Afua Cooper
2016 Honourees
Dr. Afua Cooper born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, but grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, and migrated to Toronto in 1980. She is a celebrated and award-winning poet, author, historian, curator, performer, cultural worker, and recording artist. Afua holds a PhD in African-Canadian history, with specialties in slavery and abolition. She also has expertise in women’s history and New France studies and is one of Canada’s premise experts and chroniclers of the country’s Black past. Dr. Cooper has done ground-breaking work in uncovering the hidden history of Black people in Canada.
Aissatou Diajhaté is currently the West Africa Regional Manager for the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), implementing President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative and Mandela Washington Fellowship Program. She covers 21 countries in West and Central Africa, working with public and private sector organizations to promote youth engagement in the socio-economic transformation of their countries. As an International Development professional, with experience in several areas including Education and Health, Youth Engagement and Capacity Building, Program Management and Organizational Development, Ms. Diajhaté has managed partnerships with government organizations, academic institutions, funding agencies and community-based organizations in the United States, Canada and Africa. Ms. Diajhaté’s life mission is to educate, teach, mentor and facilitate transformative interventions that lift victims and survivors of social injustice to a position of leader and change agent.
As a long-time community activist, Professor Benjamin is no stranger to the labour movement. Her works and presence have greatly influenced the anti-racism policy and programs of various trade union organizations. Recently, she spearheaded the Anti-Black Racism Network to create more public awareness and mobilize efforts to eliminate the discriminatory racial profiling. In honour of Akua’s leadership and tremendous contribution to the community, Ryerson University launched an exciting initiative – the ‘Akua Benjamin legacy Project’. It is a unique recognition of the kind of activism and educational work that builds a just and inclusive community. The Project is a collaboration of academics from various postsecondary institutions with community activists from across the greater Toronto area. The primary objectives of the legacy are to host an annual ‘Akua Benjamin Public Lecture and Organize an Anti-Black Racism’ Conference. In 2016, it was held on February 18, to celebrate Black History Month. One of the initiative was to produce a document that would honour and celebrate the lives of five legendary leaders who have left a phenomenal legacy in the battle against racism and the building of a stronger community for all of us.
Alda was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia but has resided in Toronto over forty five years and her occupations have been varied. After completing a Nursing Assistant’s course, she graduated from the Addiction Research Foundation as a Counselor and worked there for seven years. Alda Arthur, a multi-talented woman of many interests was the founder and publisher of a business tabloid: Women and Business but in 1984 the business “folded”. Another interest close to Alda’s heart was the Association of Black Women which she founded in 1982. This was a club of Black business and professional women who provided support and information through business contacts and career development programs.
Arthur said the Association of Black Women did not isolate itself as a Black Group, but shared experiences with all women. The skills of the high-profile group were improved by attending seminars and workshops in the community to be used as a role model. Although the club ceased to operate in 1986, Alda continued to meet challenges on a day to day basis and is always ready to move on to other opportunities. She said with confidence at the time, “My hope is that someday the Association will rise again, in another form, by spirited Black women. It’s a need that should never die”.
Born and raised in Barbados, Alison has been a professional theatre artist since 1981. She attended Mount-Alison University in New Brunswick, Canada, on a scholarship where she studied psychology. She performed with the Pelican Players, Canada’s ‘first multicultural community theatre’. Since then she has worked with companies across Canada and in Barbados including the Green Room Players, Stage One Productions, Theatre Calgary, Canadian Stage and the Stratford Festival. Her theatre credits include “Cast Iron” (Nightwood Theatre), “The Polished Hoe” (Obsidian Theatre and the Frank Collymore Hall) and her award-winning performance as Lena Younger in Soulpepper Theatre’s production of “A Raisin in the Sun”.
She has directed theatre productions for the Company of Sirens, LKTYP, the Saidye Bronfman Centre, the National Theatre School, Neptune Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop and Obsidian Theatre. Her film and television credits include “Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures”, “This is Wonderland”, “Da Kink in My Hair”, “Dark Water”, “Honey”, “Talk to Me,” “You Kill Me” and “Naturally Sadie”. She was the voice of Storm on the animated series “The X-Men” and the voice of Scarlett on “Delilah and Julius”.
Alison has received five Dora Award nominations for acting and has won two. She is also the proud recipient of a Harry Jerome Award and a Salute to the City Award for her contribution to the Arts in Toronto, a George Luscombe Award for Mentorship and an Award of Excellence from the Caribbean Tales Film Festival.
Dr. Amal Madibbo was born in Sudan where she grew up and was schooled. She started her university education in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Khartoum in Sudan and completed it at l’Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, in France with a specialization in French Language and Literature. She then immigrated to Canada where she became the first Sudanese woman to immigrate on her own and continued her education. She obtained a Master of Arts from Carleton University in Ottawa with a specialization in French Sociolinguistics and Black Francophone literature. She graduated with a PhD in 2004 from the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education (SESE) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto where she specialized in Black Francophone immigration to and in Canada and race and anti-racism. Upon graduation, she lectured at SESE/OISE and Glendon College at Glendon College of York University in Toronto. She then joined the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary in 2007 where she is now Associate Professor.
Dr. Madibbo has made significant achievements in research as she has conducted studies in Canada, Sudan, France, Mali, Senegal, Chad and Rwanda in the areas of immigration, race and ethnicity, conflict and conflict resolution, and identity. To date, her research resulted in a book about Francophone immigration in Canada published by Routledge; an edited book about the relations between Canada and Sudan published by McGill-Queen University Press; over 30 articles, book chapters and other publications; and 46 papers delivered at national and international conferences. In addition, she integrates her research in her teaching, which results in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of immigration, globalization, and racial and ethnic relations. She also supervises students studying related issues.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Camille Logan has been an educator with the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) for 25 years. Camille was born to proud parents of Jamaican heritage and grew up in York Region, where she still resides with her husband and two sons. As a proud product of the YRDSB, she began her career as a classroom teacher committed to equity, inclusion and social justice initiatives at the school and community levels and has been well known for her strength and leadership in this area. As a result, she is frequently called upon to provide input and expertise at a variety of different levels in education to support the development of policy and procedures, in addition to professional learning for students, staff, parents and community.
As a strong school leader committed to student achievement and well-being, equity, human rights and social justice, these principles serve as the pedagogy for ensuring that all students, regardless of circumstance or social identities, are provided with the opportunity and necessary supports to achieve. Currently, Camille assumes responsibilities at the Ontario Ministry of Education as a Student Achievement Officer on secondment from YRDSB. At the Ministry level, Camille has been a contributor to a number of resource documents for educators. She is featured in an Equity of Outcome webcast on the Literacy Numeracy Secretariat website and was a member of the Ministry Equity Strategy Round Table, which developed the internationally renowned Ontario Equity Strategy,; A Promise of Diversity. Previous to Camille’s secondment to the Ministry, she had district responsibilities in Leadership Development and was the founding principal of the YRDSB’s first Inclusive School and Community Services department. This newly revised service department within the YRDSB is dedicated to supporting the work of equity and inclusive education practices across the school district.
Carol Sutherland is an award-winning activist, trade unionist, teacher, volunteer, veteran, wife, mother, and proud Black, West Indian/Canadian woman. Carol is a Client Service Representative in the Office of the Registrar at Ryerson University. She holds a B.A. in Public Administration and Governance (Minor in Business Communication), with Certificates in Human Resources Management and Occupational Health and Safety, and a Grad Certificate as a Teacher/Trainer of Adults. Carol is currently pursuing a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate at the University of Toronto, Woodsworth College.
Carol migrated from Trinidad & Tobago in the 1980’s with a sense of social responsibility already firmly planted in her mind. This was thanks to her mother who, in the 1960s and 1970s, would use their household to provide shelter for marginalized members of Trinidad’s LGBTQIA community. This meant that from an early age, Carol had internalized the message that we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper. And today, Carol Sutherland remains committed to the advancement of black people within both the academic environment and the wider society.
Carolynn Wilson, co-owner of the Sheffield Park Black History and Cultural Museum in Clarksburg, Ontario, February is not the only month when Black History is celebrated. It is a prominent part of the whole year, and Carolynn together with her sister Sylvia, are kept busy moving artifacts, setting up displays, giving talks and arranging presentations. Carolynn co-founded the museum in Collingwood with her late Uncle Howard Sheffield and it moved to Clarksburg three years ago. The Wilson and the Sheffield families were two of the first to settle in Collingwood. Both families were famous in the Grey County area in the late 1700s. “We’ve been here” said Carolynn, adding that the community always accepted her family. She also said that, although as a young girl, the portrayal of Black people in books-caricatures with exaggerated facial features – was difficult; her parents worked extra hard to ensure that she knew her self-worth.
A Career Strategist, Retirement Coach, Corporate Mentor, Speaker and owner of Cosmic Coaching Centre and ProMentoring; Cecile appeared numerous television networks, including Global News, BNN and CTS. As well, her career management advice has been featured in; The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Canadian Living, HR Professional, Women’s Post and scores of online and offline publications.
Cecile has turned over 17 years of corporate management and mentoring experience, into two highly successful career management companies. Her team of career experts’ work together with her to create, develop, and manage career initiatives for Middle Managers, Mid-Career Professionals and Executives throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Hundreds of professionals have successfully navigated their career path towards their next level of career success through the services her companies provide.
Cecile has written a number of career development e-books, and has a weekly Internet talk show on BlogTalkRadio.com. She is a committed volunteer in the community and sits on Non-Profit Boards. She is a mentor to youth in Toronto, and voluntarily provides free workshops aimed at helping young women and youth in at-risk communities. She has done much work for new college and university graduates, helping to prepare them for their first jobs. Her primary goal has been to follow the advice of Henry Kissinger: “The task of a leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.”
Cecile has been a volunteer, and a community program leader, for most of her life. She has worked tirelessly on issues important to Toronto and its residents, especially the disadvantaged amongst us.
Christine Williams, with a career spanning over 38 years with Scotiabank, is a seasoned and highly accomplished executive, who combines incisive strategic leadership talents with a proven ability to build and develop high performance teams. She has maintained a focus on helping individuals develop to their maximum potential. As Vice President of Scotiabank, Christine is responsible for marketplace management and the delivery of retail and small business banking services in Toronto Region. Her training from The Richard Ivey School of Business Leadership program and her Fellowship with the Institute of Canadian Bankers and Canadian Securities Institute (F.C.S.I.) help her achieve Scotiabank’s employee, customer, operational and financial goals.
Christine is highly regarded by colleagues and community stakeholders as a positive, vision-orientated leader and motivator, who brings innovation and resourcefulness to an endeavor. She supports initiatives in diverse communities, including the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival, where she has represented the bank. Christine’s dedication to the community has led to sponsorships for the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus Student Centre and The Scarborough Hospital Foundation, among others. Her community involvement includes directorship roles at The Scarborough Hospital Foundation, and The College Compensation and Appointments Council. Christine served as Chair of the Scarborough Chamber of Commerce and for the period 2001-2007, has been President of Tropicana Community Services, a social services organization in Toronto.
Cynthia Reyes has been blessed with a career as a creative leader and writer, and as a business leader of large, complex projects in Canada and other countries. Presently a writer of literary non-fiction, her work has been published in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Toronto Life and in Arabella Magazine. With the spring 2013 publication of her book A Good Home, and a second book in Spring 2016, Cynthia now adds ‘author’ to her career achievements.
Cynthia is a former executive producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. More than a hundred episodes of her programs have been broadcast on network television. A fearless leader of complex projects, Cynthia has won several awards for trailblazing, outstanding career achievement and mentoring. Uplifting others as she has risen in her own career is something she practices. In 2000, drawing on her strengths in change management, training, writing, public speaking and organizational development, Cynthia co-founded DiversiPro Inc. with CEO Hamlin Grange. DiversiPro is privileged to consult with some of Canada’s best-known companies and agencies.
A graduate from Ryerson University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Cynthia was a journalist and award-winning broadcaster at the peak of her career when, in 2005, a devastating car accident changed all that. Reyes was rear-ended and the accident injured her foot, leg and back and left her with chronic pain and other long-term impacts.
Debbie Douglas is the Executive Director of OCASI -the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, Canada’s largest umbrella organization for agencies working with immigrants, refugees and other migrant populations. Through her work in the NGO sector and particularly at OCASI, Ms. Douglas has highlighted issues of equity and inclusion including the areas of race, gender, economic class and sexual orientation within the immigration system and promoted the creation of safe, welcoming spaces within the immigrant and refugee settlement and integration sector.
Delores Lawrence has an MBA, RN and is the founder; President & CEO of NHI Nursing & Homemakers Incorporated since 1985. Born in Jamaica and migrated to Canada in 1969. She completed her Secondary and University education in Canada and chooses her first career as a Registered Nurse. After graduation, she worked in major teaching hospitals in critical care nursing and as a nursing supervisor. In 1985, Delores became the passionate founder of an Award winning Canadian healthcare company known as Nursing & Homemakers Inc. aka NHI Healthcare. A company that provides opportunities to close to 800 individuals comprising of temporary, permanent, casual and contract workers, with over 72 different languages and dialects spoken throughout the organization across Ontario, Canada. NHI offers health care staffing and home care services to clients in hospitals, long term care facilities, insurance companies, dentists and other healthcare companies. Delores has a passion for helping those that are needy in our society and is accountable for doing so. Ethics, accountability and compassion are practiced throughout the organization and this helps in providing the high quality of service to her clientele and employees. With her leadership, NHI is committed to continuous quality improvement. In March 2013, the organization had an organizational review and scored a 99.3% overall rating by Accreditation Canada. This is an organization that measures NHI’s standard of practice against national standards.
Archbishop Dr. Deloris Seiveright was born in Jamaica and has been in Canada since 1969. She is the Founder and Archbishop of the Shouters National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith International Centre of Canada, overseeing the Canadian Archdiocese and co-founder of one of the first Spiritual Baptist churches in Toronto, St. Frederic’s Cathedral. A distinguished member of the Caribbean Religious Community, the Archbishop has not limited her time and contributions to her church alone, but has also provided a community service in Ontario and abroad. A recipient of awards like the African Canadian Achievement Award and the Racial Harmony Award, Badge of Honour for Long Service in Religion from the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award Medal in November 2012 from The Province of Ontario. Dr. Seiveright’s vision, enthusiasm and leadership skills are exemplified through her longstanding years of volunteer work.
Her work empowers youths and builds their future with love for the betterment of the community. She has developed and implemented youth mentorship, entrepreneurial and crime prevention programs. She serves and mentors young people, building their self-esteem respect, spiritual awareness, honesty, and humanity through her coaching. She also provides youth employment opportunities and has launched a scholarship fund to assist youths with their education.
Denise has been a member of the Ontario Public Service since 2010 and has held key leadership roles in the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the Ministry of Community and Social Services. She joined the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in 2015 where she is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Workforce Planning and Regulatory Affairs.
Denise Siele is an award-winning public affairs professional and the President of SEMgroup Public Affairs, a strategic events firm through which she has successfully collaborated with a top range of government, business and civil society leaders and stakeholders. Her diverse clientele has included heads of states, the Governments of Canada, Alberta, Ontario and the Yukon, the United Nations Association in Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Also, as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations at Equal Voice, she manages Canada-wide efforts to get more women elected to legislatures across the country.
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Denise moved to Ottawa as a young teenager accompanying her mother on a diplomatic posting. At the conclusion of the term, her mother returned to Kenya to run for public office, the first woman in her community to do so. Denise, then 18 years old elected to remain in Ottawa where she continued her education while setting course for a dynamic contributing journey — launching SEMgroup in 2004, and balancing entrepreneurial excellence with philanthropy by donating countless hours to many local and international community initiatives.
Fond highlights include her tenure as Dean’s list student at Carleton University’s Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and Policy Management, during which she founded one of the most successful student organizations which earned her the Association of the Year Honours, and helped establish Carleton’s Race and Ethnicity Hall.
Djanet Sears was born Janet Sears in London, England to parents of Caribbean descent; her mother is Jamaican and her father is Guyanese. She lived in England until 1974, when her family moved from London to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada. Her family then relocated to Oakville, Ontario in 1975 and Djanet remained there until 1977. She then moved to Toronto, Ontario to attend York University and there, received an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. She also studied at the Canadian Film Centre and New York University in New York. In the 1980s, questioning her place in Canada as member of a visible minority and in search of her ancestral roots she traveled to West Africa. It was a cathartic experience, when she came across a plateau area called Djanet. This inspired her to change her name to Djanet and embrace her African ancestry. She returned to Canada and constructed the play Africa Solo, a semiautobiographical one-woman show about her path of self-discovery from childhood through her time in Africa. Published in 1990, it was the first play by an African-Canadian playwright to be published. The Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio produced the play and she won the International Armstrong Award for Outstanding Radio Play, which brought her national recognition and a lightning rod to galvanize a force for the African-Caribbean theatre movement.
Sears has earned international fame as a talented writer, director and performer. She has written critically acclaimed plays, in addition to Afrikca Solo, Harlem Duet and the Adventurers of a Black Girl in Search of God-a work for which she won Canada’s highest literary award, The Governor General’s Literary Award, in 1998. She has directed and produced numerous other plays and has won several awards. There are central themes present in all of Sears’s plays. The most obvious themes presented have to deal with race relations, with gender issues, with individual as well collective identity searching and with political action. All of her main chapters are women, and while most of their struggles are universal, they do face certain issues that are specific to being woman. Djanet also belongs to a number of organizations and is the founding member of the Obsidian Theatre in Toronto, a theatre dedicated to producing works by authors of African descent living or working Canada.