Harry Jerome Awards Alumni (2011)

John Tory is a Canadian business leader, community activist and broadcaster and former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and former Member of Provincial Parliament. Mr. Tory was elected leader of the Ontario PC Party in 2004, and was elected MPP for the riding of Dufferin Peel Wellington Grey in 2005. The early years of his career were spent practicing law in Toronto and working for Ontario Premier Bill Davis. He joined the Rogers Group of Companies, first as President and CEO of Rogers Media and then as President and CEO of Rogers Cable.

Mr. Tory has an extensive background in volunteer community service. He served as volunteer Chairman and Commissioner of the Canadian Football League and has chaired fundraising campaigns for St. Michael’s Hospital and the United Way. He maintains an active involvement in those two organizations, as well as chairing the current fundraising campaign for the Toronto International Film Festival. He also holds leadership positions in a wide range of charitable organizations ranging from autism to kids at risk, Canadian authors and children with physical disabilities.

He is a recipient of both the Paul Harris and Mel Osborne Awards from the Rotary and Kiwanis organizations respectively and was named a Life Member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He is also the recipient of an African Canadian Achievement Award. He hosts a daily three hour talk show on Canada’s leading talk station Newstalk 1010 and is the founding board member and the new chair of the Toronto City Summit Alliance.

Mr. Tory is a champion for diversity and is currently the Co-Chair of DiverseCity where he is working to ensure that Toronto’s diversity is an asset we continue to display proudly. He firmly believes that when we can broaden the horizons of our leadership landscape, our city will benefit from the knowledge, culture, ideas and expertise of our diverse population. DiverseCity has been working over the last two years to realize the promise of a stronger and more prosperous Greater Toronto region through a more diverse leadership.

Dr. John Joyce Kwesi Akabutu is Professor Emeritus, University ofAlberta. He is Founder and Executive Director, Alberta Cord Blood Bank and Canadian Cord Blood Registry. John Akabutu came to
Canada from Ghana to study medicine at the University of Alberta. He is a professor of paediatrics and the head of paediatric haematology at the University Of Alberta School Of Medicine in Edmonton.

His work in unravelling the mysteries and the uses of stem cells has led to some remarkable advancement in science. Stem cells are “unprogrammed” cells that have the ability, when transplanted, to transform themselves into a variety of more specific cells within the body with the potential to do everything from re-growing organs to mediating the development of certain types of cancer. Stem cells are used for bone marrow transplants, for gene therapy and for a variety of genetic and acquired diseases. Dr. Akabutu’s team has developed methods to purify, freeze and store stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborns.

Dr. Akabutu is also celebrated as the originator of a program that, since 1978, has provided highquality comprehensive care, as well as education and support for people suffering from haemophilia. In 2004, in recognition of his pioneering work, the Northern Alberta Comprehensive Haemophilia Clinic was renamed the Doctor John Akabutu Centre for Bleeding Disorders. He is recognized as one of the 100 Greatest Edmontonians of the 20th Century. He also has been recognized by the Alberta Medical Association with a medal for distinguished service. Proud of his home country, John Akabutu serves Ghana as the honorary consul general for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Dr. Akabutu also gives back to the community in a number of ways. He is a member of the fundraising team to endow the Michaëlle Jean Chair in Canadian Caribbean and African Diasporic Studies. Dr. John Akabutu’s contributions to advancements in medical research have potential not just in Canada but worldwide.

Michelle McFarlane is a recent graduate of the Master of Science (MSc), a collaborative program in Neurosciences at University of Toronto. She is the proud daughter of Afro-Caribbean parents who moved to Canada to pursue job opportunities.

At a young age, Michelle showed an interested in the sciences. After graduating from high school, she was accepted into the Shad Valley program at the University of Calgary where she learned about science, technology, and entrepreneurship and developed a strong interest in biology, research, and innovation. Her volunteer experience at the local hospital inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. During her last year of high school, she received a medical research scholarship from The Heart & Stroke Foundation where she was afforded the unique opportunity to conduct research in heart disease at the University of Toronto.

Michelle completed her undergraduate studies in the Health Sciences program at McMaster University and she received a Golden Key award for achieving an academic average in the top 15% of her class. She also received the provincial scholarship from The Heart & Stroke Foundation to conduct medical research.

Michelle graduated from McMaster University with distinction and entered the Master of Science program at the University of Toronto where she studied retinal function in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes. She has presented her findings at conferences in Italy, Australia, Florida and New York, and through the Kids Science program also presented to high school students in inner city communities. Michelle is the recipient of several awards for her scholastic achievements including an award from the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre and the Vision Science Research Program. Michelle’s long-term goal is to be a physician-scientist, and her greatest hope is to

Moses A. Mawa is the CEO of Afroglobal Television, a 24-hour channel dedicated to Africa and the Diaspora. He is the Founder and Chairman of Silvertrust Communications, Planet Africa Group, Radio Amani (Uganda) Limited, and Silvertrust (Nigeria) Limited. Mr. Mawa is the Executive Producer of the Planet Africa show, broadcast on OMNI TV in Canada, BEN TV in Europe and NTA International. He is
the Publisher of Planet Africa Magazine, available in Chapters, Indigo, and Wal-Mart, International News, Gateway and Daisy stores in Canada, the United States and beyond.

The three-part “Trinity Vision” of Mr. Mawa embodies Planet Africa, Harmony and Destiny. Planet Africa showcases Africa and the Diaspora. Harmony harnesses the benefits of diversity. Destiny advances the potential of Africa and the Diaspora. He is the producer of “Arise!” on Vision TV. In 2007, he was commissioned by the Ontario Government as producer of the Bicentenary Legacy Kit, which included a documentary film, a magazine and a photo reel on the commemoration of the Bicentenary of the 1807 Abolition of the British Slave Trade Act. In 2008, he created the Crossover Mentorship Program to transform lives.

Mr. Mawa holds a B.A. in Film Studies from Carleton University, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership degree at Trinity Western University. He has been trained at the Canadian Screen Training Centre as a multimedia and television producer. He has also produced radio programs for CHUO 89.1 FM and CKCU 91.5 FM in Ottawa. In 2009, he was honoured by the Toronto Police with the “Excellence in Community Service Award”. In 2010, he received the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada Award for “Professional Excellence in Media”.

Mr. Mawa’s roots can be traced to Uganda, where his father came from and to South Sudan, where his mother hails from. He credits his success to God, his parents and his beautiful Nigerianborn wife, Patricia Bebia Mawa, who also serves as the Host and Producer of Planet Africa TV and Managing Editor of Planet Africa Magazine. Mr. Mawa is profiled in Who’s Who in Black Canada. He also produces the annual international Planet Africa Awards program and the Leadership and Development Summit.

Ileen Pat Howell, originally from Jamaica, is a retired Social Worker/Therapist. Pat exemplifies someone who volunteers her time and services in different areas of the community. Her skills and abilities are used to improve others’ lives not only in Markham, but throughout York Region.

Some of Pat’s impressive community work includes initiating and participating in programs such as: Weekly Youth Tutorial Saturday School, Crime Prevention Outreach, Provision of Educational Scholarships, York Regional Police New Recruit Community Insight, Black History Month, Kwanza Celebration, Spelling Bee – Markham Chapter, Summer Reading and Youth Seminars, and Weekly Parents’ workshops.

This awardee is immersed in community work which has led her to sit on a number of committees including: Ethno-racial, Building Bridges Breaking Barriers, and Markham-Unionville Federal Liberal Association (MUFLA). She served on the Board of Directors for Markham Stouffville Hospital, and was President for the Markham-Unionville Federal Liberal Association, and the Markham African Canadian Association (MACA). Her participation in community work has led her to win several awards: namely; York Region Award for Civic Leadership, Provincial Government Volunteer Service, African Caribbean Women’s Achievement, Achieve Community Recognition, Community Volunteers, Community Leaders, Community Services, among others.

In addition, Pat was instrumental in bringing Markham youth from all backgrounds together with York Regional Police districts to work in unison to better the community. She promotes togetherness, and because of her outstanding community contributions, she was acknowledged with high esteem and admiration when she was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

Ileen Pat Howell continues to be of service to the Markham community, and this is manifested in her association with the Annual Millikin Children’s Festival, and her significant role in fundraising for the Randal Dooley Scholarship. She is currently the Vice-chair for the York Regional Police Community Advisory Committee, and also serves on the York Regional Police Hate Crime Community Working Group. Besides, Pat engages in simple tasks by driving seniors to appointments and parents to school council meetings. Pat has invested her time, gift, and hard work in making a difference in the lives of many Canadian community members.

Most talk about changing the world – LaShawn Murray is one of the few who work to make change a reality. While growing up in Toronto, she realized at an early age that not only was her love of reading and writing key to her continued scholastic success, but that literacy was one of the most effective tools for social change.

LaShawn hadn’t even reached her teens when she began to use literacy to knock down the doors of poverty, tyranny and hopelessness. LaShawn contributed both her time and considerable leadership skills to local and global initiatives such as Reading for the Fun of It, World Literacy of Canada’s project Big Day Out and Youth in Action. As an active member of the Halton Youth Advisory Committee, LaShawn continued her drive to bring about social change through her involvement in a number of school-based initiatives. She cofounded the Invisible Children Book Drive which collected over 39,000 books to support literacy programs for children in Uganda, organized an AIDS Run that raised $10,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and worked tirelessly on other projects such as a Fashion Show to support Sleeping Children Around the World and an environmental conference for students across the Halton School District.

LaShawn recently completed her final year of an International Baccalaureate program at Robert Bateman High School in Burlington, Ontario, where she was not only an honour student but also received the Bateman Best Award for Academics. Now in her freshman year at the University of Western Ontario, she is working on a combined degree in business and medical science, with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. Despite her heavy class load, LaShawn continues to advocate for literacy by lending her leadership skills to organizations that share her commitment to social change.

Over the years, LaShawn’s leadership abilities and commitment to social change have earned her many awards, including the Recognition Award for Youth, Honourable Mention for the Canada’s Me to We Award, the Future Aces Citizenship Award and Scholarship, Guyana Award and Scholarship and the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers. More awards are certain to follow, but for leaders like LaShawn the only reward that matters is seeing our world change for the better.

As a trade unionist, community organizer and activist, Bromley Armstrong fought for civil and human rights long before Canada had a legislative and constitutional framework to defend human rights.

The fourth of seven children born in Jamaica in February 1926, he worked as a boilermaker and welder and attended Jamaica Trade Union Congress meetings before coming to Canada in 1947. It was during his first job in Toronto, at Massey Harris where he worked for eight years, that he became an active leader in the United Auto Workers Local 439 and the Toronto & District Labour Council. In 1954, he led a delegation to Ottawa, protesting the federal government’s restrictive immigration policy that shut out Blacks and other visible minorities.

Armstrong has been a founding member of a myriad of community organizations. They include the Caribbean Soccer Club in 1949 that participated in the Toronto & District Soccer League, the Negro Citizenship Committee in 1951, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Coloured People in 1958, the Jamaican Canadian Association in 1962, the Jamaican Canadian Credit Union in 1963, and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations in 1975. He is also a founding member of the National Council of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations in Canada and the National Black Coalition of Canada. In a 14-year span between 1973 and 1997, Armstrong published The Islander newspaper dedicated to Toronto’s Black and West Indian community.

A protector of the rights of many ethnocultural groups in Canada, he has been honoured with the West Indian Federation Club award, the Order of Jamaica, the Order of Ontario, the Order of Canada, the Harry Jerome award for Community Service, the federal government’s Race Relations award, the Canada 125th anniversary medal and the Bahai National Race Unity award. He was the first Black to join the Ontario Labour Relations Board in 1980 after serving five years as a commissioner on the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Armstrong, who conducted test cases in Toronto and Dresden, co-authored Bromley: Tireless Champion for Just Causes, published in 2000. An avid sportsman, illness prevented Armstrong from representing Jamaica as a welterweight in the 1946 Pan American Games in Colombia. He was a Toronto District Soccer League all-star in 1951.