Championships. In a controversial decision, Ms. James was excluded from Team Canada’s Women’s Team for the 1998 Winter Olympics. Pundits were shocked because, from 1987 until that time, she had been Canada’s perennial scoring threat, no matter where and when played. She is an honoured member of the Seneca College Hall of Fame, the Ball Hockey hall of fame and the OCAA Hall of Fame, a Seneca Distinguished Alumnist and has had her sweater retired by Seneca College and the Toronto Aeros Hockey Club. In 2012, she was the recipient of the YWCA women’s distinguished award. In three seasons with the Scouts, Angela was a three-time OCAA scoring champion, two-time OCAA All-Star, three-time team MVP, the OCAA’s all-time leading scorer with over fifty goals and amazingly reached this mark while playing mostly defense. In 2008, she was one of the first female in history, to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame (IIHF). Also the Angela James Bowl was instituted, awarded annually to the leading scorer in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). She was inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of fame and the Flemingdon Park Arena was renamed after her. In 2010, Angela along with fellow American, Cammie Granato was the first female to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Angela James was dubbed the “Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey”.
Angela Simmonds is the daughter of the late Junior Sparks and Joanne. She is from Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia and resides in North Preston.
Angela is a graduate of Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University. She is the Managing Lawyer of the Equity & Access Office at the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society, where she is responsible for managing initiatives that promote cultural competence, equity, diversity and inclusion addressing access to justice.
Angela has been able to use her legal knowledge, community background and grass roots approach to address racial inequities; anti-black racism, gender and socio-economic inequities; discriminatory policies and practices within this province. Angela travelled to the United Nations, and presented recommendations about justice, housing, land title, education and recognition for African Nova Scotian people and communities. For
1) Becoming a wife and mother 2) Becoming an author 3) Sticking with Engineering. I’m an Engineer’s Engineer
I founded the network Black Wimmin Artists, a national collective of over 250 Black women and gender non-conforming artists and arts workers.
Working as an artist and being able to be a role model and example to emerging artists that it is possible to work creatively and that the ideas we produce are important and help us understand the world differently.
Curating Three-Thirty, a multi-site public art exhibition that presented artwork on the facade of Pearson Collegiate, University of Toronto Scarborough campus and the exterior of the Malvern Public Library. It was the first time a multi-site outdoor exhibition was mounted in the community of Malvern.
Senator Anne Clare Cools is an Ontario Senator representing Toronto-Centre-York. She was summoned to the Senate in January 1984 by His Excellency Governor General Edward Schreyer on the recommendation of the Rt. Hon. Pierre Trudeau. She is the first black person appointed to the Senate of Canada and is the first black female senator in North America. Born August 12, 1943 in Barbados, British West Indies, and grew up in a household that valued education and political service. At the age of thirteen she move at to Montreal with her family. Senator Cools was educated at Queen’s College Girls School, Barbados; Thomas D’Arcy McGee High School, Montreal; and Montreal’s McGill University, from which she holds a Bachelor of Arts. In the 1979 and 1980 federal general elections, Anne Cools was a candidate with Trudeau’s Liberals in Toronto’s Rosedale riding. In June 2004, after 20 years as a Liberal Senator, she joined the Conservatives for a short time. Currently, Senator Cools sits as an Independent Senator, she has no party affiliation. Senator Cools is deeply committed to the constitutional system of responsible government. She is a student of history and parliament, a diligent reader and known for her focused approach to the study of legislation and parliament. Prior to the Senate, Senator Cools was a social worker in innovative social services in Toronto. In 1974, as a pioneer in domestic and family violence, she founded one of Canada’s first women’s shelters, Women in Transition Inc., serving as its Executive Director. She assisted with the establishment of several other women’s shelters in Ontario. She co-organized Canada’s first domestic violence conference, Couples in Conflict. She presents the evidence that men and women are equally capable of good and bad, and that violence and aggression are not gendered characteristics, but are human ones, and often are a pathology of intimacy.
Dr. Bailey is currently conducting research to unearth the debilitating grief and trauma impact on Black youth coping with their educational pursuits. In 2015, she established a scholarship programme in the Jane and Finch community, as part of her continuing commitment to reduce youth involvement in violence, and to support their educational endeavours. Since then several scholarships have been awarded primarily to Black youth.
Novel contributions to academic literature on black women and girls in Canada and activism in black communities
Annie Kashamura Zawadi – born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, immigrated to Canada in 1999 with her five children and a $20 bill in her purse.
She holds an Honours Specialist Degree in Gender & Women’s Studies and a Degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto. Her thesis on Violence Against Women vs. Capitalism In The War Against The Congo won the Best Paper on Women’s Issues in the Global South Award. She taught the Gender and Neo-liberalism course at the University of Toronto.
In 2000, while pursuing higher education, she founded Arising Women Place, an organization supporting survivors and victims of domestic and systemic violence while educating men/boys and the public on the subject.
Having the opportunity to meet and collaborate with young change-makers from around the world, inspired her to create tangible change back home in Canada. Drawing from her own experiences, Apefa continued to speak out about the barriers and micro-aggressions she faced as a young Black woman, collaborating with businesses and local organizations to create programming and advise on policy to support women and youth. Using her experiences at the U.N. as a ‘spring point’, she committed her focus to advocacy, gaining the opportunities to collaborate with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the British Council, the University of Waterloo, Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, WE DAY and many other organizations to create opportunities and build the capacity of young Canadians, while completing her undergraduate education at the University of Toronto.
Arlene Duncan is a multi-talented singer and actor who works in television, film, theatre, radio and the web. Born a fifth -generation Canadian in Oakville, Ontario, her career has taken her to Europe, across Canada and the United States, as far North as the Arctic and as far South as New Zealand. According to her Jamaican-born mother, her musical talents were first discovered when she was three. Fascinated by the soundtrack album of the musical South Pacific, she would sing and dance along to the song ‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right out of My Hair’, over and over, until it had to be replaced.
1. Completing my degree while working full time and putting myself through university, doing my dream job as a flight attendant, starting the Black Queens of Durham Region
Audrey Campbell is a woman of conviction who strongly subscribes to the Martin Luther King quote “Everybody can be great, because everyone can serve”. A community activist with a penchant for volunteer work, Audrey has a reputation as being one who is guided by her conscience and driven by her passion. As the former President of the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA), Audrey was instrumental in transforming the governance structure of the organization, thereby charting a new course for the organization. In celebration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary, she hosted the former Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Stephen Harper and the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller – a historical milestone for the organization and for Canada. Audrey concluded her role as the 4th female President in the JCA’s 53-year history, and also as the longest serving female President, completing a 5-year term. Prior to serving at the JCA, Audrey volunteered as a fundraiser for Variety Village and Kids Help Phone. She’s also participated in various community fundraisers, such as the YMCA Corporate Relay Run. Currently, Audrey volunteers with Spelling Bee Canada and is currently the co-Chair of the Toronto Police Service’s Police and Community Engagement Review (PACER), which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of community recommended police reforms within the Toronto Police Service. Recognizing her service, in 2012, Audrey was bestowed a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee award from the Governor General of Canada. She was also acknowledged by the JCA’s Women’s Committee for her volunteer services.
Dr. Avis Glaze is an international leader in the field of education. As one of Canada’s outstanding educators, she has been recognized for her work in leadership development, student achievement, school and system improvement, character development and equity of outcomes for all students. As Ontario’s first Chief Student Achievement Officer, and founding CEO of the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, she played a pivotal role in improving student achievement in Ontario schools. Her primary focus in education is on building capacity to ensure that all students achieve, regardless of background factors or personal circumstances. It is her core belief that educators play a fundamental role in sustaining democracy.
Avril Vanessa Jno-Baptiste-Jones, was born on the lovely nature island of Dominica in the Caribbean, and not to be confused with the Dominican Republic. Avril says, as a young girl, she was very quiet and quite shy. She spent her formative years in Dominica under the guidance of an amazing mother Josephine, who raised her children with many great values. She continued to say that the values that stood out most were: work hard at whatever she does,; work hard for what she wants,; always be honest, because if you get in trouble someone will know how and where to start helping you and also, always treat others the way you want to be treated. She attributes her life’s successes to her mother who equipped her with the tools to face this world with confidence. She attended the Dominica Grammar School and was an avid Track and Field athlete. Her dream, however, was to become a nurse. She migrated to Canada to be with her father, who had immigrated to Canada. He was determined to provide a better future for his daughter, and she was equally determined to use these opportunities to secure a career in nursing by taking co-op courses in high school. She attended Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough, Toronto. Later, she returned to Dominica for a few years and then moved back to Canada where she re-enrolled at Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School to complete her secondary studies. She continued pursuing her dream to become a nurse. Unfortunately, through circumstances beyond her control, that dream had to be put aside.
In 1970, I joined the ranks of single Black parents and was blessed with one of God’s greatest gifts, my son, Sean “Sax” Taylor.
In 2003 I attended and received a Certificate from Oxford University Round Table on the Superintendency and Principalship.
I mentored innumerable Black teachers who now hold positions as Principals and Supervisory Officers in many Boards of Education.
Belinda sees herself as a philanthropist and always tries to give back. In 2013-2015, she became a proud Honourary Member of the United Nations Women Committee Canada. There, she volunteered her time at their events singing and performing especially during International Women’s events. This included a performance with her band at the CBC. She was also proud to be invited to perform at the Aga Khan Foundation’s annual walkathon in Toronto and for three continuous years in Montreal. Belinda had the opportunity to perform in Dubai for a charitable organization to support Autism. In 2014, she was presented with an Award of Excellence by the African Women’s Leadership Organization at their annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bernice Carnegie, Co-founder of the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation and Professional Educational and Life Enrichment Speaker, enjoys revisiting the rich history of her grandparents, who chose Canada as their home more than 100 years ago. As immigrants from Jamaica in 1912 and the United States in 1913, she is proud of their achievements and ability to cultivate a strong home environment for their children during racially challenging times. Both her parents were born in Toronto in 1919, and continued the family tradition of contributing to society in positive ways.
Beth earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree (English Literature/Family Science) and her Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of British Columbia. She earned a Master’s in Educational Practice and Research (Advanced Curricular Studies) from Simon Fraser University. Through Teacher Inquiry, Beth researched the effects of applying Anti-Racist pedagogy in public schools.
Beth taught in the Burnaby School District for 14 years. In 2001, she left teaching to start her own business. She opened the Panorama Learning Centre which she ran for two years before successfully selling her tutoring store front. She returned to public education and became an English Department Head. Beth worked on Literacy projects, such as helping to develop a Reading Recovery program for adolescents. In 2007, Beth created the first Black Student Committee (Public School) in Western Canada.
In the recent years: I have mentored Black youth interested in politics by sponsoring high school students to shadow my work as a municipal councilor. I created the Femme d’influence Award to honor impactful immigrant women leaders. I also launched a municipal council simulation through AFIO to engage underrepresented groups, especially Black, immigrant and women participants, to inspire the next generation.