Fay Editha Cole
100ABCWomen Database
Fay was appointed by the Government of Canada to the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Government of Ontario to the College of Nurses of Ontario, and the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto as Chair of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority Internal Review Committee.
Fennella’s television career began as an editorial assistant for CTV National News. Shortly after, she was hired as a writer for Citytv’s Breakfast Television and quickly moved up the ranks to become a writer for CityNews, then senior writer and finally a producer of several shows. At the time, she was the first Black woman news producer at Citytv and one of a handful in the city. She worked in the field of television news for more than 25 years and has supervised staff, worked on major election shows and specials, developed content and influenced the decision-making of news programming. She has worked for: Citytv, CP24 and Toronto 1 (both of which she helped build from the developmental stage), BET as a correspondent and producer, and CTV – where she produced the national news for Canada AM for seven years. She started her media consulting company – FKB Media Solutions in 2018 on a full-time basis after working on side hustle projects for five years.
1. Receiving a merit award for distinguished contribution to the office of the Clerk and Prime Ministers office. 2. Granting of recognition Award for contribution to the work of Treaty Bodies (CERD) and standing for Canada at the United Nations. 3. Achieving a tangible increase in diversity in judicial appointments for women of colour and other disadvantaged groups in Ontario.
Floydeen has worked in the non-profit sector for over 25 years. She is one of the founding members of ACCHO (The African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario). She played a key role in advancing the work of the Malvern Community Coalition by successfully securing funding for the Coalition to develop and formalize its structure. She is a founding member and past President of the Board of Directors for TAIBU Community Health Centre in Scarborough. Floydeen is a recipient of the prestigious Joe Leonard Award through the Association of Ontario Health Centres for outstanding contributions to community health. She is also a recipient of the City of Toronto’s Public Health Champion and shares a scholarship in her name with her brother Farley that is presented annually to a student at Leaside High School for exemplifying a sense of community, world empathy, and leadership in raising awareness in the areas of quality and diversity.
Frances has received several accolades and awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award, Honoris Causa from the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, the Black Business and Professional Association Woman of Honour Award, AfroGlobal Television Volunteer of the Year Award, OECS Award of Excellence, STAAG Volunteer Award and the Meritorious Service Award on behalf of the CDOA from the Government of Dominica, among many others. She holds a BA in Information Management and an Honours Graduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Management from the Pennsylvania State University.
Frances-Anne Solomon is a Trinidadian-Canadian-British filmmaker, writer, producer, distributor, lecturer and cultural entrepreneur. Born in England of Trinidadian parents, she began her professional life at the BBC in England, where she built a successful career as a Producer first with BBC Radio Drama, then with BBC Television Drama as Executive Producer. She also produced and directed independent films through her company Leda Serene Films.
She studied at Bristol University in England and received a degree in Radio, Film & Television Arts before migrating to Canada in 1999. She continued to write, direct, and produce films, television programs, theatre plays, and new media projects. She is also the recipient of a B.A degree in Theatre Arts and English Literature. In 2001, she founded CaribbeanTales, a charitable organization producing, exhibiting and distributing educational multi-media projects based on Caribbean-heritage stories.
She founded The CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, in 2006 that now includes annual events in Toronto and Barbados, and the Toronto-based CaribbeanTales Youth Film Festival.
In 2010, she founded CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution Inc., the first film distribution company in the English-speaking Caribbean dedicated to the marketing and sales of Caribbean-themed films. The CaribbeanTales Incubator Program, now in its 7th year, develops and co-produces original content for the international market. She then launched CaribbeanTales-TV, a subscription video-on-demand platform, in 2013. CTWD now has a catalogue of over 300 films and television programs available for sale to the international market.
Frances-Anne is also a multi-award winning director whose works include feature films and series for BBC Films, The British Film Institute, and Channel 4 Television in England, and for Bravo! Showcase Television, APTN and the CBC in Canada. Her most recent feature film HERO launching in 2017, shot in Trinidad, the U.K. and Ghana is inspired by the long life and extraordinary career of Trinidadian war hero, diplomat and Judge Ulric Cross. She lives between Barbados, Trinidad and Toronto and cares about Animal Welfare, Arts and Culture, Civil Rights and Social Action.
Gael Miller-Jackson is a Singer, Songwriter, Playwright and Author. Born and raised in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, Gael attended Owen Sound Collegiate Vocational Institute (OSCVI).
She was ‘raised’ and participated in the British Methodist Espiscopal (BME) Church co-founded (approx. 1853) by her Great Grandfather Thomas Henry Miller, fondly known as Father Miller. It was the first Black church in Owen Sound. He also co-founded the Owen Sound Emancipation Picnic that is still celebrated annually. Gael was informed by her father that this wonderful man – Thomas Henry Miller and his family escaped slavery and travelled the Underground Railroad, settling in Owen Sound in the early 1850’s. There has been several newspaper and book passages complimenting his history in Owen Sound
2018 recipient of the Leading Women Building, Certified Fundraising Expert, Communities Award, Ontario NDP Candidate for Windsor Tecumseh,
Gemma Raeburn-Baynes, a graduate of McGill University and Community Activist was born in Grenada, West Indies and migrated to Montreal, Canada where it did not take long for her to integrate into her new environment. Just weeks after migrating as a teenager, she started the first youth choir at the St. Francis Church where her mother played the organ.
Gemma Raeburn-Baynes is a retired Senior Auditor with the Bank of Montreal (BMO), where she has worked since 1973. In addition to her banking career, she has also been active in business, community development and charitable initiatives. Gemma is very active in Montreal’s Black Community as an avid Fundraiser for various non-profit and charitable organizations. She helped start the Montreal’s Caribbean Carnival and founded the Play Mas Cultural Association that raises funds for Sickle Cell Anaemia,; the now defunct Miss Black Quebec Pageant and Montreal Ebony Models,; the city’s first Black modeling agency that generated nearly 1.5 million in a 27-year span through fashion shows that was designed to instill pride and self-confidence in young Black women and was involved in the Montreal Caribbean Fashion Week which took place in Spring 2015. She has received several awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, recognizing her as a strong advocate for the promotion of culture through the performing arts and anti-racist education, the Grenada-Toronto Association Consul General Award and the Sheila & Victor Goldbloom Distinguished Community Service Award.
Despite disabilities, Gemma remains active. She is involved in the Taste of the Caribbean Festival that she started over 15 years ago. The Festival showcases the Caribbean’s rich culture, craft and tasty culinary delights. Through her work, Gemma has established herself as what is known in academia as a social entrepreneur, both as a leader pursuing significant community endeavours and as a group facilitator managing networks to achieve large-scale societal objectives.
Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Toronto, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from York University. Her research interests include labour market outcomes for disadvantaged communities, child welfare policy, and not-for-profit and multilevel governance.
1. My children are my greated accomplishment; 2. My work: Ability to support and increase equality-seeking NGOs working to address issues that affect women and girls across Canada (Gender-based violence, Leadership empowerment, etc.); 3. Going back school as an adult and was able to complete my degree
Ginelle Skerritt, is a graduate of York University in Toronto and Carleton University in Ottawa. Throughout her career, which spans over 25 years in the non-profit sector, she focused on community development with youth, women, and families, while fundraising with the United Way of Greater Toronto and UNICEF Canada. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Warden Woods Community Centre, a vibrant and healthy multi-service community-based agency in Southwest Scarborough. She promotes a participatory and asset-based service delivery model for the agency. The Centre has plans to relocate a cluster of seniors’ services to more accessible locations, and seek support to expand services to children and youth. Under Ginelle’s leadership, Warden Woods offers over 50 programs and services for over 6,000 clients across Southwest Scarborough. The Centre is evolving steadily to meet the needs of the community and ensure their relevance in the changing society.
A member of the Social Planning Toronto and Toronto Neighbourhood Centres’ Boards, Ginelle contributes to the strategic leadership of the non-profit sector.
Gloria Small s a passionate individual who engages in life to the fullest. She is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who strives to make a positive difference, especially for the most vulnerable members in society. Her work has been guided by her faith in God and the loving kindness she has received from others, including her mother.
Mrs. Small is an educated nurse and community activist who is dedicated to improving the lives of those who suffer from mental health issues. Her nursing career began in Trinidad and Tobago, the country of her birth, and continued after relocating to Canada. She has been an ardent advocate for improving the mental health systems in both Canada and Trinidad for over 38 years. She has been a voice for marginalized and excluded populations and has inspired key stakeholders to actively facilitate fair and just health care and access to services for underprivileged populations.
Mrs. Small has also been a sponsor for the rights of health care workers as a union representative with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). She champions for the rights of those who are being treated unfairly or ostracized for any reason including race and gender.
Mrs. Small is a board member and past chair of the African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC). In 2009, she represented the interests of black workers as part of the National African-Canadian Initiative Policy Conference.
I have had a successful banking career in Jamaica and Canada. This was followed by a thirty-year career in Canadian real estate sales for which I received many awards for Outstanding Achievements, Leadership and Service. Concurrent with my business careers, I founded a folk singing group in Canada called The Heritage Singers and have been its Music Director since inception almost forty years ago. This group has represented Canada many times at folk festivals hosted by various countries – Taiwan, Germany, The Netherlands, Venezuela and Mexico. The Heritage Singers also participated in the Jamaican Maroon cultural celebrations and performed in Harlem, New York. In Canada, the group has performed in Quebec, Ottawa, Saskatchewan and at various events in the Greater Toronto Area.
Gwyneth Matthew-Chapman, who hails from St. Lucia, grew up in New Village, Castries and attended the Anglican Primary School, before migrating to Canada in 1976, measures her success not by personal self-aggrandizement, or net worth, but by how much she can give to make the lives of those around her, those in her community, in her homeland and in Canada, better. She is a Television Broadcaster, Producer, Motivational Speaker, and a long-time Community Advocate and organizer, President of the Canadian Black Caucus and Inspiring You Media Productions and Special Advisor, Youth Engagement & Development to the Office of the Mayor.
Gwyneth is a visionary, a strong advocate for youth and, a community leader who is, respected for her ability to get things done, to get the attention and support of those in power. Her dynamic and spirited individuality is exemplified through her work with young people in numerous communities and youth organizations in Ontario. Her belief in representing underprivileged people, underpins her compassionate promotion of the numerous issues prevalent in those communities, and the individuals for whom there has been little representation.
Hannah Yohannes – My greatest accomplishments are my children, Samuel and Denise. 2. I’m humbled and proud to becoming the first Black Canadian Woman to have my short film, Home Away, featured and selected for Issa Rae’s Short Film Sunday series. 3. Volunteering with Passages Canada to speak on my experiences as an immigrant and educating others about my Eritrean heritage. 4. Working on the International Emmy Award winning Canadian documentary series, Hip-Hop Evolution, which explores the evolution of Hip-Hop.
Harriet Thornhill is a Vice President at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), where she leads a multi-business, multi-geography, integrated Contact Centre distribution channel for the bank. This includes: Telephone Banking, Direct Investing, e-mail Chat and Remote Office teams. She oversees six Centres across Canada with over 3,000 Banking Advisors and Investment Specialists.
Prior to her current role, she was Head of Caribbean Markets Personal Banking at RBC, based in Trinidad and Tobago. Her responsibility spanned across six strategic regional markets for 19 countries. Along with other members of the Caribbean Banking Operating Committee she set the overall strategic direction of RBC Financial (Caribbean).
With roots in Barbados, Harriet joined RBC in Montreal over thirty years ago and has held progressive leadership roles in:
Marketing
Recruitment
Client Experience Strategy
Leadership Development
Sales Leadership
Hazelle Palmer is a seasoned senior executive with more than 30 years of extensive progressive experience in the non-profit sector. She is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sherbourne Health, a dynamic centre for integrated health care services and community programs located in downtown Toronto. Sherbourne prioritizes populations facing unique barriers to health care which includes newcomers to Canada, lesbian, gay, bi- and trans-communities and people experiencing homelessness.
Hazelle is driven by her passion for giving back to community and creating programs and services that are responsive to community needs. An advocate for community development, she champions initiatives that build on the input of those in need and helps to imagine outcomes that build resilience and empowerment.
Heather/coco is an author and a motivational speaker. She always gives back to vulnerable populations in our Black community. In 2006, she performed at the World AIDS Conference in Toronto and has contributed her musical talent to events by the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention. She is a long time HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, a passion that grew following the death of her brother. She is a member of the LGBTQIA Community.
My greatest accomplishment is successfully raising my children, Julian, Jermain and Jessica, with my husband Franchot. I am grateful for the families they have built with loving partners and the love of my five grandchildren. I was also honoured to receive the Anglican Church Women (ACW) Woman of the Year Award from Christ Church Anglican Stouffville in 2013 and to fulfill my dream of writing my first childrens book, Rhonda the Panda in 2014.
1. Queens Jubilee diamond recipient for humanitarian efforts
2. Sitting on the Pickering Accessibility board
3. W.R.A.C. award for outstanding efforts assisting abused woman and children
Bachelor in Social Science & Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Crime Prevention Ottawa Award Finalist Recipient. Business Owner
My top 3 accomplishments are 1) founding three environmental organizations 2) developing projects and services that address health disparities experienced by Black women and Black people and 3) having my first book lead to a Netflix documentary I co-produced.
In my corporate business tenure, I was honoured to be the first black person appointed to a management position in the Head Office, Human Resources department and was selected as the first Coordinator, in my division, to initiate activities in support of cultural diversity and people with disability.
While employed in one of the largest financial institutions of Canada, I was given the opportunity of the lead role in developing and negotiating Service Level Agreements, in collaboration with senior managers and executives of other top tier banks globally. These agreements were in support of a major system, Continuous Link Settlement (CLS), that was being designed to mitigate the possibility of huge financial losses when settlements of foreign currency trades, valuing trillions of dollars, would take place daily. Top executives were on hand to watch the launch of this initiative and witnessed the first settlement transact without any business interruption. Unknown to me at that time, I was a part of creating a legacy that would today support the business of the timely settlement of Foreign Exchange transactions internationally.
Working in a leadership role at my Church has been most fulfilling and impactful. I have coached and mentored several persons across all demographics, as well as provide spiritual and practical care for many. I have watched their lives transform and, in the process, I have grown exponentially.
As President of the Essex County Black Historical Research Society, I share Black history through social media, traditional media, presentations, publications, and curriculum resources. I co-executive produced an award-winning documentary, The North Was Our Canaan. I co-founded Black Women of Forward Action, co-hosting a weekly safe space for Black women.