Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards Honour Six for Sterling Service

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed.   Kurt Davis, Jamaica's Consul-General at Toronto

 

As Jamaica’s consul-general at Toronto, Kurt Davis has witnessed firsthand the strong volunteerism of members of the Jamaican diaspora in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. On many occasions, he was either delivering greetings in his official role or attending as a supporter of multiple initiatives organized within the community.

 

It was no surprise then that in 2025, he held the first Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards (JDIA) to recognize outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to community development, culture, education, health, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.

The JDIA was initiated to honour excellence, celebrate impact, and highlight the invaluable role of the Jamaican community in Canada’s multicultural fabric.

With over 100 nominations from the community, a panel of judges selected five Jamaican-Canadians for the JDIA, with the sixth—the icon awardee—proposed by the consulate and agreed to by the panel.

Verna Andrade, Diana R. Burke, Maureen Henry, Dwayne Winston Holness, and Dionne Sinclair will be presented with JDIA awards, while Trevor Lloyd Massey will be accorded the status of icon at the second annual Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards Gala on October 23 at the Toronto Botanical Garden in Toronto. 

 

Happening under the theme, “Celebrating Legacy, Leadership and Community Impact,” Davis notes that, “The Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards are about recognizing people whose leadership, service and commitment have made a meaningful difference over many years.  

 

“The Jamaican diaspora in Canada is filled with extraordinary individuals who continue to strengthen communities while maintaining deep and meaningful connections to Jamaica. The JDIA gives us an opportunity to celebrate their stories, honour their work, and inspire the next generation of community leaders.”

 

Their stories represent a broad range of diaspora impact, including leadership in

education, healthcare, youth development, culture, entrepreneurship, community service,

mentorship, advocacy and charitable work across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Photo contributed.        Verna Andrade, President of Canadian Friends of St. Thomas Health Care Organization

 

Originally from Johnson Mountain in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Andrade has built her life around service, resilience, and a deep commitment to uplifting her community. 

Noting that her journey from Jamaica to Canada was one of courage, determination, and perseverance, she migrated to Canada as a domestic worker in 1967 under the West Indian Domestic Scheme, continued her education, and had a respected career in health care, eventually retiring as a registered nurse.

She believes meaningful impact does not always begin on a stage; often, it begins through faithful service, organizations that strengthen community, and personal acts of encouragement, mentorship, and compassion.

“When doing something for others, you don’t have to let everyone know you’re doing it. It’s about the impact that the person you’re doing it for gets and the satisfaction you get. It has nothing to do with media attention.”

The longstanding member of the Jamaican Canadian Association has been the president of the Canadian Friends of St. Thomas Health Care Organization for 16 years. The Toronto-based charitable organization travels to Jamaica annually with eye-care experts and volunteers to address vision care needs in the island. 

Andrade shared an anecdote of a girl, who upon receiving a free pair of eyeglasses, told her mother that she could now see clearly and was not dunce at school. She also met a woman who could finally read her bible without asking her grandchildren to do it for her.

Photo contributed    Diana R. Burke, President of PACE Canada (Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education)

Burke is a business leader, philanthropist and community advocate whose more than four decades of leadership have been distinguished by an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Jamaicans and strengthening communities in Jamaica and Canada.

 

As the president of PACE Canada (Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education), she has devoted decades to improving early childhood education and creating opportunities for some of Jamaica’s youngest and most vulnerable learners.

 

In 2003, she pioneered a mobile computer-laboratory program that brought computers, trained teachers and basic computer education to more than 5,000 children aged four to six in remote Jamaican communities. 

 

She later led PACE in developing technology-based early childhood education initiatives in partnership with the University of the West Indies, One Laptop Per Child and the Government of Jamaica.

 

When COVID-19 school closures threatened to widen the educational divide, Burke acquired and distributed 2,500 OneTab educational devices to 500 kindergarten schools across Jamaica, giving young children access to personalized reading, writing and mathematics programs without requiring internet connectivity. Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to deploy these devices.

 

She has also used her leadership and philanthropic network to support Jamaicans through her work as president and director of the People Bridge Charitable Foundation. 

 

Burke mobilized donors to provide funding to Alpha Boys’ Institute in Kingston for its music and skills-based training programs serving at-risk youth.  She has also helped secure support for medical equipment for hospitals in Jamaica.

 

For her, leadership is ultimately measured not by titles or professional accomplishments, but by the opportunities created for and through others.

 

“Leadership to me is bringing people together to accomplish a common goal so while I may have ideas of things to do—I want to put a bus with computers in Jamaica—I have to find people who buy into that vision, and then I need people with the skills to make that vision happen,” said Burke who is serving for the third time as president of PACE Canada and noted that the organization has had great boards of directors.

 

Preparing to celebrate its 40^th anniversary in 2027, PACE Canada has plans to host several events throughout the year.

Photo contributed     Maureen Henry

 

Born in Kingston, Henry was raised in a family where the value of giving back

was not only encouraged but expected. This early foundation shaped a lifelong dedication

to service. 

 

She volunteered at a basic school supporting young children between the ages of one and six, and took that passion with her to Ontario in the 1970s supporting her son’s daycare community. Henry further demonstrated her civic commitment by volunteering in political outreach initiatives, encouraging community participation in the democratic process.

 

Her dedication to community development deepened through her extensive involvement with nonprofit organizations. At Community MicroSkills Development Centre in Rexdale, she served for over 15 years on the board of directors in multiple leadership roles, including secretary, vice chair, and chair of the volunteer committee. 

 

She also contributed to United Way initiatives through the organization. Her efforts helped

countless individuals re-enter the workforce, pursue training, and regain economic independence. Such was her commitment that she later served professionally as an employment and mentorship counsellor until 2019. 

 

Henry returned to school in 2009 to become a community social service worker. During her placement at COSTI in Brampton, she supported internationally trained professionals, helping them navigate settlement challenges and connect with mentorship opportunities, empowering newcomers to successfully integrate into Canadian society.

 

Earlier this year, the Jamaican Canadian Association recognized Henry for her volunteer work supporting Hurricane Melissa relief initiatives.

Photo contributed.    Dwayne Winston Holness, Founder and Creative Director of Core Creative Inc.

 

Holness, the founder and creative director of Corex Creative Inc., was five years old when his 23-year-old mother, Yvonne Robinson, left Kingston and started over in Canada. 

They arrived with nothing and built from the ground up in Jane and Finch, in Toronto's north end. 

 

He created his multimillion-dollar cinematic brand storytelling agency from a side hustle. Corex has produced campaigns and films for several Canadian companies and institutions. 

 

In 2022, Holness made his CBC directorial debut with “Hodan's Story” for CBC Docs Shorts, a portrait of the late Somali Canadian journalist Hodan Nalayeh, a friend and mentor he met at FEVA TV, who was killed in Kismayo in 2019. That same year, he directed “The Blackburn Story” for Historica Canada, on the couple who escaped enslavement in Kentucky and built Toronto's first taxi company.

 

Holness has been working on a book, “Calculated Steps: Taking Responsibility for the Life You Are Building,” which began as a hashtag he started posting in 2015. He has written nineteen chapters, opening with a letter to his mother, and plans to publish it in 2027. 

 

“The letter represents a reflection and pays homage to my mother and the sacrifices that she made, especially to bring me to Canada and give me an opportunity to live out the passions and the desires that I have.”

 

He said the letter represents her strength and commitment to wanting better for both of them.

 

“I saw my mom work day in and day out; she never made it feel like we didn’t have. Her commitment to that really instilled a level of resilience in me to make me see that whatever I do put my mind to is possible,” said Holness who noted that his mother is very proud of him.

 

When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in 2025, Holness co-founded Jamaica Strong and raised over $20,000 in nine days for relief. He travelled to the country with a camera visiting St. James, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth. That work became “Jamaica Strong: Rising After The Storm,” a short documentary of what they found across those parishes. 

 

In 2026, he was accepted as a mentor with the CreaTech Incubator, run by Kingston Creative out of downtown Kingston. He now works one-on-one with a Jamaican founder through a full incubation cycle, helping a creative build a business there.

 

“To be able to help a young creative from where I was born, that for me is special to be able to give back in those ways. For me, it’s about serving, so as much people as I can serve that’s where the impact is going to last. It gives me an opportunity to live through people.”

Photo contributed.    Dionne Sinclair, Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Nursing Executive at CAMH

 

Sinclair is an internationally recognized certified healthcare executive, community builder, and financial literacy advocate whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, excellence, and empowerment across the diaspora. 

 

She currently serves as vice president, clinical operations and chief nursing executive at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, where she brings an energizing and compassionate leadership style that empowers teams and inspires excellence.

 

Sinclair initiated Career Day, a signature CAMH program that invites underestimated students from the Greater Toronto Area's Public and Catholic School Boards into the hospital to meet and learn directly from Black healthcare leaders working across every area of the organization. 

 

The program opens doors for young people who rarely see themselves reflected in senior healthcare roles, offering mentorship, exposure, and a tangible pathway into the health professions.

 

She serves on the board of trustees at CAMH, is involved with the Pan-Canadian Nurses of

African Descent, and is the founder of the Canadian Black Nurses Network, an organization

dedicated to supporting, connecting, and elevating Black nurses across Canada.

 

For the past four years, Sinclair has served on the board of directors of Curling Jamaica, Jamaica's national curling team, supporting the growth and international representation of a sport that continues to break new ground for Jamaican athletes on the world stage. 

 

Her involvement reflects her willingness to show up for community institutions that expand what is possible for Jamaicans and people of Jamaican descent, whether on the ice, in the hospital, or in a boardroom.

Photo contributed.   Trevor Lloyd Massey, Founder of the Lifelong Leadership Institute

 

Massey, who was born in Kingston and has devoted his life to service—both to Jamaica and to Canada, where he has lived for nearly six decades—said his formative years at Wolmer’s Boys School laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to leadership. 

 

Commenting on the JDIA Icon Award, he says he sees himself as simply being the person who embodies the collective efforts of so many others.

 

“What it says to me is that I’m fronting for a lot of other outstanding people for the next generation. I’m actually a person who is embodying the efforts of many other Jamaicans who have contributed over a lifetime to helping young people, Black youth, the Jamaican diaspora. If not me, it could be any other of these people because we’re all at a certain stage where we’ve seen the need and we’ve committed ourselves to helping as best we can.”

 

The retired college registrar of Centennial College for more than 30 years founded the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) in Toronto, in 2012, as part of an initiative to recognize and celebrate Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of independence. 

 

The organization is dedicated to leadership development and educational advancement for Black youth through its flagship programs, Leadership by Design, and SummerUp.

 

Massey has volunteered his expertise to numerous community initiatives, including the Heritage Singers Canada’s initiatives to host performances by Jamaica’s Pantomime Company in Toronto; the early development of Tropicana Community Services; and leadership roles such as president of the Wolmer’s Alumni Association – Toronto. 

For more than a decade, he co‑produced the highly regarded Wolmer’s Luncheon Concert fundraiser. He served as chair of the Black Business and Professional Association’s National Scholarships Program and as vice‑president of Jamaica 50 Celebrations Inc., the organization responsible for Toronto’s commemoration of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary in 2012. 

In the early years of the University of the West Indies’ Annual Toronto Benefit Gala, Massey contributed as a dedicated volunteer.

Left to right: Consul-General Kurt Davis, Diana R. Burke, Dwayne Winston Holness, Marcia Brown, and Verna Andrade at Consulate General of Jamaica at Toronto

 

Tickets for the 2026 Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards Gala are available at jdia.netlify.app. 

 

 

Three Jamaican-Canadians philanthropists appointed to national honours

By Neil Armstrong

Photo credit: Clifton Li.     Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University

Three Jamaican-Canadians were among the 140 individuals appointed to Jamaica’s National Honours and Awards as the country celebrated its 64^th anniversary of independence on August 6.

Philanthropist Donette Chin-Loy Chang has been appointed to the Order of Jamaica for her contribution to nation building in Jamaica and Canada through her philanthropic efforts.

Wes Hall was appointed to the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander for his contribution to nation building in Jamaica and Canada through his philanthropic efforts. 

And, Karl Hale was appointed to the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer for his philanthropy and sports, in particular tennis.

For Chin-Loy Chang, this is a recognition of the work that she has done and the lives that she has touched, many of whom she does not know.

“I am deeply honoured to be recognised by the country of my birth,” she said, noting that, “No matter where in the world I go, I carry Jamaica in my heart.”

The philanthropist was quick to say that her appointment is dedicated to those who helped her, “all these people who have worked tirelessly because nobody ever does it by themself.” 

Over a long time, Chin-Loy Chang has been touching the lives of many Jamaicans in multiple ways. At her alma mater, Immaculate Conception High School, she was instrumental in establishing a vehicle for the school to raise funds for scholarships – the Hall of Fame.

She has also supported other schools, and 18 years ago alongside her late husband, G. Raymond Chang, became the patron of the annual The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Awards. He was appointed to the Order of Jamaica in 2011.

Chin-Loy Chang, who was invested into the Order of Ontario in June, was installed as the sixth chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University in October 2024.

She is sharing the Order of Jamaica with all the teams with whom she worked, her family, and she extended congratulations to all the other honourees.

Photo credit: York University              Wes Hall, Chairman and Founder of WeShall Investments, at the Fall Convocation at York University where he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on October 12, 2023.

Hall, chairman and founder of WeShall Investments, and the 35^th chancellor of the University of Toronto posted a message of gratitude on his LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

 

“Today is an important day on Jamaica’s calendar.  It’s Independence Day. The day the island finally won its independence because of the gigantic effort of so many Jamaicans. On this day, under the National Honours and Awards Act, the country awards honours to its citizens that are instrumental in uplifting Jamaica and Jamaicans. 

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to share that I am among 140 Jamaicans receiving national honours. I have been awarded the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander: one of the highest national honours the Government of Jamaica can bestow.”

Noting that the Commander of the Order of Distinction is the fifth highest national honour in the country awarded to Jamaican citizens who have rendered outstanding and important services to Jamaica, Hall said he was grateful.

“I have no words that feel adequate for this moment. I left Jamaica as a teenager with very little. A grandmother's voice constantly in my head. A belief that where I started was not where I was going to finish. I have not and will never forget where I came from. I never stopped trying to give back to the island that gave me everything before I had anything to give in return.

“This honour belongs to my grandmother first. And to every Jamaican who works diligently to uplift Jamaica and Jamaicans. I will cherish this for the rest of my life,” he wrote.

He noted that it was a privilege to carry this distinction.

Photo contributed   Karl Hale, Founder and Chairman of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation

Hale is the founder and CEO of Premier Racquet Clubs, and also the director of the National Bank Open Toronto Tournament, one of the longest-running professional tennis tournaments in the world, which is currently taking place in Toronto and Montreal. 

He is also the founder and chairman of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF), a North America-based organisation seeking to improve the lives of the next generation of children, young adults and their communities by creating a world-class education system through investment in infrastructure, health, wellness and leadership.

Since 2006, it has built 27 new schools across Jamaica, completed two restorations projects on HHJF schools, supported over 60 additional projects including hurricane relief, provided access to education for over 15,000 students in Jamaica, and engaged hundreds of individuals to visit Jamaica “through voluntourism school builds.”

Hale credits the work of the HHJF team for his appointment to the national honours which will be presented at a ceremony at King’s House on October 19, National Heroes’ Day, in Jamaica. 

“I’m honoured to receive this award, but it truly belongs to everyone who has been part of this journey, our board, partners, volunteers, donors, and supporters. Together, we’ve shown that when people come together with a shared purpose, we can make a lasting difference. I'm so grateful with all this support we have helped so many children," said Hale.

 

 

 

AFROFEST 2026 has been cancelled

 

By Neil Armstrong

The annual cultural festival, AFROFEST, organized by Music Africa of Canada Inc., will not take place this year. They are planning to return in 2027 “stronger, safer, and more sustainable.”

In a press release posted to its website and a statement on its Instagram page, Music Africa said the decision follows months of planning, extensive discussions with the City of Toronto, and a careful assessment of public safety considerations related to hosting the festival at Woodbine Park.

“AFROFEST is one of Toronto’s most celebrated cultural festivals, shaped and sustained by the strength of its community. Earlier this year, Music Africa submitted its permit application and began working with Parks, Forestry & Recreation to clarify requirements for the 2026 event. However, final direction was not received until June, creating significant time constraints for an event of AFROFEST’s scale.

“When the mayor's office became involved, communication improved, and dedicated city staff worked closely with Music Africa to explore solutions. Despite this collaboration, a critical challenge remained: the operational capacity of Woodbine Park for 2026. While the park’s longstanding safe capacity is approximately 17,000 people, the city advised that the site’s operational limit for this year would be 5,000 attendees,” said the organizer.

Music Africa said AFROFEST regularly attracts up to 40,000 people in a single day. “Even with our 2026 planned improved safety initiatives, including ticketing, fencing, controlled entry, and enhanced security measures, thousands more would still travel to the park expecting to attend. This presents a public safety risk outside the festival gates that cannot be responsibly managed.”

Acknowledging the tremendous advocacy from the community throughout this process, Music Africa said public engagement played a meaningful role in advancing discussions and reaffirmed the importance of AFROFEST to Toronto’s cultural landscape.

“Together with City staff, Music Africa explored alternative venues across Toronto. After site visits and operational assessments, it became clear that relocating AFROFEST for 2026 would require more time than the current timeline allows. Proceeding under these conditions would jeopardize the safety of patrons, volunteers, artists, vendors, and staff and compromise the integrity of a festival built over decades.

“For these reasons, Music Africa has made the difficult but responsible decision not to present AFROFEST in 2026. This decision reflects a commitment to public safety and to delivering the high‑quality festival experience the community deserves.

“Music Africa will use the additional lead time to work with the City of Toronto and partners to secure a larger, more suitable venue and strengthen the infrastructure required for a festival of AFROFEST’s scale. The organization’s goal is clear: to return in 2027 stronger, safer, and more sustainable.

It extended its sincere gratitude to the community, sponsors, artists, vendors, volunteers, and partners for their patience, understanding, and unwavering support. “AFROFEST belongs to the people, and Music Africa looks forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027.”

In a statement the City of Toronto said it recognizes AFROFEST as a premiere presenter of African arts, heritage and music to Toronto audiences since 1989. 

 

“Afrofest’s increasing popularity and attendance have resulted in the festival outgrowing the capacity of its recent venue, Woodbine Park. Despite the determined efforts of Afrofest organizer, Music Africa, working closely with the City, a suitable venue for the festival was not confirmed in time for the 2026 edition to be delivered to the standards of Music Africa and requirements of the City and its partners. 

 

“The additional lead time will allow Afrofest and the City to work together in the coming months on event planning for the 2027 festival, including locating a suitable venue. The City remains committed to supporting Afrofest for a strong return and will be providing access to a grant, technical assistance and sponsor engagement. The City thanks Music Africa for its professionalism, diligence and leadership in elevating African voices and cultural expression and looks forward to welcoming the festival back next year,” said Pat Tobin, General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, City of Toronto.

 

The City said Afrofest’s February 2026 application projected a total of 140,000 attendees with daily attendance of approximately 45,000, significantly exceeding the Woodbine Park’s estimated safe capacity of 17,000.

 

It said City staff worked with Afrofest organizers and partners to explore a number of alternative venues, including Centennial Park, Downsview Park, Fort York National Historic Site, Markham Fairgrounds and the Port Lands. Many were limited by availability, suitability, cost or operational considerations.

 

The City of Toronto will maintain $36,0000 in Special Events Stabilization Initiative funding to Afrofest for use in safety planning. Additional City supports include access to event planning, assistance with marketing and sponsor relations and exploration of potential venues, the City said.

 

For many Torontonians of African descent, like Kelvin Mkwalte of Malawi, AFROFEST has been a staple in their summer festivals.

 

“This isn’t good at all. Afrofest is one summer event some of us connect with our friends, and community.”

He understands the safety issue highlighted by the City and Music Africa, but noted that 45,000 people “don’t show up and stay at the event at the same time. It’s a 3-day event with people coming and leaving at different times.”

 

Over the past three years, Mkwalte said he had only gone on a single day and stayed at least for four hours.

 

For many, the festival which started at Queen’s Park in 1989, outgrew that venue and moved to Woodbine Park in 2012, will be sorely missed this year. For them, it connected them to a wider community of people who love African music, culture, and food. 

 

 

Blackhurst Research Residency Symposium Drew Many

By Neil Armstrong

Back row, left to right: Kareem, Yanaminah, Vivian, Sana, Ano, Lee-Anne, and Marcus Harvey.
Front row, left to right: Sojourner San Vicente, Ariana, Alexis, Godelive, Joline, and Muniis.

Scores of people passed through the Blackhurst Research Residency Symposium on March 7 to engage with the work of twelve youth whose research spanned environmental studies, cultural identity, labour studies and more.

It’s Ok Studios at Queen Street West and Augusta Avenue was a beehive of curious people who were there to learn more about the youth-led research grounded in lived experience and critical inquiry.

The 2026 research residents are Ariana who examined the impact of environmental racism on Canada; Vivian, a second-year masters student at McGill University, whose digital history project focused on Black educator, Florence Harrison; Joline, in her final year of the Master of Information program at the University of Toronto, who examined Blackhurst Cultural Centre as a cultural pillar within the Annex community and the Black community at large; Alexis, a sociology graduate, who explored the history, challenges, and future opportunities of Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival, formerly Caribana; Muniis, a humanities graduate from York University, whose research analyzed Canadian strike data through 2025 to better understand patterns and implications in labour activism; and Dafina, who has a BA in Communications and Media Studies from York University, and critically analyzed the “Northern Star” myth in early Black newspapers.

Godelive, a graduate from York University with a BA in Media Communications, focused on celebrations of Black Canadian identity and its pioneers by curating their images with archival representations. Kareem, a musician and producer, explored how Jamaican culture and music shaped hip hop and informed the ways Black Canadians developed contributing practices that reached a national level. Through personal explorations, Sana, who is in her final year of a humanities undergraduate degree at York, explored apostasy in Islam, focusing on inner conflict and faith.

Ano, a musician heading to Centennial College in September to study television broadcasting, examined misogyny and violence in music, comparing themes across rap and rock genres. Lee-Anne, a graduate of George Brown College, investigated the first Black Canadians signed to record labels and their influence on the music industry. 

Yanaminah, who is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, explored the migration of the Nova Scotia settlers to Freetown, Sierra Leone.

For her, there is a personal connection as her father is from Sierra Leone and she was born in Canada. “More than my personal connection to it, I believe that when we think about Black Canadian identity, oftentimes, a shared understanding is often muddled. So, it’s something that I think will really inform and help us understand deeper the kind of impact of the erasure that we have experienced as Black peoples in Canada.”

Coordinators of the Blackhurst Research Residency Sojourner San Vicente and Marcus Harvey

The Blackhurst Research Residency supports youth professional development through mentorship and workshops designed to strengthen research and analytical skills. 

Over the course of 23 weeks, guided sessions encouraged participants to explore topics that built their portfolios, expanded their creativity, and gained new insights into the world around them.

Coordinators, Sojourner San Vicente and Marcus Harvey, are pleased with the outcome of the program which was created through a grant from the federal government. 

“Twelve people were selected to participate and they got to choose what topic they wanted to focus on,” said San Vicente who noted that there were guest professors, artists and mentors who gave them feedback on their ideas. She said none of them had participated in a Blackhurst program before so they were all new to that experience and demonstrated great camaraderie. 

“I really enjoyed engaging with each and every participant, putting together their projects, understanding what they’re doing because these are all foreign to me,” said Harvey, noting that it was amazing to work with them.

Leadership and Creativity Celebrated at TTC Black History Month Opening

By Neil Armstrong

Photo provided by TTC.   Youth Poet Laureate Shahaddah Jack performing her poem "We Move This City"

From the Ngoma Drum and Dance Ensemble to the City of Toronto’s inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, Shahaddah Jack, and the keynote speaker, Ayodeji Adigun, a 19-year-old software engineering student at Ontario Tech University, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), in partnership with Blackhurst Cultural Centre, signaled that the voices of youth are important in the celebration of Black History Month.

Kicking off its 2026 Black History Month campaign under the theme, “Past, Present, Proud – Stories That Move Us,” the event held at the TTC Mount Dennis Garage on February 2 brought out many community members, including students of the Toronto District School Board.

The rhythmic drumming of the Ngoma ensemble led attendees to the seated area for the opening ceremony which was hosted by TTC board chair Jamaal Myers and featured representatives of the public transit agency—Shakira Naraine, chief people and culture officer; Cecil Smith, president of CUPE 470; Bryan Lewis, executive board member, ATU Local 113; Jennifer Johns who sang—and artists such as Myah Barnwell, Stephanie French and Pan Fantasy. 

Jack performed her commissioned poem titled “We Move This City” which references the seven trailblazers featured in the campaign. An accompanying Ride and Find Guide to the artists, trailblazers, murals and landmarks celebrating Black legacies in Toronto, February 2026 was also published by the TTC and Blackhurst Cultural Centre.

“We move this city, not as passengers but as architects of infrastructure,” states the opening lines of the poem which is also included in the printed guide. 

A cultural worker whose writing explores Black identity, movement, memory, and belonging, Jack’s work centres community stories and lived experience, using language as a tool for reflection, resistance, and connection.

“I grew up in a household where we learned about Black Canadian history. My family is a part of it, a part of founding Caribana and being in the No. 2 Construction Battalion. I feel like I was able to learn a lot, but even through this project there was still so much learning to do,” said the Youth Poet Laureate whose term started on October 15, 2024, and will end on December 31, 2026.

“I think it just highlights how much in our city and these classrooms there is still a lack of representation—representation of our stories that are part of the infrastructure and the economy of this city.”

Jack said Black Canadians are builders that move this city and “make things happen that are iconic, legendary, and historical to this city.” She was honoured to be a part of something that highlighted the importance of that fact.

Photo provided by TTC. Myah Barnwell and Stephanie French singing at the opening ceremony.

The TTC Black History Month campaign features the groundbreaking Contrast newspaper; community organizer and justice advocate Dudley Laws; Toronto’s oldest Black institution, First Baptist Church; the hub for Black and Caribbean life and business in Toronto, Little Jamaica; co-founder and band leader Wendy Jones and Pan Fantasy; the West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955-1967) which brought 3,000 women from the English-speaking Caribbean to Canada as domestic workers; and award-winning Canadian stage and film director, Weyni Mengesha.

Their stories appear as wraps on some buses, and as mural and digital displays at Bathurst, Spadina, Kennedy, Cedarvale, Osgoode, Finch West, and TMU subway stations.

 

Cynthia Lawson Lurch, who came to Canada through the West Indian Domestic Scheme, and her daughter, Charmaine Lurch, a visual artist and arts educator, are featured in the story about the program.

 

They attended the opening ceremony alongside fellow honourees Wendy Jones and Pan Fantasy, Weyni Mengesha, and some members of First Baptist Church led by Rev. Dr. Wendell Gibbs. 

 

The photographers who captured some of the images seen in the campaign were also present. Neal Edwards, professionally known as Neddy Nyce, and founder of 2 Nyce Photography, and an employee of the TTC, photographed First Baptist Church Toronto. Videographer, photographer and visual storyteller, Sean Harrison, captured the essence of Little Jamaica. Rose-Ann Marie Bailey, an artist and photographer, photographed steel pan pioneer, Wendy Jones. 

Photo provided by TTC.      Left to right: Jamaal Myers, Weyni Mengesha, Wendy Jones, Charmaine Lurch, Cynthia Lawson Lurch, Rev. Dr. Wendell Gibbs (behind them), Rose-Ann Bailey, Neal 'Teddy Nyce' Edwards, Michael Chambers, Sean Harrison, and Anthony Gebrehiwot

 

Award-winning Scarborough-based photographer and community leader, Anthony Gebrehiwot, photographed Cynthia Lawson Lurch and Charmaine Lurch in “The Hands That Shaped Us” project—featuring “Black artists alongside their mothers to honour the labour, sacrifice, and love that quietly shaped creative life across generations.

 

“His portrait of Charmaine Lurch with her mother, Cynthia Lawson Lurch, traces a legacy carried through migration and work, including Cynthia’s journey to Canada through the West Indian Domestic Scheme (1955-1967) and her 1964 arrival as a psychiatric nurse. The image also connects personal history to Toronto’s transit story through Charmaine’s work on Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, whose horse-drawn cab helped inspire the TTC’s colours and remains part of the city’s transportation legacy,” notes the Ride and Find Guide.

 

Michael Chambers, a photographic artist and curator whose work has been published and exhibited internationally, did the portrait of Weyni Mengesha.

Photo provided by TTC.     Charmaine Lurch, her mother Cynthia Lawson Lurch and Anthony Gebrehiwot

 

February is a busy month for Jack who has also been performing at schools and corporate events. 

“The beautiful thing is that connection with community that’s happening at all of these events. I think it’s just important that as artists we are not writing for ourselves, we’re writing for this community, and that we are a vessel that transports these stories along. I’m blessed that I’m trusted by community to be a vessel at these events sharing these stories.”

Jack will be curating two upcoming events: a Black History Month Slam at It’s Ok Studios on Queen Street West on February 23 in collaboration with Toronto Youth Poetry Slam, and “Black History in Verse” at the City of Toronto Archives which she will host alongside Toronto Poet Laureate Lillian Allen on February 27.

“It’s still so surreal for me. I call her Aunty Lillian. It’s a beautiful relationship, but I remember just a year before becoming Youth Poet Laureate seeing her in person for the first time and just being able to give her her flowers. And now being able to work really side by side and have her embrace me, I think it’s a really beautiful thing that she is also passing on legacy and information to a new generation of poets. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Photo provided by TTC.    Ayodeji Adigun, the keynote speaker, with Jamaal Myers, TTC Board Chair

Adigun, who is also the founder of Shoot For Arts and a photographer, said engineering and photography have taught him that failure is not a stop sign but information. 

 

“The past is not something to be ashamed of but it is proof that you’ve tried.” He said the present teaches the important lesson that one does not need to have everything figured out to move on—all that is required is to take the next step.

 

“Being proud does not mean arrogance, it means honouring your journey,” said Adigun noting that he is proud of balancing creativity and logic, engineering and photography, discipline and imagination. 

 

“Pride comes from where you started, recognizing where you are, and trusting where you are going.”

 

Myers said the theme, “Past, Present, Proud – Stories That Move Us,” is a reminder that the legacy celebrated now is not only rooted in the past. 

 

“It’s alive in our present, carried forward by the people and communities that move within the city each and every day. This month, we honour the stories of Black Torontonians, leaders and movements that helped shape Toronto’s cultures. Stories the TTC will be highlighting across the system and online.” 

 

Naraine noted that it is the Toronto Transit Commission’s commitment to remove barriers and ensure that the stories of its workers are grounded in dignity, equity and respect.

 

“It’s essential to building one TTC where inclusion is practised and every single employee knows they belong. The past is gone; we cannot rewrite it and we cannot ignore the difficult experiences that many Black individuals faced within our organization and across this city. But we can choose what we do today to build a future that we can be proud of, that future starts with everyday actions valuing every voice, listening with intention, learning and applying those lessons as we move forward,” she said.

 

Photo provided by TTC.  Shakira Laraine, Chief People and Culture Officer at TTC and Jamaal Myers, TTC Board Chair 

 

Smith said in the past Black workers at the TTC faced barriers that were visible and invisible. “There was a time when opportunities were limited, when certain jobs were out of reach and when the path to advancement was steeper for some than for others. Yet despite these obstacles, our Black workers showed up day after day with excellence, resilience and pride,” he said, noting that their perseverance was an act of survival and leadership.

 

Lewis noted that the celebration represented transformation, courage and a continued commitment to meaningful change, standing together against anti-Black racism in all its forms.

 

 

First Baptist Church Toronto will celebrate its 200^th anniversary this year. Founded in 1826 by Elder Washington Christian and 12 freedom seekers, the church has been led by Rev. Dr. Gibbs, its senior pastor since 2010, and continues to share the story of its history and the contributions of Canada’s Black community to society. 

 

“It’s a great honour and it’s also very humbling. The reason why is because we get to experience this wonderful journey but we are a very short part of the full journey because many others would have led the way,” said Rev. Dr. Gibbs about the recognition. 

Photo credit: Neil Armstrong.        Members of First Baptist Church Toronto with Neal 'Teddy Nyce' Edwards

A special Black History Month service will be held on February 15 at noon. The 200^th anniversary service

will be at Evangel Temple Toronto on November 15.

Photo provided by TTC. Itah Sadu, Executive Director of Blackhurst Cultural Centre, and Amoy Wynter, Advisor, Equity and Inclusion, TTC.

 

The murals can be viewed at these subway stations:

Contrast newspaper at Spadina station

Dudley Laws at Osgoode station

First Baptist Church at TMU station

Little Jamaica at Cedarvale station 

Wendy Jones & Pan Fantasy at Finch West station

West Indian Domestic Scheme at Bathurst station

Weyni Mengesha at Kennedy station