Toronto – Fifteen individuals from the Black community have been chosen by the Selection Committee of the African Canadian Achievement Awards of Excellence (ACAA) to be honoured as "contemporary Black history-makers", on Saturday, February 25, at the ACAA's 33rd annual gala, one of the premier events to mark Black History Month.
Recipients for the 2017 ACA Awards in the various categories are:
Arts/Entertainment: The Heritage Singers-Canada, a popular 40-year-old folk and spiritual choir.
Business: Marie Clarke Walker, the youngest and first Black to hold the position of Executive Vice-President at the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC); currently, an executive member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
Community Service: John O'Dell, a national representative of Unifor, and co-chair of the Toronto Police Service's (TPS) Black Community-Police Liaison Committee.
Education: Dr. Rinaldo Walcott, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology and Equity Studies, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at The University of Toronto.
Law: Ingrid Berkeley-Brown, Supt of 21 Division, Peel District Police Service, the highest ranking female Black police officer in Canada.
Management and Leadership: Mark Beckles, Head of RBC Insurance Advice Centre.
Media: Anthony Joseph, President and Publisher of The Caribbean Camera newspaper.
Medicine: Sheryl Bernard, founding president of the Jamaican-Canadian Nursing Association and Head of Bernard Consultancy.
Parenting: Rev. Mr. Royston and Mrs. Claire Jones, married for 47 years who their children describe as "exemplars of parenting".
Politics: Eric Williams, Trustee for Mississauga Ward 5 at the Peel District School Board, for over 20 years.
Religion: Pastor Kay Morris, multi-award winning Reggae Gospel Hall-Of-Famer; President of the Kay Morris Foundation.
Science: Dr. Tabo Sikaneta, researcher, general internist and nephrologist at The Scarborough Hospital.
Sports: Jeffrey L. Orridge, the 13th and first African Canadian Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Youth Achievement: Remi Ojo Jr., all-round achiever who has excelled in academics, sports, entrepreneurship, and is giving back to the community.
Lifetime Achievement: Delores Lawrence, O. Ont., MBA, RN, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nursing and Homemakers Inc.
The ACAA gala will also celebrate Canada's 150th birthday and the significant contributions, made by thousands of African Canadians – from Matheui De Costa, in the early 17th century, to Viola Desmond, Rosemary Brown, the Hon. Lincoln Alexander, to hundreds of contemporary, hard-working, industrious persons of African ancestry – towards the development and success of their beloved country.
ACAA will acknowledge and recognise the 50th anniversary of the launch of Caribana, the Caribbean's exposition of its culture, inaugurated in 1967, by paying tribute to the founders of the organisation – in person.
Venue for the 33rd.ACAA gala is the Jane Mallett Theatre, inside the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street, East, Toronto.
ACAA was established in June, 1985 by Michael L. Van Cooten, Founder, Publisher and Editor of Pride News Magazine, with the aim of finding, recognising and honouring high-achieving African Canadians, and "using their success stories of excellence to inspire and motivate the community's youth to emulate these contemporary Black history-makers".