BBPA Reveals the Names of the 2019 Harry Jerome Award Recipients

By Neil Armstrong

The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) has announced the names of the thirteen individuals and one company that are this year’s recipients of the prestigious Harry Jerome Awards.

Among them are a five-time Juno Award-winning reggae artist, the president of a women’s foundation, and a Caribbean food products company.

Exco Levi, who has been nominated for the Juno Awards seven times and won five times the Reggae Recording of the Year, is the winner of the BBPA Harry Jerome Award for entertainment; Paulette Senior, the president and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, won the trailblazer award; and Grace Foods Canada Inc., the business award.

The other recipients are: lawyer Leslyn Lewis -- professional excellence; Wendy Beckles, president and CEO of Shepherd Village Inc. -- leadership; Ray Williams, managing director and vice chairman, fixed income, currencies of National Bank Financial -- president; Traci Melchor, television personality -- media; Karen Burke, musician and co-founder of the Toronto Mass Choir -- arts; Dr. Dominick Shelton, an emergency physician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre -- health science; Frances-Anne Solomon, filmmaker, writer and producer – culture; and Dr. Gezahgn Wordofa, founder of the Multicultural Association of Perth in Stratford, Ontario -- community service.

Also honoured are three recipients from Nova Scotia: Shaquille Smith, a basketball player and alumnus of Acadia University who is from North Preston -- athletics; Rustum Southwell, CEO of the Black Business Initiative (BBI) in Halifax -- lifetime achievement; and Ross Simmonds, digital marketing strategist who is from Preston -- youth entrepreneur.

Their names were announced at a media launch reception presented in partnership with Rogers Media and co-hosted by media personalities Tracy Moore and Darren Osborne inside the Rogers Velma Theatre on February 19.

The 37^th annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards ceremony, presented in partnership with TD Bank, will be held on April 27 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. The hosts will be Marci Ien, a broadcast journalists and one of the co-hosts of CTV’s ‘The Social’ and Donald McLeod, a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice.

Established in 1983 in memory of the late Harry Jerome, a Canadian Olympian
and social advocate, the event recognizes and honors achievements within the Canadian Black community.

The award is a fundraiser that supports the BBPA’s work in promoting the professional business advancement of African Canadians. The organization conducts programming in the areas of economic and entrepreneurial development and young professional training.

Nadine Spencer, president of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA)

“The 2019 Harry Jerome honourees are truly representative of this year’s theme 'GameChangers.’ This is about making a positive change within our community both
individually, and collectively as a Black community in Canada,” says Nadine Spencer, president of the BBPA.

Speaking at the event, Spencer said the awards are given to game changers who have applied all the professional best practices required for success.

Levi says the story of Jerome, a black man who faced many struggles but was able to beat the odds, resonates with him.

The artist migrated to this country from Jamaica and has pursued what he loves resulting in much success.

“I think of all the awards I’ve received this one is very important – all of them of them are important -- but I think this one is dear to my heart because it’s coming from a black story. I’m a black man and I’m just seeing me when I think about the Harry Jerome Award,” says the reggae singer who attended the launch one day before flying to Denmark to perform at a Bob Marley celebration on February 23.

His seventh Juno Award nomination in the Reggae Recording of the Year, 2019 category is for his album, “Narrative.” The Juno Awards ceremony will be held in London, Ontario on March 17.

In the meantime, Levi says there is more ahead for him to achieve since he is never complacent with telling himself that he’s already where he wants to be.

“In music or in life as a whole you can’t stop learn. It’s called growth and that’s what I’m striving to be, to be at the pinnacle of whatever we’re doing.”

Denise Jones, Exco Levi and Trevor Massey at the media launch of the 37th annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards and a screening of the documentary 'Cool Black North'

Senior heads the Canadian Women’s Foundation which is Canada’s public foundation for women and girls.

“Being honoured by your own within your own community is one of the highest honours that can be bestowed so I’m deeply grateful for this recognition. 

“This for me symbolizes the importance of standing up for justice and equality for all - and that it is absolutely possible to follow one’s passion to impact societal change and blaze a path to a successful career. I am very thankful to family, friends and colleagues who have shared this journey with me,” says Senior.

Over the course of her career, she has won several awards, including the African Canadian Achievement Award, the AfroGlobal Leadership Award and the Black Women Civic Engagement Award.

GraceKennedy, the Caribbean's leading food manufacturer & distributor, has expanded into Canada, the US and the UK providing the taste of the Caribbean.

Mary Anne Chambers, chair of the board of directors of Grace Foods Canada Inc., says the entire team is honoured to be recognized with this year's award for business.

“Through our dedication to ongoing innovation, the highest quality of products and excellent service levels, we are bringing the exciting flavours of the Caribbean to the homes of our consumers. Our presence in the major supermarket chains and in independent stores continues to grow as we expand our reach throughout Canada.

“Our commitment to the well being of the communities in which we operate is also embraced by our team through our support of national as well as local initiatives. This award makes us feel both proud and humbled and we will continue to work hard to achieve and exceed the goals that we have set for the business,” says Chambers.

Chambers and Lucky Lankage, president and CEO of the company, attended the media launch.

In 2018, Smith helped to raise $300,000 to build a professional-grade outdoor basketball court in North Preston, which is currently in construction and will be ready this spring.

Smith, who earned a business degree at Acadia, came up with the idea of upgrading the court where he played basketball during his childhood after noticing that it needed major repair work to be safe for local youth.

BBPA board members and recipients of the 37th annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards

           
The BBPA Harry Jerome Awards is recognized as one of the most prestigious national award galas in the African-Canadian Community.

"We seek out game-changers in all industries in our community, who have
paved the way for others to grow and excel and whose commitment to
improving our community is unwavering” says Marcia Bowen, chair of the
Harry Jerome Awards.

The media launch was paired with an advance screening of the new
feature-length documentary “Cool Black North,” produced by Second Time Around
Productions Inc., in association with Citytv.

The special two-hour presentation, which aired on February 22, explores the unique and vibrant Canadian Black Community and its role in the country’s contemporary identity.

“This is the real reason I am in the film industry. I'm obsessed with telling stories about what it is like to be authentically Black in Canada. ‘Cool Black North’ is a much overdue celebration of who we are and how we continue to contribute to
Canadian society and making it a great place to live,” said Alison Duke, director of the film.

She thanked the BBPA and Rogers, noting that it, “It’s one thing to make a film about black people but to share it with the world takes it to another level.”

Duke also underscored the importance of having people from the Black community before and behind the camera in the “telling of our story.” She was proud to have had some of the youth from a group of budding filmmakers her company mentors onboard working on “Cool Black North.” 

Alison Duke, director of the documentary, 'Cool Black North'

Through a series of intimate profiles, the documentary showcases the pathways of some past Harry Jerome Awards recipients to success and what they all share -- overcoming obstacles to succeed at the highest levels in their respective fields.

“Most importantly, it is their commitment to helping others and giving back
to their communities that has earned them the recognition of the Harry
Jerome Award recipient. These incredible people paint a diverse and
compelling portrait of excellence in the documentary ‘Cool Black North,’” says the BBPA.

“It’s been a privilege spending time with such amazing people and having an
opportunity to share some of their stories,” said Aiken Scherberger,
executive producer.

Spencer said in 2016 when she won the Harry Jerome award for business, Mayor John Tory said, on stage, that it was important that the awards ceremony be televised because people need to hear the positive accomplishments of the Black community.

She commended Tory for musing with his friend, Rice Brace, president of Rogers Media, and making the documentary a reality.

Mayor John Tory

Mayor Tory said one of the reasons why he wanted to try and find somebody who would step up and make sure that the story of the Harry Jerome Awards, the winners, and the stories of Black excellence in Toronto are told was because he had attended the awards for 15 years and at least 7 or 8 of those he had stood up and said that the evening should be televised. He hopes that every school will show the documentary.

Tory said the real tribute belongs to Brace who stepped out and did what he asked in an email and a subsequent telephone conversation.

Brace said “Cool Black North” was one year in the making and that Rogers was pleased to be involved in the telling of this story.

The BBPA also presents the BBPA National Scholarships donating in excess of $150,000 scholarships annually to over fifty-five black students.

“The BBPA exists for one purpose – to enable black businesses – because black businesses must succeed if we as a community are to rise above the systemic barriers that exist,” said Spencer.

She said one of the many reasons for black businesses to succeed and gain economic prosperity is that “we, black business owners, are sometimes the first employer that will hire a black person to give them the experience they need to better their economic situation for a brighter future.”

“The more we enable black businesses success is the more we’re able to secure a strong economic future of endless possibilities not only for youth but for the broader community as whole.”

Nadine Williams performing her poem 'We Belong' at the media launch of the 37th annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards

The BBPA also holds the National Black Business Convention (NBBPC), alongside workshops and programs at the BBPA Centre of Excellence in downtown Toronto.