Jamaica Diaspora Impact Awards Honourees Grateful for Recognition

 By Neil Armstrong

 

Photo contributed     Inez Johnson, recipient of the Jamaica Diaspora Impact Award, Education and Community Development

Inez Johnson, Rose Spencer Gibbs, Marcia Brown, Kevin A. Ormsby, and Peter David Smith are beaming with pride as they reflect on their selection as the five Jamaican-Canadian honourees of the inaugural Jamaica Diaspora Impact Awards (JDIA), an initiative of the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto.

When Johnson became a teacher in Jamaica in 1963, she learned to care for others and just like her role model, her grade one teacher, Mrs. Lobban, she wanted her students to achieve the best that they could.

The retired principal in the Toronto District School Board immigrated to Canada in 1971 and was employed at the then Toronto Board of Education. After 34 years of working in the TDSB, she retired in 2005, but wherever she sees a need she strategizes to fill it.

“I was in Ghana for four months and when I came back and had access to the Board’s email, I saw this email and I read it. Tears came down my eyes, tears came down and I’m not someone who cries easily. I was so touched,” says Johnson, noting that she has been working in the community with students, parents and fellow teachers from the 1970s.

Growing up in Hanover, Jamaica, it was Mrs. Lobban who made learning a joy and encouraged her students to perform to the best of their abilities. 

“I remember we would sit around her and she would be teaching us to read, and she would do poetry with us always. Through that, I developed a love for poetry and I vowed from those early days that I wanted to be just like her and so I became a teacher.”

Despite her father’s wish for her to become a medical doctor, Johnson pursued her calling and attended Mico Teachers College in Kingston, Jamaica. 

Her community involvement was modelled by one of her uncles, a parish councillor, whom she assisted in delivering gift baskets to disadvantaged members of their community at Christmas time. 

Johnson headed the Science Department at St Mary High School in Highgate, Jamaica, where she taught Biology, General Science and English before migrating to Canada.

During her years with the Toronto Board of Education, she learned to adjust to the Canadian education system and was later able to assist others in doing the same. 

“I couldn’t do any of this without the help of others and I’m grateful for that,” she says, noting that in the 1970s when there was an influx of Jamaicans migrants coming into Canada with their children, they had no idea of what the school system entailed. 

Johnson said the children were confused and doing poorly in school, “some of them became behavioural issues and I had to do something about it.”

With the help of some organizations in which she was involved, she developed the Saturday Morning Tutorial Program which lasted for 25 years. 

“When we saw the change that we were bringing about in the lives of these kids and getting them all settled in school and performing and succeeding, we knew we had to continue and that’s why it went on for all these years.”

As an alumna of Mico University College, she worked with the Mico Alumni Association and organizations such as Rusea's Past Student Association, Canadian Alliance of Black Educators (CABE), Organization of Parents of Black Children, Black Secretariat, and Black Action Defense Committee, to help her establish the program.

“When we needed space, the Organization of Parents of Black Children were the ones who approached the Board on our behalf to ask for space because at that time we had to pay to use Board facilities. We didn’t have funds; we were doing this just of our own free will and they got us space.”

The Board supported the program, said Johnson, because in a sense the tutorial was helping the Board which had students from Jamaica and did not know what to do with them.

Johnson referenced a 6-year-old boy who was deemed behavioural and always pushed out into the hallways instead of being in the classroom. His grandmother heard about the tutorial program and brought him one Saturday.

She worked with him and his teacher so that the boy could cope when back in school. “That little boy did so well, he improved and it carried over into his classroom. And these are the things that cause us to go on and on.”

She also provided workshops for the parents who learned to navigate the school system to help their children.

When she retired in 2005, she saw the need to help young teachers — many of whom were coming from Jamaica, England, the United States, African countries, in addition to locally-trained Canadian teachers — who were experiencing difficulties securing jobs.

Johnson approached a few of her retired colleagues and suggested that they form a group to mentor the teachers.

“From 2007 we started mentoring, and we’re doing it right now. We take them to sessions, we go through their resumes, cover letters, we prep them for interviews, and sometimes we connect them with Board personnel, get them interviews, and get them the jobs.

“Right now, we have mentees who are superintendents, principals, vice principals, and consultants; they’re doing very well. They have done well and the focus of the mentoring group changes according to the needs of the mentees,” says Johnson proudly.

She said once they get the jobs, there are other issues that they have to deal with and when those issues come up, they are back with the group of retired educators who offer them advice.

Johnson is currently working with staff at the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement where she is sharing her knowledge and skills with them.

“I’ve had wonderful years as a teacher, great successes, loved my students and they performed well over the years.

“You give without expecting a reward, you give unselfishly, and when I get rewarded like this by the consulate, it warms my heart because this is coming from my own people who recognized what I’ve been doing over the years,” says Johnson, noting that none of her other awards has touched her like this one.

She is the honouree in the category of education and community development.

 

Photo contributed.    Rose Spencer Gibbs, recipient of the Jamaica Diaspora Impact Award, Education and Community Service

Spencer Gibbs, a retired Department Head of Library, formerly with the York Region District School Board, has a wide range of experiences in education and community work in Jamaica, Guyana and Canada. 

 

She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. Her first teaching job was at Montego Bay High School. Subsequently, she engaged in post-graduate work at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and at Harvard University in the United States. She completed her doctorate in education at McGill University in Montreal.

 

“I’m very appreciative, very grateful for the recognition. Most of what I do I really don’t do for the recognition; I do appreciate that some people thought it was worthy of being celebrated, said the author of the memoir, Island of Plantations: A Jamaican Reflection, who will receive the award for education and community service.

 

She spent several years as an Education Officer with the Ministry of Education in Jamaica supervising rural primary schools in South Manchester. She was a school librarian and lecturer in Montreal. She has worked as the librarian and lecturer at Mico University College in Jamaica. 

 

While a teacher librarian at Markham District High School in York Region, Spencer Gibbs established a student performance group, the Markham Memory Keepers. For the performances, she wrote a script, entitled “Freedom Road,” using poetry, speeches, songs and music from the culture of people of African heritage.

 

She contributes to her community in her position on the board of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators and as coordinator for the ONABSE/York University community experience for students in the Bachelor of Educational Studies programme. 

 

Spencer Gibbs is also Chair of the scholarship committee for Arts and Culture Jamaica. She has served on the executive of the Alliance of Educators for Black Students and continues to volunteer with the organization.

 

She is a recipient of Black History Month awards for community service from the City of Markham, Ontario. She is currently an independent researcher and writer and lives in Markham. 

 

The retired educator is also the co-author of the book, Louis Strathmore Grant: From Mitchell Town to Mona Campus Jamaica.

 

Photo contributed       Marcia Brown, recipient of the Jamaica Diaspora Impact Award, Culture and Community Service

Brown, a leading cultural ambassador in Canada, uses her platform in the arts to celebrate and preserve Jamaican and Caribbean heritage. 

When she moved to Canada in 1989, she realized there were limited opportunities for her to pursue her greatest passion—theatre—which she began pursuing in 1982 when she auditioned for the Little Theatre Movement (LTM) National Pantomime.

Since 2000, Brown has worked tirelessly to create spaces to bring Jamaican stories to life by producing culturally diverse, thought-provoking, impactful and memorable plays presented by her production company, Marcia Brown Productions.

“To think that I came out on top in an inaugural award feels so good, it makes me feel so extra special,” says Brown who is grateful to her nominator and supporters. She noted that this is her first major award in Canada and she enjoys giving back to community. She is the recipient in the category of culture and community service.

 

As an advocate for cultural preservation, her artistic contributions to promote the uniqueness of Jamaican heritage have been a driving force in ensuring that the rich Jamaican traditions are passed down to younger generations. Her commitment to this legacy is evident in her 2012 and 2013 youth-led production, “Pickney Sinting,” where all proceeds were reinvested in the community. 

Brown also plays an integral role in supporting education through her ongoing financial scholarship donations to the Jamaican Canadian Association Scholarship Program, thus empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education.

Her influence extends beyond the Greater Toronto Area and Canada as her plays have been produced in other provinces and the United States.

Brown has received several community awards in recognition of her work and was featured in the commemorative coffee table book, Jamaicans in Canada: When Ackee Meets Codfish, published in 2012 to celebrate Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of independence. She has used theatre and philanthropy to shape the future of the Jamaican-Canadian community.

Photo contributed.       Peter David Smith, recipient of the Jamaica Diaspora Impact Award, Culture, Health and Wellbeing

Peter David Smith’s life is immersed in the arts — theatre, dance, and fitness. He has earned a black belt and a brown belt (aikido) in martial arts. 

Smith has toured Europe and performed in London at the Battersea Arts Centre, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, and at the Stage Door Festival in Holland.

 

“This is the biggest thing that has ever happened in my life to be recognized by my own Jamaican people. It makes me feel like I’m on top of Jamaica, that what I’ve been doing all this time was being seen by somebody who decided to nominate me,” said Smith who will be awarded in the culture, health and wellbeing category. 

 

This is the first time that the health and fitness expert is receiving an award in Canada.

 

 As a member of the L.T.D. Dance Group, he toured Jamaica and the United States, and has performed at “Ring Ding” the popular television show of Louise Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as Miss Lou; Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation's "Where It’s At” with Alphanso Walker; and has opened for the Jamaica reggae band, Chalice.

 

Smith has earned two gold medals from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.

 

He created Reggaecise, a high-impact aerobic workout experience of dance and movement to the rhythm of Reggae music, in 1992. Smith is proud that it is being taught at GoodLife Fitness, the largest health club company in Canada.

 

He has served as a maroon chief and has also been associated with chiefs of indigenous groups. Smith was the president and associate of groups in Canada.

 

Photo contributed.      Kevin Ormsby, recipient of the Jamaica Diaspora Impact Award, Arts and Culture Leadership

Ormsby, artistic director of KasheDance, has performed in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean, featured in works by choreographers such as Garth Fagan, Patrick Parson, Ronald Taylor, Ron K. Brown, Menaka Thakkar, Lzi Lerman, Bageshree Vaze, Lemi Ponifasio, Christopher Walker, and Denise Fujiwara. 

His formative arts experience in Jamaica included performances on “Ring Ding” and “Kidstuff” with Brian Heap, Pierre, and Karlene Lamaire. He began his formal arts training at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and Calabar High School.

“It means an honouring of community, a recognition of the work put into community, and it means that I’m on my life’s path which is to make sure that I’m Jamaican and representing the many aspects of Jamaica within every space that I exist in,” says Ormsby who is being recognized for arts and culture leadership.

 

He is inspired daily by what he describes as “the cultural investment from so many people, both in Jamaica and in the diaspora, into who I’ve become as an artist, choreographer and advocate.”

 

Currently, Ormsby animates Kollective Narratives, focusing on culturally responsive art, space, placemaking, and communities. As co-director and curator of programming and engagement at Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO), he delivers equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) programming and training for clients such as the National Ballet of Canada, Canada's National Ballet School, and Luminato Festival. He also advocates for arts funding at all government levels in Canada.

In education, he has been a faculty member of Centennial College's Dance Performance Program and a guest artist at institutions including the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts - University of the West Indies (Mona), University of Wisconsin - Madison, Northwestern University, and the University of Texas - Austin. His research and creative practice explore Caribbean and African Diasporic cultural practices, aiming to develop a methodology of investigation in research, creation, and presentation.

Ormsby has been recipient of the Theatre Centre's Patrick Connor Award (2023), nominated for the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize (2023), and was a finalist in 2021, Canada Council for the Arts' Victor Martyn Lynch - Staunton Award, a Chalmers Fellowship, and Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Fellow.

He serves on the Board of Dance Collection Danse and has previously been involved on the boards of Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, Canadian Dance Assembly, Prologue to the Performing Arts, and Nia Centre for the Arts.

An independent panel of judges selected the five honourees from over 40 nominations submitted by the public.

 

“The inaugural Jamaica Diaspora Impact Awards is a milestone occasion and an

opportunity to celebrate inspiring leaders who have made an indelible impact on the

wellbeing of the Jamaican-Canadian community,” said Consul-General Kurt Davis, noting that, “This event is about honouring legacy, inspiring the next generation, and showcasing

the strength and vibrancy of our diaspora.”

 

The JDIA gala will be held at the Toronto Botanical Garden on October 24, and feature a gourmet dining experience curated by the multi-award-winning Chef Noel Cunningham, live entertainment, and cultural performances. 

 

Established to honour the extraordinary achievements of Jamaican-Canadians who exemplify leadership, innovation, and service in their fields, the JDIA is presented by the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto. The gala embodies excellence and cultural pride while celebrating Jamaica’s heritage and the remarkable contributions of its diaspora community in Canada.

 

 

Memories of Public Health Advocate Lillie Johnson in Photographs

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed     Lillie Johnson wearing her Order of Ontario and Order of Canada insignias at a special Order of Canada investiture ceremony on February 27, 2024, in Scarborough, Ontario.

I met Lillie Johnson in the 1990s at CHRY 105.5FM at York University when I invited her to discuss her work and the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario, which she founded with a small team in 1981.

 

We built a friendship over the years which included many conversations and interviews for news stories and features. In 2014, I interviewed her at the launch of her memoir, My Dream, at the Jamaican Canadian Association. It is worth reading to understand the mettle of her dynamism. I knew more about her when my friend, Karen Flynn, did her postgraduate studies at York University and included Johnson and other Black Canadian and Caribbean women in her research. Dr. Flynn, now the Terrance & Karyn Holm Endowed Professor in the Department of Population Health Nursing Science at the University of Illinois, Chicago, wrote the book, Moving Beyond Borders: A History of Black Canadian and Caribbean Women in the Diaspora, which has a photograph of Johnson wearing her nurse’s uniform early in her career.

 

The former nurse, educator, public health advocate, community stalwart and recipient of the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada died on March 16, 1922, in St. Ann, Jamaica, and died in Toronto, Canada on August 10, 2025. She was 103 years old.

 

My condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her.

 

Her book, My Dream, ends with these lines:

 

“One of my favourite inspirational poems through the years has been this one, which expresses perfectly how I feel:

 

“Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

 

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.”

 

-       William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

 

The funeral details are below:

 

Viewing

Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 4-8pm 

 

Funeral Service:

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 11:30 am

Highland Funeral Home – Markham Chapel, 10 Cachet Woods Court, Markham ON 

(Hwy 404 and 16^th Avenue)

 

Interment:

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, following the funeral service

Highland Hills Memorial Gardens, 12492 Woodbine Ave
Gormley

 

Reception at Highland Funeral Home Markham Chapel, after the interment

 

Livestream of the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8b-msJ7s_c

 

 Read more about Lillie Johnson at this link https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250814/trailblazer-jamaican-canadian-centenarian-lillie-johnson-has-died#google_vignette

 

Photo contributed.       Lillie Johnson with David Oxley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2007-2014) 

Photo credit: Eddie Grant.        Lillie Johnson

Photo contributed      Lillie Johnson at the Jamaican Canadian Association's annual walkathon

Photo credit: Neil Armstrong       Lillie Johnson and Margaret Williams at the launch of the memoir, My Dream, at the Jamaican Canadian Association

Photo credit: Neil Armstrong.       Lillie Johnson and Dr. Karen Flynn

Photo contributed.      Lillie Johnson at the Viola Desmond Awards at Ryerson University, now Toronto Metropolitan University

Photo contributed.   Lillie Johnson is flanked by Margarett Best, left, and Mary Anne Chambers, right

The cover of Lillie Johnson's memoir, My Dream

The cover of Dr. Karen Flynn's book

From the book, Jamaicans in Canada: When Ackee Meets Codfish

Olive Senior’s New Novel Focuses on the Taino People of the Caribbean

 

Olive Senior in conversation with author, Gayle Gonsalves, at her book launch at Blackhurst Cultural Centre in Toronto

By Neil Armstrong

Award-winning author Olive Senior’s new book, admits in the acknowledgements of her new historical novel, “Paradise Once,” that it was not the story that she started to tell. It changed when the voices of the Taino people in a fictional village she created based on a Cuban village in the sixteenth century compelled her to tell their story.

 “Over many years, I tried out different scenarios and approaches, all of them leading to a dead end. It was as if I had to yield to voices that, once heard, held onto to me like Clinging Woman or the spirit Death in an Anansi story that once taken up can never be put down. The only release is to answer the call.”

Senior’s new novel is described as “a sweeping historical novel that brings to life the resiliency of the indigenous Taino people of the Caribbean, whose culture was virtually destroyed within two generations of their “discovery” by Christopher Columbus in 1492.”

Tapping into historical knowledge of an entire village, Caonao, being wiped out by Spanish forces in Cuba in 1513, Senior used her imagination to create this work of fiction and to locate the characters in the fictional village of Maima. 

At the full house launch of the book held at A Different Booklist in Toronto on Saturday, Senior said the novel embraces conversations about the place where the Old World and the New World met. She views it as a two-way street about these two groups of people who were radically different. Everything is based on duality which is typical of Taino art; there are two sides to everything.

The characters wrote themselves into the book and their names signify things that were important in Taino culture such as flora.

There is a strong connection between the Taino and the Maroons, something that Senior thinks should be discussed and explored further. Much of the historical records is from archeologists, however, at the same time there are gaps in the knowledge, she said. 

In writing the novel, Senior examined the cultures common to the areas from which they came and through her imagination created the story of four youthful survivors who escaped the massacre in 1513 — “three indigenous and one African runaway. They start off on separate perilous paths, not knowing they have been chosen by the cemies to carry out a sacred mission — to ensure the survival of the Sacred Bundle that will enable a Taino revival in future generations. But first, an epic spiritual battle must be played out.”

The book generated several questions from the audience and Senior underscored the importance of history. “We are living in history which is continuous; history is not dead; we are all living in that moment.”

She noted that it is not known if the indigenous people we know as the Taino actually called themselves that as very little was left behind in their own voices. 

“Paradise Once is a product of the imagination, as are the characters, but the history, background, and culture are based on what has been revealed by the work of scholars to whom I am deeply indebted. I have tried to be true to the knowledge I have gained, but creating a work of fiction gives me that extra privilege of imaginative re-creation. To see the Taino up to five hundred years ago not as artifacts but as modern people with a well-developed social and cultural life; people like us. Or so they told me,” writes Senior in the acknowledgements.

Published by the Brooklyn-based independent publisher, Akashic Books, the front flap of the book notes that: “In this love song to the Caribbean, Olive Senior authentically evokes the physical and spiritual worlds of its First Peoples and the survivors — indigenous and African — who will become the resistance fighters known in history as Cimarones or Maroons.”

Olive Senior signs a copy of her new book for Gayle Gonsalves

Senior is the author of twenty books of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature. She was the Poet Laureate of Jamaica from 2021 to 2024, and has received numerous awards and honours, including honorary doctorates from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, and from York University in Canada. She splits her time between Toronto, Canada and Kingston, Jamaica.

 

Order of Ontario Recipient Thanks the Community

 

A reshoot of the original photo taken almost 30 years ago of some of the Up From The Roots Entertainment members. Left to right: Dwayne Morgan, Quisha Wint, Kevin White, Nicole Morgan and Kevin Ormsby. Kneeling is Dwayne Ashley holding the original photo.

By Neil Armstrong

 

Canadian spoken word artist, motivational speaker and event organizer Dwayne Morgan says he represents multiple communities of people and felt that it was important to share his investiture into the Order of Ontario with the community that has supported his dreams, vision and endeavours.

 

The 2023 appointee to the province’s highest civilian honour for his extraordinary contribution to the arts was celebrated at an investiture ceremony alongside 2024 appointees at the Royal Ontario Museum on June 16 led by Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario. 

 

“When Dwayne Morgan discovered a love of writing in high school, the “spoken-word” genre didn’t exist. As a Black teenager from Scarborough, few doors opened, and he launched “Up From The Roots Entertainment”, producing opportunities for other racialized artists. He lobbied the League of Canadian Poets to include performance poets, produced North America’s two largest spoken-word events and has performed globally. His words – and actions – inspire,” read the citation.

On June 18, he held a community reception at the North York Central Library at which he noted that his grandparents nurtured him in faith so he had to thank God for all of the blessings in his life.

 

Morgan, who is of Jamaican heritage, also thanked his mother who always supported him “even when she had no idea what on earth I was doing.” Included in his expressions of gratitude were his daughter, Egypt, and partner Claudia.

Many of the original members of Up From The Roots were present, including his sister Nicole Morgan, Dwayne Ashley, Quisha Wint, Kevin Ormsby and Kevin White. Those absent were Tamla Matthews, Lorraine Reid and Cheryl Joseph.

Tracing his trajectory, Morgan said they were all there from the beginning and supported his vision that few could see. “You kept me hungry and humble, and I appreciate your contributions to all of the early shows. Back in those days, no one wanted Black kids, especially those from Scarborough, in their establishments so I would produce our first shows in a Fit For Life gym with people working out in the background.” 

He advised those gathered that everything does not need to be perfect to start something. “Most times, you just need to start; start where you are with what you have, and notice how things start to work out around you. Life is too short to be wasting time, waiting for the right moment.” 

Noting that Debbie Thompson and Ginelle Skerritt believed in him when he only had one poem and he did not know that there was anything in him worth believing in, Morgan thanked them.

A text from Gretta Vosper, one of his elders, reminded him that he made the world different for many people who, without his influence “may never have found the best use of their strengths, or the softer ways to stand up against power with courage.” This prompted the 2013 Scarborough Walk of Fame inductee to thank himself.

“Few know how lonely it is to be a dreamer, to be committed to something that no one else sees, but is so clear in your head. You spend a great deal of time being misunderstood and judged, but the reality is that you’ll never be everything to everyone, though that doesn’t stop you from trying.” 

 

Morgan said when the Order of Ontario was first suggested to him, he did not know what it was, but instantly felt that he did not deserve it and that it was for other people. 

As he listened to the biographies of the other appointees at the ceremony, he sometimes wondered if it was a mistake that he was included but soon reminded himself of his achievements. 

Over the past 32 years, Morgan has written sixteen books, published an anthology of other writers, released eight albums, and two double albums, one poetry compilation album, one comedy album, one DVD, two short films, won two national championships, produced three photography exhibits, two TV shows, performed in eighteen countries, started two youth poetry slam leagues, produced hundreds of events and given thousands of performances.

“We belong in all of these places that we’ve convinced ourselves aren’t for us,” said the 2022 winner of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Celebration of Cultural Life award.

He wants to see a documentary about his story, a Netflix special, and one of his feature film ideas made. 

“I have given all that I can. I believe in dying empty; taking everything that life has given me and giving it back to others and the world. There is nothing that I can take with me when I go, so I will continue to give all that I can for the benefit of others. This is how I was raised and who I am,” said Morgan who is the recipient of the African Canadian Achievement Award and the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts.   

Kevin Ormsby, Nicole Morgan and Dwayne Ashley

Dwayne Morgan and Sophia Findlay

Dwayne Morgan and Kevin Ormsby

The other Jamaicans invested into the Order of Ontario were veteran journalist Royson James and retired military captain Kevin Junor.

 

 

High School Graduates Encouraged to Build Networks During Postsecondary Studies

 

Photo credit: Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Association.      High school graduates of Jamaican heritage who were the recipients of bursaries for postsecondary education

By Neil Armstrong

A past graduate of the Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations (AJAA) Graduates Program has advised the Class of 2025 that no path is linear and that they should use her as a resource and build networks.

Nicole Maylor, who was in the batch of 2012, was the guest speaker at the 32^nd annual graduates awards ceremony and luncheon held at the Jamaican Canadian Centre in Toronto. She reminded them that it is important to not only rely on community but also on themselves. 

Established in 1993, the graduates program celebrates the achievement of Ontario high school graduates of Jamaican descent and supports their pursuit of post-secondary education. Initially awarding a $500 bursary, 28 bursaries totalling over $34,000 were allocated this year.

“You must do what makes you happy, not for everyone around. Follow that little voice inside that you know is true. Take rest, breathe, be thankful for how far you’ve come, and prepare for the journey ahead. You’re all here today not by chance but by purpose,” said Maylor who is a trained lawyer working as a Canadian foreign service officer at Global Affairs Canada.

She charted the path of her education gaining an honours Bachelor degree in International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa. She also did the French immersion and cooperative education programs.

Although she lost focus on her schoolwork after her grandfather died a few weeks into her first year which placed her in a tailspin, her enthusiasm was restored when she met two girls from the West Indian Students Ensemble. 

“Thanks to them and the resilience I found within I went on to do many things during my time at uOttawa. I was the vice president of equity affairs for my student union. I travelled to Taiwan for a summer to learn with and from Indigenous communities there and the similarities of their plight to that of Canadian First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.” She interned at a gender and justice organization in Cape Town, South Africa.

Acknowledging the support of family and friends through her “trials and tribulations,” Maylor said her ambition was restored and she was ready to take on the world once more.

She told the graduates that leaving a law firm gave her the opportunity to return to school to pursue a master’s degree. 

Photo credit: Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations   Nicole Taylor, lawyer and Canadian foreign service officer, was the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony

At age 30, she felt tired and burnt out. Friends sent her therapist recommendations, her family checked in, and her partner was always there ready to listen, but it was her parents’ support that changed everything. 

Always wanting to impress them, she was relieved when they told her to take time and rest. She contacted a therapist, took time off from work and included yoga, running, and journaling in her routine.

Speaking on behalf of the Class of 2025, Ayanna Simmonds said the event was a celebration of their education but also of their journey, sacrifice and the strength it took for them to get there.

“For us, as students of Jamaican descent, we carry something even more special — the strength of our heritage. We come from a lineage of trailblazers; people who had little but gave so much.

“When you think of the people who fought for freedom — leaders like Marcus Garvey and Miss Lou who used their voice to uplift generations — or modern icons like Usain Bolt or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who prove that the impossible is just another challenge. We are reminded that greatness runs through our veins.”

Simmonds said the journey would not always be easy and that life will test them and may hand them closed doors, unexpected detours or moments of doubt. 

“But here is what I want you to remember, you are more than ready. You’ve made it this far, not by accident but through dedication and determination and wherever you go next — university or college — you already have what it takes. Your mind is your passport. Keep it sharp, keep it curious and keep it open,” said Simmonds in keeping with the event’s theme, “Education – Passport to the Future.”

Wayne Swaby, AJAA’s president, told them that an investment in the youth is an investment in the future of the community.

“Research indicates that financial vulnerability disproportionately affects our youth, making them significantly more susceptible to negative financial outcomes such as high debt. By providing financial aid in the form of grants, we actively work to increase the likelihood of our students earning their degrees and minimizing income inequality that our people often face,” he said.

Photo credit: Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations (AJAA)     Executive officers of AJAA and some of the high school graduates who received bursaries   

Kurt Davis, consul-general of Jamaica at Toronto, encouraged the students to make and keep connections with people as they progress through life. 

“As you move past the secondary stage, I am encouraging you to step boldly into your destiny. The world is before you and you are equipped and empowered to face these challenges that the world is seeing and to help us to overcome them,” he told them.

 

 

Ontario Judge Urges New Lawyers to Make a Difference

Photo credit: Law Society of Ontario      Justice Aston Hall, Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, speaking at the Call to the Bar ceremony of the Law Society of Ontario

By Neil Armstrong

When the Law Society of Ontario bestowed on Aston Hall, Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa (LLD), it described him as a true champion for diversity.

In the citation, the first Black judge to be appointed to that judicial position in 2021 was praised for “advancing justice and equality not only through his work as a lawyer and judge but also through his personal journey. His relentless efforts to break down systemic barriers have had a profound impact on the community, inspiring and empowering individuals to strive for a more inclusive and equitable society.”

His speech addressing new lawyers at the Call to the Bar ceremony at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto charted his journey and offered advice to them about the importance of their profession.

Acknowledging that he had support along the way from Black and mainstream communities and many allies, Justice Hall said he would not be where he is without his family, especially his wife, Linda.

He noted that there were some key people who had a significant influence on him such as Jamaica’s former prime minister Michael Manley, Ivy Coke who was like a mother to him in Canada, and his own grandmother, Estella Weir, who raised him.

“She modelled a kindness that showed the power of generosity, a determination that

showed the value of hard work and the fierce optimism in the nobility of community

and public service,” said Hall about Weir.

 

From Manley, he learnt that he must “walk through this world not on my knees but upright and forward, cloaked in the memory of our ancestors and stand up for justice and fairness always.”

Justice Hall said as a young boy in Kingston, Jamaica, he was fascinated with the law and was a fixture in the backrow of the Sutton Street courthouse watching the proceedings.

He became a Canadian resident in 1983 and pursued his law degree at Osgoode Hall; he was called to the Bar in 1995. Throughout his career as a lawyer, Hall specialized in criminal law until he was appointed a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice in 2011.

“The law is more than a career. It is a calling to advocate for those without a voice. A calling to uphold justice when it is threatened. A calling to guarantee that fairness is not just an abstract principle but a lived reality for Canadians,” he told the new lawyers.

 

“It’s a calling to protect democracy, it’s a calling to protect Canada, so that this

remains a place, where everyone regardless of race, gender identity, ethnic

background, sexual orientation, religious belief, physical abilities are included and

treated equally - so all our dreams and aspirations as well can become a reality.”

 

Sharing his experience as a Black lawyer in Ontario, Justice Hall said it has not always been very easy. At times, his presence had been questioned as to whether or not he was a

lawyer simply because of the colour of his skin.

 

“On several occasions, I have been mistaken in court as the interpreter, a

police officer, or the accused person. My strategy was to use these moments as

fuel to challenge the system, challenge stereotypes, demand respect and seek to

change the system so myself and others like me are treated as equally as any other

lawyer.”

 

He told the new lawyers that the privilege of being a lawyer is immense and that empathy is crucial in the practice of law. 

 

“You will be entrusted with people’s greatest hopes and deepest fears. You will see the

law is not just words in law books and statues, but as a force that can shape lives,

families, and entire communities.”

 

He said empathy allows them to understand and connect with their clients’ experiences and emotions, fostering trust and effective communication. “By demonstrating empathy,

you can better advocate on your clients’ behalf, ensuring their needs and concerns

are genuinely represented and addressed.”

 

Justice Hall urged them to seek mentorship and to ask questions because mentors can profoundly impact their careers.

 

“The practice of law has evolved significantly since my time as defence counsel,

especially post-COVID. With many new calls working remotely, or opening their own

practices early on in their careers, I urge you all to seek mentorship and ask

questions. Mentorship was pivotal in my growth as both counsel and a professional.

Mentors can profoundly impact your careers, guiding you through the intellectual

and ethical challenges you will encounter in your practices.”

In concluding his address, Justice Hall shared a few things he has learned over many years as a lawyer, a judge, and a leader in the Ontario Court of Justice — advice he hoped they would carry with them.

“Your integrity is your most valuable asset. Protect it. Your reputation will follow your entire career.

 

“Never stop learning. The law is dynamic and so should you. Embrace opportunities to grow.

 

“Success is not just about winning cases—it’s about the impact you have on the lives of others.

 

“Lift as you climb. No one makes it alone. Help those coming after you.

“Be Brave.”

In a call to action, he told the new lawyers that they were stepping into a profession that needs their energy, passion, and unwavering commitment to justice. 

 

“The road ahead will not always be easy, but it will be meaningful. Today, you take an oath—not just to the law, but to the ideals of fairness, impartiality, and justice. Those are serious responsibilities.”

 

Describing them as the next guardians of justice, Justice Hall urged the lawyers to “go forward with courage, with energy, with integrity, with determination, and make a difference. This is your time.”

From 2015 to 2017, Justice Hall was the local administrative judge for the Scarborough courthouse. During this time, he was the chairman of the Operations Committee. In this role he supported the creation of a specialized court for Indigenous people and developed a program for Black History Month to celebrate diversity and the contributions of African Canadians in the development of Canada.

In 2017, he was appointed regional senior judge for the Toronto Region and was instrumental in ensuring a vast cross section of justice partners were engaged in the planning and development of the New Toronto Courthouse project.

Since being appointed Associate Chief Justice, he has led the educational programming of Ontario’s provincial court judges. “He is deeply committed to the idea of strengthening judicial independence, impartiality and competency through education and professional development,” notes the Law Society.

Justice Hall also oversees the Court’s technology portfolio. In this role, he is focused on integrating modern technology into the court system which will improve access to justice for the citizens of Ontario. Furthermore, he works to enhance the awareness and understanding of the significant impacts that the rapidly changing technology landscape has on the legal system and the Bench.

The Ontario judge continues to be an active leader and a member of numerous judicial committees that have advanced change and promoted diversity in Ontario's courts. He has a deep and unflagging commitment to working with justice partners as well as a wide range of diverse communities to address systemic challenges in the criminal justice system.

Justice Hall has spent his career advocating for the marginalized communities within society and feels it is a great honour to be able to give a voice to the voiceless.

His intellect, sound judgment and understanding of the law and justice system have earned him the respect of the legal profession, the judiciary and the Ontario public.

The Law Society awards honorary doctorates each year to distinguished individuals in recognition of outstanding achievements in service to the legal professions, the rule of law and the cause of justice.