Mentoring Program for Black Youth in Construction Launched

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed   Rosemarie Powell, executive director of the Toronto Community Benefits Network

 

The Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) has launched two mentoring

initiativesto increase the number of black youth working on billion-dollar

infrastructure projects and transit expansions across the city.

Working in partnership with the LiUNA African American Canadian

Caucus, labour, community and industry partners, the NextGenBuilders pilot

program will match Black youth mentees with mentors who are experienced

construction trades professionals.

The Black Youth Dreammakers (BYD) program will identify local businesses led by young Black professionals working in law to human resources who can access procurement opportunities from major construction projects.

Rosemarie Powell, executive director, Toronto Community Benefits Network says in 2013 when the coalition was founded the big government announcement was about the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT), a $5.3 billion of taxpayer funds being invested in transit.

The community recognized that the transit that was being planned was actually going through a number of the neighbourhood improvement areas in Toronto.

 These are 31 areas designated as such by the city and the United Way of Greater Toronto as communities that are in need of investment and that are struggling with high levels of unemployment and underemployment, and most of the residents are immigrants, newcomers, and racialized people.

“The community just wanted to see how could we actually encourage the government to basically look at how we can have additional benefits coming out of it for the community – so not just the ability to ride the train when it’s built in a safer, faster cleaner way but also while the project is being built since we heard that 3, 500 jobs were going to be created while the project was being built.”

They looked at how they could carve out some of those job opportunities for the local community residents.

Coming together as a coalition of labour and community groups, they met with Metrolinx and their local government representatives, and in 2014, they incorporated as a non-profit organization.

Since then they have negotiated four community benefits programs and there are 95 member groups and organizations, including, labour that make up the network.

Powell said the project has been in operation on the Eglinton Crosstown for two years and they have won a 10 per cent commitment from Metrolinx and Crosslinx to have 10 per cent of all the workers being hired in the construction of the project to come for certain disadvantaged communities and equity seeking groups.

This meant that approximately 350 people were going to be hired over the next five years of the build of the project.

“So now two years in we have 88 people hired so far and a number of them do come from the Black community, which is good, but what we want is to make sure that once they do get in …once they get into the union that they’re supported and that they can actually continue.”

Powell said construction work is usually done on a project by project basis so apprentices will never complete their journeyperson licence with just working on one project.

“With the mentoring program we want to make sure that there are people on the inside who have gone through that same kind of a trajectory and who understand the system insideout who are there to be able to support these black youth to be able to succeed in their career.”

She said the Black community does not have a strong presence in the construction industry. The Ontario Construction Secretariat report shows that 1.2% of racialized people are actually in the construction industry in Ontario.

This is a very low participation rate, especially with the Black community being 8.8% now in Toronto.

TCBN is outreaching to ideally the age range of 18 to 35 and are going deep into the community “because our black youth don’t understand the immense possibilities that could be in the trades.”

Right now out of high school, an apprentice starts out being paid $22 an hour, benefits and pension; some are starting at $26 and every year they are guaranteed a raise.

“It’s an apprenticeship journey. It means that it takes you three to five years just like you would go to college or university to get your certification. The thing about it is that you’re earning while you’re learning and so you don’t have to pay these high loans and school loans.”

They are also working to get young people who are professionals, administrative and technical skills people to also consider a career in the construction industry.

“It’s nice that we have the black journeypeople supporting the program and leading this but our focus is not just on the black journeypeople because we also want other cultures who have the experience in the trades and who want to see black youth succeed have an opportunity to be able to support these young people as well.”

Photo contributed    Chris Campbell, a mentor and business representative of Carpenters Union Local 27

Chris Campbell, a mentor and business representative of Carpenters Union Local 27 says at some of the early recruitment drives youth were skeptical and would ask him if this was just another show.

He told them it was not and to come to his office the following day if they were interested and he would sign them up.

A couple guys took him up on his offer and told him that in the past  they “were taken for a ride and made promises” and then after a while it became the norm for them to hear things and there being no follow-up.

Those who met the requirements were signed up and sent out to work as first-year apprentices teamed up with journeymen who would work with them and guide them.

“They got in and they got integrated and some of them now are third, possibly fourth-year apprentices going on to write their exams to be a journeyman, a licensed carpenter.”

Campbell went through this whole process 29 years ago but had family and friends to “teach him the ropes.”

In Jamaica, he had uncles who were electricians and welders and he always kept in touch with them. When he came to Canada there was an electrician who took him “under his wings” and guided him mentally regarding how to deal with different work scenarios.

He now calls up apprentices to find out what are their issues and where he can help he offers advice. When he has the time he even goes for coffee with them.

Campbell said the Carpenters Union was the first union to take someone in from the recruitment of the TCBN.

Photo contributed    Ahmed Abdi, a mentee and apprentice carpenter with Carpenters Union Local 27

He said Ahmed Abdi, 32, a mentee and apprentice carpenter with Carpenters Union Local 27, is one of several young men and women who are doing well in the apprenticeship program.

Born in Somalia, Abdi, who recently married and has a newborn daughter, was the first hire on the Eglinton Crosstown transit build to come through the Community Benefits stream.

Campbell still keeps in touch with him and his family, noting that “you can’t just sign people up and make your quota, make your money or get your allowance from the government and walk away.”

“There has to be some kind of provision made for what comes after if you want long- term resuts,” he says.

Campbell said when he came to Canada in 1987 he did a lot of odd jobs and because he didn’t have anyone around him to advise him about attending univdersity his family encouraged him to go into the trades “to make good money and to keep you out of trouble and not get you deported.”

He said when he got in he didn’t know anyone, didn't have any family member on any construction site but then strangers reached out and helped him.

“If I can help someone along the way I’m proud and happy to as a union brother to step forward and do it – and I’m doing it on my own time for years,” says Campbell, noting that this is his way of giving back.

Abdi, a fourth-year apprentice, describes his experience as awesome as he was lucky to have mentors, people who knew about the industry and union members to guide him.

“My experience so far has been good, in terms of employment. I have grown, I’ve learned how to navigate through the construction industry,”says Abdi about working on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

He said support is key and he has seen people fail without having it, noting that he would have been down the same road if he didn’t have  people like Campbell and Powell supporting him.

“My mentor, Chris, has been like there every step of the road so anytime I needed him I would give him a call and he would come through,” he said.

TCBN’s black youth program is only one of many programs that the network offers to underrepresented groups such as women, urban indigenous peoples, veterans, newcomers and racialized people.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Jan. 17-23, 2019.]

Justice McLeod Described as a Wonderful Role Model

By Neil Armstrong

Photo credit: Clive Sewell    Justice Donald McLeod speaking at the National Black Canadians Summit in December 2017 at the Toronto Reference Library

A lawyer representing an Ontario judge at a public disciplinary hearing of the Ontario Judicial Council says the judge is a wonderful role model of how judges can contribute to their community.

On December 4, the second day of the proceeding, he cautioned that the hearing could cause a chill so that people do not seek opportunities in the judicial system.

Mark Sandler told the four-person panel hearing a complaint about the conduct of Justice Donald McLeod that it has to determine where is the boundary drawn in relation to judges and community activities, and whether it is satisfied that the work that the judge did with the Federation of Black Canadians constituted judicial misconduct.

Linda Rothstein, lawyer representing the judicial council, argued that when a judge has direct engagement meeting with politicians, elected officials and parliamentarians in which there are direct requests made for policy shifts and resource allocation shifts, that this is tantamount to lobbying and that it is a line that judges, in general, should not cross.

A summary of the complaint notes that “while presiding full-time as a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice, His Honour founded, led and served as Chair of the Steering Committee for the organization called the Federation of Black Canadians (“FBC”), a national, non-profit organization that meets with government representatives to advocate for legal and social reform on behalf of Black Canadians.”

It says Justice McLeod “failed to uphold the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary when he communicated with and met with politicians on behalf of FBC, inappropriately used the power and prestige of his judicial office to advance the interests of the FBC and lent the prestige of the judicial office to FBC fundraising.”

The complaint was laid by Associate Chief Justice Faith Finnestad of the Ontario Court of Justice.

Sandler said there is no evidence that either Justice McLeod or the Federation of Black Canadians engaged in partisan political activities, and that the judge did not engage in fundraising for the organization or seek government funding.

Rothstein said the Judicial Council encourages community involvement that is not incompatible with the judicial office.

Citing the Canadian Judicial Council’s ethical principles for judges, which are advisory in nature, Rothstein said the principle of impartiality notes that all partisan activity must cease upon appointment.

She said the independence of the judiciary is a constitutional principle and that there is a separation between the judiciary and the executive and legislative branches of government.

 “When you go to the government you create some sort of indebtedness to the government.”

She said what crossed the boundary was lobbying government for resources, allocation or policy change, and that judges should not advocate to governments for particular outcomes.

Rothstein said that in June 2017 Justice McLeod chaired a meeting with the prime minister and federal ministers about issues related to mental health, corrections, education and other matters.

She said the presentation had a series of asks for policy changes that the Federation of Black Canadians was seeking from government.

Sandler said Justice McLeod did not cross the line. He said it was difficult to square a decision in the case and that on November 30, the first day of the hearing, an expert told the panel that considering this a case of judicial misconduct could prevent racialized judges from “paying it forward” to the community.

The lawyer gave 18 reasons to substantiate his argument, including that Justice McLeod’s involvement was motivated by the public interest, not personal interest.

He said Justice McLeod wanted to educate the politicians about the challenges facing the Black community.

Sandler said there was no quid pro quo requested or offered by government and that the challenges identified that are facing the Black community are uncontentious, a number of them are the subject of judicial interest.

The lawyer noted that the judge was never required to disqualify himself from any case and that his activities did not affect his impartiality. 

He said Justice McLeod engaged crown attorneys, defense counsels, mental health practitioners and police in looking at the problem of the administration of justice.

Sandler noted that Justice McLeod’s tone in dealing with government was respectful, informative and non-combative, and that he was largely, not exclusively, a facilitator in the dialogue that was taking place with the government.

He also said the judge contacted the ethics advisory committee on three separate occasions because he wanted its members to have the full picture and he disclosed that they had met with the prime minister.

Sandler said there has to be room for judges to participate in non-partisan public interest activity. 

He referenced the late Supreme Court judge John Sopinka declaring years ago that judges need not be monks and live in an ivory tower. The lawyer said the panel has to determine where the line is drawn.

Sandler said Justice McLeod’s action is not deserving of a characterization of misconduct. 

He said Justice McLeod was not engaged in political activity or any activity that affected his impartiality and independence.

He underscored that this is not a misconduct case and could undermine confidence in the administration of justice and discourage individuals like Justice McLeod to seek judicial office.

Sandler invited the panel to read the letters of support for McLeod.

The hearing panel includes Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Robert Sharpe, Justice Hugh Fraser of the Ontario Court of Justice, lawyer David Porter, and community member Judith LaRocque.

It has reserved its decision until a date in January 2019 and may dismiss the complaint, with or without a finding that it is unfounded, or, if it upholds the complaint, it may decide upon sanctions.

On November 30, it was determined that Justice McLeod would not need to answer to allegations that he engaged in partisan political activity or improper fundraising as Rothstein said the allegations did not have merit.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Dec. 20-26, 2018. One week after this was published the Ontario Judicial Council dismissed the complaint. See the story below.]

Complaint Against Ontario Court Judge Dismissed

By Neil Armstrong

A complaint laid against a black Ontario Court judge who is of Jamaican heritage has been dismissed.

In a 43-page decision released on December 20, the four-member Ontario Judicial Council hearing panel concluded that Justice Donald McLeod’s “conduct was incompatible with judicial office, but that it was not so seriously contrary to the impartiality, integrity and independence of the judiciary that it rose to the level of undermining the public’s confidence in his ability to perform the duties of office or the public’s confidence in the judiciary generally.”

The hearing held on November 30 and December 4 concerned the conduct of Justice McLeod, a member of the Ontario Court of Justice, in his capacity as Chair of the interim Steering Committee of the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC).

“Justice McLeod helped found the FBC and was one of its leading voices. The FBC has the laudable goal of promoting greater equality and inclusion for persons of African descent in Canada. Its activities included the identification of issues confronting Black Canadians and meeting with politicians and government officials with a view to addressing those issues and improving the circumstances of African-Canadians,” notes the panel.

On June 28, 2017, he chaired a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, experts, Black community leaders, and federal MPs. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the mental health, corrections and education challenges Black people face in Canada.

The complaint to the Judicial Council was laid by Associate Chief Justice Faith M. Finnestad.

In a meeting on September 21, 2017, Finnestad advised Justice McLeod that she was of the view that it was inappropriate for him to be meeting with political figures in his capacity of Chair of the FBC interim Steering Committee.

“She asked him to cease having such meetings. Justice McLeod responded that, in his view, these meetings were consistent with his obligations as a judge. Finnestad ACJ suggested that he seek advice from the Judicial Ethics Committee of the Ontario Court of Justice (the “Ethics Committee”).”

In its analysis, the panel said that it was “entirely satisfied that Justice McLeod was at all times motivated by a highly laudable goal. He has a profound desire to help the members of the Black community to overcome the historic barriers of racism and poverty. He was motivated by a belief that if people of good faith pull together, issues can be identified and changes can be achieved that will remove racial barriers and enhance the quality of life for Black Canadians. He did not seek personal fortune or fame. He genuinely sought to fulfill what he sees as his personal duty to help his community.”

It said despite its finding that Justice McLeod’s conduct was incompatible with judicial office, “there is a long list of features to this case that leads us to conclude that this threshold of undermining public confidence in his ability to perform the duties of office or in the judiciary generally has not been crossed.”

Justice McLeod was born in London, England. His parents immigrated to England from Jamaica, and subsequently migrated to Canada in 1970.

Jamaican Appointed to the Senate of Canada

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed   Dr. Rosemary Moodie has been appointed as an independent senator to the Senate of Canada

A Jamaican physician has been appointed as an independent senator to the Senate of Canada.

Dr. Rosemary Moodie was appointed to the Senate by Governor General of Canada, Julie Payette, on December 12 alongside three others: Margaret Dawn Anderson of the Northwest Territories, Pat Duncan of the Yukon and Dr. Stanley Kutcher of Nova Scotia.

In making the announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Dr. Moodie has made significant contributions to reduce social inequities and health disparities among children and communities locally and internationally. 

She currently works as a neonatologist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and as a clinical teacher at the University of Toronto’s Department of Paediatrics.

“These four new independent senators bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience that will greatly benefit Parliament and all of Canada. They know what it means to serve, and have dedicated their careers to making a difference in the lives of others. I look forward to working with them on issues that matter most to Canadians,” said Prime Minister Trudeau.

He thanked the members of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments for their work, noting that, “their recommendations have helped us appoint senators who reflect Canada’s diversity, who will make significant contributions to the work of Parliament, and who will ensure a high standard of integrity, collaboration, and non-partisanship in the Red Chamber.”

Dr. Moodie graduated from St. Hugh’s High School and received her Bachelor of Science and Medical degrees from the University of the West Indies. In 2017, she was conferred the honour of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander in recognition of her outstanding contribution in philanthropy, community development, and medicine in the Jamaican diaspora in Canada.

She is also the recipient of the University of the West Indies Alumni, Distinguished Service Award for Maternal and Child Health in 2017.


Dr. Moodie shares her health care expertise in the academic environment and her community.

The associate professor of paediatrics is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also a consultant in health care and national surveyor with Accreditation Canada advancing quality in health care.

Dr. Moodie has been a strong advocate for woman and girls. Her contributions to reducing social inequities and health disparities of children and communities have been significant.

She has done so by promoting public policy through organizational leadership, mentorship, and community volunteerism.

Dr. Moodie is on the board of directors of ScotiaBank Jamaica Foundation and inaugural board of Canada’s largest Catholic healthcare organization, Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and St. Michael’s Hospital Toronto.

She was the president and board chair of the YWCA Toronto when the Elm Centre was completed. The Elm Centre is Canada’s largest affordable housing project for single low-income women, women with mental health and addiction issues, and families of Aboriginal ancestry.

In recognition of her continued success in her field, Dr. Moodie is the recipient of many awards and distinctions from the University of the West Indies, Canadian Paediatric Society, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, University of Toronto, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and City of Toronto.

In 2016, Dr. Moodie, who is married to Dr. Peter Wong, and her son, Dr. Jonathan Peter Wong, were both recipients of the African Canadian Achievement Award of Excellence in Toronto – the first mother-son awardees in the same year in the 31-year history of the awards presentation. 

She received the excellence in science award and he received the youth achievement award.

The four new appointees were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments and chosen using the process open to all Canadians. 

Since the process has been in place, the proportion of women in the Senate has increased from 37 per cent to 47 per cent, and the number of senators who identify as Indigenous has more than doubled. With these appointments, all Senate vacancies have now been filled.

 The Senate now has a full complement of 105 Senators – the first time in eight years. There have been 49 appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints individuals to the Senate. By convention, Senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Once appointed by the Governor General and summoned to the Senate, the new senators join their peers to examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues, and represent regional, provincial, and minority interests – important functions in a modern democracy.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Dec. 20-26, 2018.]

Jamaican Canadian Association Disturbed by Findings of Report on Racial Profiling by the Police

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed  Adaoma Patterson, president of the Jamaican Canadian Association

The Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) says it will hold the Toronto Police Service (TPS) accountable in light of the troubling findings of an interim report by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on its inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the police service.

On International Human Rights Day, December 10, the OHRC released “A Collective Impact,” a report which examined racial disparities in how police services are provided in Toronto, and marrying the hard data with lived experiences and case law.

The inquiry found that between 2013 and 2017, a Black person was nearly 20 times more likely than a White person to be involved in a fatal shooting by the Toronto Police.

Despite representing only 8.8% of Toronto’s population, Black people made up approximately 30% of police use-of-force cases that resulted in serious injury or death, 60% of deadly encounters with Toronto Police, and 70% of fatal police shootings.

“The JCA is very disturbed by the findings in this report. While we will continue to work with the Toronto Police Service on various community initiatives, we will also hold them to account on these serious findings,” says Adaoma Patterson, president of the JCA.

 The OHRC says its goal is to build trust in law enforcement and “make our communities safer, because when diverse communities trust the police, they see themselves as allies of law enforcement rather than targets.”

“A Collective Impact is the latest in a body of reports, findings and recommendations—over the past 30 years—that point to persistent concerns about anti-Black racism in policing in Toronto,” said OHRC Chief Commissioner Renu Mandhane. “Our interim findings are disturbing and call for immediate action.”

The report includes analysis of quantitative data received from the Special Investigations Unit, and a review of SIU Director’s Reports. It also highlights legal decisions that have found discrimination against Black persons by the Toronto Police.

The SIU Director’s Reports reveal instances where there was a lack of a legal basis for police stopping Black civilians in the first place, inappropriate searches and unnecessary charges or arrests. The reports and legal decisions also raise broader concerns about officer misconduct, transparency and accountability. 

The data shows an over-representation of Black people in use of force cases that result in serious injury or death.

The OHRC heard first-hand about the experiences of Black people with the TPS and the resulting fear, trauma, humiliation, mistrust and expectations of negative treatment, and about the damage that one person’s negative experience can have on entire Black communities.

The next phase of the inquiry will involve looking at lower-level use of force incidents, and analyzing data received on carding, certain charges and arrests, and conditions and forms of release for adults. The OHRC will also examine culture, training, policies, procedures and accountability mechanisms, and will continue to engage with Black communities.

All of this work will lead to a final inquiry report, with findings, recommendations and next steps.

Photo contributed    Renu Mandhane, chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission

In light of the interim findings, the OHRC is calling on the TPS and Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) to acknowledge that the racial disparities and community experiences outlined in this Interim Report raise serious concerns.

It wants the TPS and TPSB to continue to support the OHRC’s inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons, and calls on the TPSB to require the TPS to collect and publicly report on race-based data on all stops, searches, and use of force incidents.

The commission is calling on the Ontario government to implement recommendations in the Report of the Independent Police Oversight Review.

It wants the City of Toronto to implement recommendations in the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

In a joint statement, the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service said they “understand that the report’s preliminary findings, as well as its recommendations, require a thoughtful and comprehensive response from us that builds on the hard work we have been doing already to confront issues of systemic bias.”

They said members of the Toronto Police Service are dedicated, professional and fair. 

“We recognize that there are those within Toronto’s Black communities who feel that, because of the colour of their skin, the police, including when it comes to use of force, have at times, treated them differently. We understand that this has created a sense of distrust that has lasted generations. We – the Board and the Service – know that only by acknowledging these lived experiences can we continue to work with our community partners to achieve meaningful changes.”

They said the Board and the Service acknowledge that no institution or organization, including the Toronto Police, is immune from overt and implicit bias. 

“We have seen examples of other organizations, which are, by their nature, composed of people, dealing with the same challenges that we face. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that a unique obligation is required from those of us who are charged with upholding the law and protecting all of our city’s people. And, while we may be confronting these challenges with resolve today, we are committed to doing even better.”

Both organizations say they accept the recommendations, “recognizing that one of them will require further study. Specifically, the Board will refer its existing Policy concerning data collection to its Anti-Racism Advisory Panel (ARAP) – comprised of Board members, community members, experts and Service members – and ask for recommendations to improve the Policy. This work will consider the legitimate concerns surrounding the impact of race-based data collection on interactions between police and members of Toronto’s communities, and look to collect this data in a manner that will strengthen our connection to the communities we serve.”

They said they have been working for several years to confront these challenges in a variety of ways and with a variety of partners. 

Photo contributed   Andy Pringle, chair of the Toronto Police Services Board

Meanwhile, the Partnership & Accountability Circle says it is “shocked, deeply disappointed, upset, but not surprised” by what it has learned from the interim report.

“Being Black should not be a death sentence for so many Black civilians who are engaged by our city's police. Sadly, police killing of Black people in this city is not new.”

As part of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Unit of the City of Toronto engages the Partnership &

Accountability Circle (PAC), an assembly of 12 Black Torontonians.

 The Circle guides the CABR Unit and supports the full implementation of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

It is in full support of all of the OHRC's recommendations, including the call for the City of Toronto to implement the recommendations of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

“We further demand that the Toronto Police Services Board immediately adopt all recommendations and actions in the Action Plan that apply to the Toronto Police Service, and that fall within their powers under the Police Services Act.

The PAC also wants the police service to immediately establish the Community and Police Eliminating Anti-Black Racism Team (CAPE-ABR Team), comprised of community and police leaders.

 It says the CAPE-ABR Team must work with the City's Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit as a resource to inform the development and implementation of actions related to policing and the justice system.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Jan. 3-9, 2019.]

Arts and Culture Group Awards Scholarships to Students

By Neil Armstrong

Photo credit: Carolyn Goulbourne  Left-right: Paula de Ronde, founder and immediate past president of Arts & Culture Jamaica Inc.; Cherita Girvan-Campbell, president; Jesse Ellis, Sierra-Anne Conville and Jalen Fairclough at the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto, Canada

In the spirit of giving just before Christmas, Arts and Culture Jamaica Inc. has presented scholarships to three students in the Greater Toronto Area.

The 2018-2019 ACJAM recipients are Sierra-Anne Conville, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism at Carleton University; Jalen Fairclough who is in the Bachelor of Design – Fashion Communicator program at Ryerson University; and Jesse Ellis who is currently enrolled at Centennial College pursuing an advanced Diploma – Music Industry Arts and Performance.

Conville, 19, graduated with honours from Stouffville District Secondary School, York Region District School Board.

She was accepted in the four universities that she applied to and chose Carleton for its well-known journalism program.

“It’s huge, it means that people are acknowledging the Arts and the things that us young people are working towards so it’s really special,” says Conville.

She says the scholarship will help with her tuition and to pay for things she needs in the journalism program.

“I’ve always had more of a creative side. I sing and dance and I thought journalism would be sort of an expansion on the kind of creativity that I like. It’s kind of trying something different for me – I just thought it would be interesting.”

An avid volunteer, Conville gives back to the community in music and dance – areas in which she excels.

Photo caption: Carolyn Goulbourne  Paula de Ronde and Sierra-Anne Conville, 2018-2019 ACJAM scholarship awardee

Fairclough, 18, graduated from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, Durham Catholic District School Board.

“I’m happy with the fact that it’s coming from my culture so it means a lot to me. It’s very encouraging,” he says, noting that it helps him a lot to know that there are people who support him and want him to succeed in his field.

He said this is encouraging him to do better in his studies and in his designs.

Fairclough has had a strong love of fashion since he was 7 years old and is happy to be at Ryerson where he can develop the skills he has already shown in his own designs.

The budding fashion designer is a soccer player for Pickering Soccer Club and volunteer assistant to the coach who applauds his understanding of the importance of teamwork. 

Photo credit: Carolyn Goulbourne  Paula de Ronde and Jalen Fairclough, 2018-2019 ACJAM scholarship awardee

Ellis, 21, graduated from Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts with a Diploma in Musical Theatre.

“I guess it’s an honour, I guess its come full circle cause I have been a part of this community for a little bit. It’s just an honour, honestly.”

An accomplished actor and dancer, he has been a competitive gymnast for 13 years and does songwriting, music production, and a host of community events.

He said the scholarship will go towards his tuition and towards his release of music which is a priority for him. Right now he’s recording music that he is writing.

Ellis thinks his creativity is in his blood and comes naturally because of his family – Alton Ellis and Hortense Ellis, both well-known Jamaican singers; his grandfather, Leslie Ellis and “ passed by my dad [Owen “Blakka” Ellis] – that’s why he makes jokes, It just comes naturally to me – I guess it’s instinct.”

His older brother, Daniel Ellis, was the recipient of the 2007-2008 ACJAM scholarship. Daniel is an actor and playwright who will be featured in Nova Scotian author, poet and playwright Shauntay Grant’s production, “The Bridge,” in Halifax, Nova Scotia in January 2019.

Photo credit: Carolyn Goulbourne   Jesse Ellis, 2018-2019 ACJAM scholarship awardee and Paula de Ronde

Cherita Girvan-Campbell, president of Arts and Culture Jamaica Inc., says the organization was very impressed with the standard of the applications of these three students.

She said the decision was made to give to students in the Arts in the hope that second-generation Jamaicans here in Canada will keep the culture alive.

The president said Arts and Culture Jamaica Inc. did not award a scholarship in 2017 because the applications were “hastily put together and poorly sculpted.”

“The applications that we get very often they are put together hastily. It is very important to do it properly.”

She said students need to pay more attention to the processing of applications and underscored that a high standard and attitude will help them in the future.

Since 2003, 27 students have been awarded scholarships valuing up to $1000 CAD for an academic year in areas of study such as the fine arts, performing arts (dance, music and drama), design, literature, and other cultural forms.

Students must be accepted into a full-time program in a Canadian college or university. The fund is available to undergraduate and graduate students. The deadline is July 1 each year.

Ellis, accompanied by his schoolmate, Owen, a guitarist, performed Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part” and Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” Actor and poet, Jermaine Cowie, recited some of Miss Lou’s poems. DJ PsychoSoul provided the music and there was a marketplace where gifts, mainly homemade, for the holidays were being sold.

The scholarships were presented by Paula de Ronde, founder and immediate past president of Arts and Jamaica Inc. at the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto on December 13.

Arts and Culture Jamaica was incorporated in 1995, but began as an ad hoc committee several years before that.

Its objectives include showcasing Jamaican arts and culture to Canadians and Jamaicans living in Canada and to support artists in dance, music, literature, theatre and other cultural activities.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Jan. 3-9, 2019.]