Pauline Christian
2016 Honourees
Pauline Christian is graduate of Mico University (formerly Mico Teachers College, JA) in the disciplines of Social Science and Physical Education. Upon her arrival in Canada she immediately pursued her degree in Business Administration at York University, minoring in Political Science and Psychology. Later on, she pursued and successfully completed her Masters in Project Management at York University Schulich School of Business.
Dr. Rita M. Cox, D. Litt.C.M., born in Trinidad & Tobago, is recognized as a ’Canadian Icon” who is a Librarian by profession. She is known internationally as a gifted story-teller, educator, activist, pioneer, a patriot and admired as a leader in her community. She has been described as “an exceptional individual who, through her love for the spoken and written word, has inspired people of all ages and has opened the literary world to her audiences”. Dr. Cox joined the Toronto Public Library as a children’s librarian in 1960. In 1972, she became the Head of the Parkdale Branch, and launched literacy programs and other initiatives that promoted multiculturalism through Toronto. During her tenure, in 1973, Dr. Cox pioneered the library’s Black Heritage and West Indian Resource Collection which was renamed in 1998 to the Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection. It soon became the most comprehensive collections of its kind in Canada with over 16,000 titles. In 2006, the collection was renamed The Rita Cox Black heritage and Caribbean collection, materials for which are in four Toronto Public Library Branches and today, continues to be a source of pride in the community. After her retirement in 1995, from the Toronto Public Library, Dr. Cox was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1997. She was appointed a Citizenship Court Judge by the Government of Canada in 2000.
Rose-Ann Marie Bailey, B.F.A., (Honours), B.Ed., M.Ed., is a Jamaican born artist who began using photography as a medium to document alternative images of Black people than those offered by the mainstream media. Toronto-based photographer, Bailey is a graduate of York University where she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) and Education degrees, as well as a Master’s in Education. Her research centres on the use of arts-based community research as health intervention for low socio-economic communities.
Sandra came to Canada from Guyana in 1967. However, before migrating to Canada, she worked for three years in the field of Social and Welfare Services, which partially satisfied her passion for travel, meeting new people, learning the culture in different areas and really expanding her knowledge and horizon. She also worked as a Supply Teacher in the Public School System, particularly with children, and there, she was able to use her training in Early Childhood education.
In Canada, she first worked as a Supply Teacher in the Scarborough, Durham, Toronto and North York School boards. She studied and later earned a Certificate in Advanced Early Childhood Education from the University of Toronto. Sandra also worked in a pre and post-natal Nursing Program. Since that time, she has worked as a Childhood Early Education Certified Teacher at the Metro Social Services Division until she retired in 2005. However, Sandra may have left the formal work force but that did not stop her from utilizing her time elsewhere. After the “Coup” in Haiti in 1994, she traveled there with some members from her church to assist the children, women and seniors in various ways. She taught craft, English and mathematics, sewing and Bible studies. Sandra is very passionate about helping others. She volunteers at her Church as a Sunday sSchool teacher helping the youth, the homeless and other women in her community. She is described as the “Consummate Volunteer”. She also volunteered at Gilda’s Club for 10 years, working with children with cancer. She taught craft, took them to day-camp and engaged them in sing-a-long. The parents were also welcomed to participate.
For 40 years, Sandra has been a volunteer and member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, from a cadet to her senior years which means she became part the Fellowship Division.
Sandra is a Renaissance woman whose tenacity, humour and expertise have helped her forged strong communications with diverse audiences across numerous communities. She has been at the epicentre of activity and change in Toronto’s African Canadian community for many years. She has worked with, among others, The Black Business & Professional Association, as President and Board member, Chaired the Walk Good Walkathon at the Jamaican Canadian Association, Chaired the Women of Distinction Awards at the YWCA, Chaired the Fundraising Committee at Factory Theatre, Chaired the Obsidian Theatre Board, was a board member of The Caribbean Cultural Committee Board, a member of the Metro Convention Centre and many more organizations over the years.
She is now President of PACE Canada, an organization supporting Early Childhood Education projects in Jamaica and Canada. She was awarded the Harry Jerome Award for Community Leadership in 2002, has received the JCA Award and the Gleaner Awards for Community Service.
Sharon Joseph is a graduate of York University with a BA in Sociology, who migrated from Trinidad and Tobago 28 years ago. Sharon is the Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit Social Services and Employment agency Breakaway Relief Foundation. For over a decade, Sharon has worked as a Social Advocate and Crime Prevention Advocate in the African Canadian community, and the Jane Finch area in particular, continually supporting the needs and issues in the heart of the community.
Sharon initiated the concept of a peaceful community in the Jane Finch community using Peace, Love and Unity as a methodology in fostering a caring community. Her outreach education and awareness programs focused on saving our young black men from dropping out of school and becoming wards of the prison system.
In the midst of Sharon’s work within communities and agencies, she has established an annual Peace Walk and Fair in the Jane and Finch community. Sharon developed a memorial of victims as a teaching piece to educate young people of the danger and impact that stems from gun violence.
It is not the numerous awards and accolades that make Shernett Martin qualified for inclusion in this publication, but what she has done tirelessly to earn them and the fact that she gets the tasks done with passion and without giving any thought to who is paying attention. An immigrant from Jamaica, Shernett started volunteering as an adolescent and by the age of 19, she was teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in a church basement and becoming the Coordinator for the Scarborough Black Education Organization. Racism, sexism, homophobia and anti-Semitism did not go unnoticed when her schoolmates had to face such negative behaviour. She formed a theatre company, wrote and produced a play called “Today’s Lesson, and received funding support from the Province of Ontario, to have her ground-breaking play travel throughout schools and communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). She subsequently founded a non-profit organization in Vaughan ten years ago that works with marginalized youths to mentor and support them academically and socially.
During all these activities, Shernett pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and two years later, another in Education. She did not rest on those laurels – she later pursued a Master’s Degree in Education. Despite her busy schedule with academic studies, she continued to be involved in educational and writing projects, speaking and fund-raising engagements, and membership on various boards and committees.
Shernett is known as a well-respected, innovative and committed teacher by profession, workshop creator, facilitator, motivational speaker and published author, with a brilliant mind. Among her publications is: “My Friend Chantal Has Sickle Cell Disease “.
Stacey Berry is founder and owner of Bstellar Consulting Group, which provides premium soft skills and community development training, as well as consulting services in event management and content development for private and non-profit companies. Stacey has more than 10 years’ experience teaching youth and adults from diverse communities.
I would say, my greatest accomplishments were: being elected to public office in one of the City’s most marginalized community, and to serve in that capacity for twenty-three years, and also being the first Black female who was elected to the Toronto District School Board, undefeated.
Terese Sears believes much of her accomplishments have been nurtured by a strong loving connection to her family as well as her mindset. She says “Determination, desire and vision have to walk hand in hand with honesty and kindness, with that as your resolve, anything is possible”. Born in London, England, her family immigrated to Canada in the 1970’s settling in Oakville, Ontario. She brought with her a sense of style, optimism and determination. It was this combination that Terese translated into success as a Journalist, writer, and Designer. After high school Sears headed to the city she lovingly calls home, Toronto where she attended the University of Toronto.
Her first career passion was television. Starting at CityTV she learned the news business hands- on through a variety of mediums; news editing, media promotion and the craft of storytelling. It was also where she conceived the idea for her first business venture; a fashion production and promotion company called The Canadian Fashion Alliance. It successfully propelled the careers of several high profile Canadian Designers. Ironically, the company also led Sears back to television. She was hired by Global News as their Fashion Expert.
Sears became a much loved fixture on Global, and traveled the world as a Reporter. She says she interviewed “Everyone from Prime Ministers to prime suspects“. Terese is also a founding member of the Canadian Association of Black Journalists. After nearly 20 years in news gathering, the award winning Journalist decided to make a quality of life shift to focus on her other passion; Interior Design. Sears opened a retail store and Interior Design firm called AT Design. The company specializes in spatial planning, renovation consultancy and interior decorating.
Thando Hyman is a dynamic young leader and highly qualified educator with a proven track record that encapsulates her professional career. With over 18 years of teaching and administrative experience in the Toronto District School Board, she has a demonstrated commitment to educational and community leadership, to student success and teaching practice, curriculum development, and to equity and diversity. Ms. Hyman has served as an Equity Instructional Leader at the Toronto District school Board and Principal of General Brock Public School, the Africentric Alternative School. She is currently Principal of Alexander Stirling Public School in the Malvern community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from York University.
Thando Hyman was the first Principal of Toronto’s Africentric Alternative School which opened its doors in September 2009 for students from JK to Grade 5. Due to the overwhelming response and support for the school, the enrolment doubled to 160 students by the end of its first week in September 2009. In its second year, the Africentric Alternative School made national headlines when the inaugural Grade 3 class significantly outperformed both the school board and the province with 69% in reading, and 81% in writing and mathematics. With the success of the Africentric Alternative School, the TDSB has now commenced a secondary program.
Tracey-Acadia Thomas is the founding Editor in Chief of Soulful Image – a ministry magazine dedicated to encourage, uplift and inspire people of all walks of life. Since its inception in January 2014, Tracey has been recognized for her contribution to the community as a business owner, author, writer and entrepreneur. She was nominated, and won, the Woman on Fire Media Award in April 2015, “Built To Inspire” Premised on Excellence Award and “2016 Queens Rising Together Award Toronto”. She is the founder and part owner, along with her husband, of Thomex Inc., the corporation to Fareal Clothing, Fareal Custom Tees, Soulful Image Magazine and Faith Filled Books online Christian bookstore. Through her businesses, she has sponsored and supported many business and community events throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Tracey-Acadia is also the owner of Soulful Woman Ministries, the founding ministry of Soulful Image Magazine and Soul Sistas fellowship group. Soulful Woman Ministries is a large sponsor of Happy Period GTA charity organization and Eternal Springtime non-profit organizations providing menstrual products and more to the shelters, as well as supporting other community organizations and women’s events throughout the city of Toronto. In 1996, Tracey studied Fine Arts at York University working towards a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Voice/Performance and Musical Theatre. Her musical background includes classical, gospel, pop, jazz and soft rock. Although music is her first passion, she continues to sing at weddings, funerals, other functions and events. As a praise and worship leader, she has sung on the show Encounter with Peter Youngren, on Grace TV as a part of the Encounter Band. She also sang on an award winning record, Alive in Me, having won the Gospel Music Association of Canada’s Covenant Award for Gospel Song of the Year 2007 for the song Because of You.
Valarie H.A. Steele has lived and worked in Canada for the past 45 years. Her range of experience includes financial, government, self-employment and community activism.
Valarie Steele has been working in the Black Community for more than 40 years. Her advocacy began in the schools, assisting single mothers with issues that were adversely affecting their children. Those early days were very interesting because she did not have children of her own, as yet; but, the sting of racism was still there. It was very evident that in order to fix many issues in the community she had to focus on the children and that meant helping mothers to deal with all kinds of issues. Once she became a parent, she became involved with the school and school boards in order to ensure that the school had black teachers. She was Chair of the School Council for many years. She had resounding successes and that was very helpful to the community and school community.
That training ground prepared her for the activism in the wider community. In her journey, she became President of the Jamaican Canadian Association (“JCA”). There are several programmes offered at the social services arm of the JCA. They not only made things better for the women but their children benefitted exponentially. The Violence Against Women’s Programme is a remarkable initiative because it gives women the information needed in order to make informed decisions.
Mrs. Francis has volunteered her time as the Public Relations Officer for the Mississauga 55 Plus Caribbean Canadian Group. In that capacity, she has spent countless hours connecting Black seniors to educational resources in the areas of politics, finance, physical and mental health, social issues and spirituality. She has received several awards from the organization for her outstanding contribution.
Yara Vasconcelos is a multidisciplinary artist best known for her passionate, creative expressions through dance, choreography, and fine arts. Born in Huambo, Angola, Yara comes from a family where arts and self-expression were an integral part of daily life. Creativity runs in her family, with relatives who are teachers, actors, musicians and crafters. Even at six years of age, adults were astounded by her Art skill, not believing that she had drawn such intricate pieces herself. At 11, Yara moved to Canada where her passion and skills blossomed. When she arrived in the country, Yara did not speak English, and so she used the language of art and dance to express herself.
Yara draws inspiration from a myriad of sources. Her daily encounters with people, her dreams, music, her movement, emotions, nature and popular culture, all feed into her art work. Her style is playful, adventurous, diverse, fluid and organic. Her paintings are alive with movement. Yara plays with both figurative and abstract elements in her paintings. Elements of her African culture are evident throughout her work, as she uses bright, bold colours, rich textures, and bead work of the Angolan people. Her art and paintings are part of several private collections in Canada, Austria, Portugal and Italy, and have been showcased in numerous art exhibits in Canada.
Through her extensive work in race relations, social justice, politics, and labour relations, Yvette Blackburn has made her mark as an astute leader, strong political advocate, and effective community activist. Yvette has sound knowledge and application in strategic organizational change, Equity and Education. A very forward thinking individual who does not sit in indifference when wrongs are being committed. Even in the face of adversity, she champions the rights of citizens, believes in the principles of fairness, and the public voice.
Joining the Ontario Public Service where I served for thirty-three years and being an activist member of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, speaking out on such issues as human rights and equity within and outside of the union. As a direct result, I held many elected positions. The positions that I am most proud of are: Chair, OPSEU’s Provincial Women’s Committee, Vice-President, Ontario Federation of Labour representing people of colour and Chair, OPS Network for Racial Minorities; these positions gave me the opportunity to contribute in the development of policy papers and workshops on issues such as Employment Equity, Child Care, and Workplace Discrimination to name a few. I am very proud that I participated in these
Zanana Akande has worked towards social justice in our society by addressing education, communications and the media, feminism, race relations and social change. She once co-hosted a Toronto Arts Against Apartheid Festival. She has worked as a teacher, consultant and administrator in the public education system, and a lecturer at the university level. She continues to speak on issues of effective communication, social change, community development and diversity, a topic she has presented locally and abroad. Zanana has worked in the media with MTV.