Justice Aston Hall lauds the Jamaican Canadian Association

 

By Neil Armstrong

Photo credit: Sophia Findlay     Left to right: Arlene Amitirigala, Justice Aston Hall, and Dr. Sylvanus Thompson at Jamaica's Independence & JCA's Anniversary Gala on August 12, 2023 at the Jamaican Canadian Community Centre

 

Justice Aston Hall has praised the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) for throughout his career being a moral support and a community building organization that focuses on learning and creating what he called fulfilling relationships.

 

“And like home, a place where I’m reminded to be humble and to work hard,” said the Associate Chief Justice, Ontario Court of Justice, who was the keynote speaker at Jamaica’s Independence and Jamaican Canadian Association’s Gala at the Jamaican Canadian Community Centre on August 12, 2023. The night’s theme was “61 Proud and Strong: A Journey of Resilience and Perseverance.”

 

Quoting the late African American poet, author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, Justice Hall said he was blessed to grow up in Jamaica in a home — “the safe place where we can go, where we can be and not be questioned” — and further blessed to find a community of people like the JCA who offered him the feeling of home. “Of unquestioned acceptance for who I am, and who share in the belief of the worthiness of my professional dreams.”

 

Hall remembered when he came to the JCA in those cold, dark winters, when the organization was the only place on Dupont Street where he could feel some degree of comfort because it was lonely.

 

He thanked the organization for providing a home for many Jamaicans who migrated to the Greater Toronto Area.

 

“I must remind you I came out of a single-parent home raised by, I venture to say the typical Jamaican experience, a grandmother. A grandmother that put everything aside to make sure that I had an education, a grandmother that provided a home that was filled with love despite the fact that we were poor. We didn’t even know it because of the joy that she gave us.”

 

The judge said his grandmother’s grace and determination raised his sights beyond their modest life in Jamaica — “modest is code for poor.” She modelled the kindness and showed him the power of generosity, the determination that showed the value of hard work, and a fair optimism that instilled the belief in the nobility of community service.

 

“She taught me that from humble beginnings can come very high expectations,” said Hall, noting that it was from small beginnings and supportive community that his dreams took a hold in Jamaica.

 

Justice Hall was called to the Bar in 1995 and from then to 2002, was a sole practitioner exclusively in the field of criminal law. He became a senior partner at Hall & Vaughan in 2002 and then opened his own law firm, Aston J. Hall and Associate, in 2009.

 

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Justice Hall immigrated to Canada in 1983. He studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, where he served as the president of the Black Law Students Association and the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada. In 2008, he earned a Master of Laws degree focused on criminal law and procedure, also from Osgoode Hall Law School.

 

Justice Hall has been a director of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, Toronto, since 2009 and has been a member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Jamaican Canadian Association.

 

Throughout his career, the associate chief justice has been a champion for diversity as a member of numerous judicial committees that have played roles in the creation of a specialized court for Indigenous people and the development of programs for Black History Month to celebrate diversity and the contributions of African Canadians in the development of Canada.

 

Noting that Jamaicans have been in Canada since the 1700s, he said Jamaicans have been making contributions to Canada since then and he singled out the contributions of people like the late Bromley Armstrong, Eva Smith, Stanley Grizzle, and Amy Nelson, now 102 years old, and included the late Barbadian Donald Moore.

 

He also paid tribute to the Sleeping Car Porters and their families who were the powerhouse behind creating strong Black communities and demanded and achieved significant legal and social changes in Canada. Sleeping car porter jobs were the only ones available to Black people in the country, he said.

 

Justice Hall also mentioned the later arrival of domestic workers from the Caribbean that made it possible for many to gain opportunities to come to Canada.

 

“These two historical events changed Canada for the better. Those people and countless others struggled to change the immigration system to make this place hospitable to us. They laid the path that led us here. Before their work there were hostile immigration policies that prevented us from living permanently and making this our home.”

 

The associate chief justice said Jamaica has given the world a rich tradition of leaders in many fields and that Jamaicans are major contributors to the fabric of Canada.

Left to right: Anthony Joseph, publisher of Caribbean Camera; Jill Andrew, MPP of Toronto—St. Paul's; Jamaal Myers, councillor, Scarborough North; and David Betty, president of the Jamaican Canadian Association

 

 “Like Jamaica, the Jamaican Canadian Association remains proud and strong for 61 years due to the resilience and perseverance of its members and supporters. We are very grateful for this as we continue to serve the community," said Michelle McKenzie-Dolly and Dr. Sylvanus Thompson, co-chairs of the JCA’s Independence Gala Committee.

The annual award recipients this year were Benito Palomino for the president’s award; Dr. Sylvanus Thompson for the community service – individual; The Walnut Foundation for the community service – organization; Herrol Mattocks, outstanding volunteer of the year; Anthony Scott, outstanding volunteer of the year; Camille Hannays-King and Ellen Wynter, lifetime achievement; Dean Parker, Sharon Wynter-Bowen and Glenford Gordon, 25 years of continuous membership service; and Ismay Murray and Desmond Marrett, 50 years of continuous membership service.

 

“This year’s recipients for the community award are individuals who are committed to steadily growing a community focused on excellence. Volunteers continue to drive the success of our organization and we recognize those that have gone above and beyond this year as well as those that have dedicated years in service to the JCA,” said the organization in a media release.

 

The diamond jubilee recognition awards were presented to Miah Bailey, Alton Telfer, Gifford Walker, and Karl Fuller.

 

Among those who brought greetings to the gala were Sharon Miller, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, whose term of office comes to an end; Mayor Olivia Chow; Leslyn Lewis, MP for Haldimand – Norfolk, who ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada; Judy Sgro, MP for Humber River – Black Creek; and Jill Andrew, MPP for Toronto— St. Paul’s.

Mayor Olivia Chow brings greetings to the gala

Lolleta Cunningham, Eddie Grant, and Sophia Findlay

Roy Williams, first president of the JCA; Herman Stewart, past president of the JCA; and Jamaal Myers, councillor for Scarborough North, City of Toronto

Jill Andrew, MPP for Toronto—St. Paul's and Audrey Campbell, past president of the Jamaican Canadian Association

 

The performers included 9-year-old Eliana Sinclair, Tony Anthony, Elite Dancers, and the all-female Rayzalution Band. DJ Funky Muzik provided the music and the Art of Catering provided the sumptuous cuisine curated by Chef Selwyn.

 

The host of the event, which included the participation of JCA president David Betty, past presidents Adaoma Patterson, Audrey Campbell and Roy Williams, Barbara Thomas, Dr. Sylvanus Thompson, and JCA vice president Michelle McKenzie-Dolly, was Arlene Amitirigala.