By Neil Armstrong
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| Dr. Everton Gooden, Chief of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at North York General Hospital. Photo contributed |
Even as the new Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
offering free tuition for more than 210,000 students in postsecondary education
starts this new school year, two community organizations continue to grant
scholarships to students of Caribbean heritage.
The United Achievers Club based in Brampton, Ontario and the
Jamaican Canadian Association in Toronto will hold their presentations on Sept.
16 where 51 students will receive scholarship awards.
The United Achievers has been doing this for 33 years, and
the JCA for 15 years.
In March when the government announced the new OSAP, Deb
Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, said the biggest
change was free average tuition for postsecondary students from many low- and
middle-income families, and more grants for most students.
“But we have also heard from current students that
navigating the OSAP application can be difficult. With our new, user-friendly
application, as well as our handy OSAP calculator, students now have the tools
in hand to better plan for their future education and career paths,” she said.
Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Education, said one of the things
the government wanted to ensure was that it removed barriers to postsecondary
education.
Every year, both Caribbean organizations highlight the
achievements of high school graduates who are embarking on their tertiary
education.
Kathy McDonald, education officer of United Achievers’, says
there has been an increase in the number of scholarship recipients – 16 in
total – and she is extremely happy with getting black males to apply this year.
She said the students are not only focused on academics but
are more world savvy about social justice and international issues.
From reading their application packages, she discerned that
they were more deep, compassionate, mature and inclusive in their outlook on
life, dispelling the belief that young people are not engaged.
One of the things she plans to do in the future is to
organize workshops to help students applying for other scholarships available
in tertiary education.
McDonald said postsecondary education is extremely
important, regardless of the path that students take as it allows them to
integrate with others when they leave home and move into university/college
residence.
“It’s a rite of passage into adulthood,” noting the path
that she took from being a scientist to a Peel District School Board trustee
where she is applying the value of her postsecondary education.
Jamaican, Dr. Everton Gooden, Chief of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at North York
General Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the
University of Toronto, is the keynote speaker at the United Achievers’ event.
He is a
director of the North York General Hospital Foundation Board of Governors.
Dr. Gooden began his career at
NYGH in 2001 and has served in a number of senior leadership positions
including chief of staff, chair of the Medical Advisory Committee, president
and vice president of the Medical Staff Association.
He has served as chair of a
number of other important hospital committees and continues to chair the NYGH
Foundation Physicians Campaign, which raised more than 250 thousand dollars
last year.
Dr. Gooden continues to
volunteer his time towards a number of community organizations and recently
received the 2017 Harry Jerome Trailblazer Award.
Since 1984, United Achievers’
has awarded 370 scholarships and thanks its long-standing partners, like the
Kiwanis Club of Brampton, for sponsoring a total of $109,000.
Adaoma Patterson, president of the Jamaican Canadian
Association, says the JCA is proud to host its annual
scholarship awards that “recognizes and supports young people who are going
beyond the ordinary and reaching for the extraordinary.”
“I salute this year's recipients and
their families who have worked hard and made sacrifices to pursue education.
These award recipients exemplify the excellence and perseverance that are the
cornerstone of our communities.”
She thanked the donors for
understanding “the importance of creating a village for our youth.”
Thirty-five students will receive
scholarships this year. This will bring the total to over $546,000 awarded to
approximately 540 students in 15 years.
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| Dr. Gervan Fearon, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brock University. Photo credit: Francine Buchner |
Dr. Gervan Fearon, who assumed the new position of president and
vice-chancellor of Brock University on Aug. 1, will be the keynote speaker at
the Jamaican Canadian Centre.
Previously, he was president of Manitoba’s Brandon
University from 2014 until the end of July 2017. Before that appointment, he
served as provost and vice-president (academic) when he arrived at Brandon in
2013.
Dr. Fearon was dean of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing
Education at Ryerson University.
[This story has been published in the NA Weekly Gleaner, Sept. 7-13, 2017 issue.]
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