The Black Business and Professional Association Announces the 2012 BBPA Harry Jerome Award Winners
The 30th Annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards: “Legacy Drives Impact ~ Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence…” featuring Keynote Speaker Roland Martin, CNN Strategist
The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) announced today the 2012 winners for the 30th Annual Harry Jerome Awards presented by the BBPA and RBC Royal Bank at a reception hosted by RBC. The 30th Annual Gala will be held next month, April 28th, 2012. The BBPA is proud to celebrate 30 years of recognizing excellence, both past and present, within the African-Canadian community.
Karlyn Percil, Chair of the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards, has spearheaded this year’s special anniversary event. “At this year’s gala we will not only celebrate our new award recipients, but we will also commemorate the past 30 years of presenting the Harry Jerome Awards and how special this event has become to the community as a way to inspire all of us, especially our youth, to stay on the path of excellence.”
Presented by RBC Royal Bank, the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards are recognized as the premier national awards gala in the African-Canadian community and a coveted symbol of achievement. The winners receive awards in sixteen categories: Academics, Athletics, Arts, Business, Community Service, Diversity, Entertainment, Health Sciences, Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, Media, the President’s Award, Professional Excellence, Technology & Innovation, Trailblazer, and the Young Entrepreneur Award. An additional three awards are added to commemorate the 30th Anniversary, under the theme “Legacy Drives Impact:” the Heritage, Legacy, and Youth Advocacy Awards. Conferring these additional awards to significant community builders puts the BBPA in the driver’s seat in stimulating a culture that celebrates excellence end to end.
“We’re proud of our long-standing association with the BBPA and especially the Harry Jerome Awards,” commented RBC Royal Bank Regional President, Jennifer Tory. “Our relationship is built on a shared value of promoting diversity for growth and innovation in our communities, and we’re honoured to be a part of recognizing this year’s winners and inspiring the next generation to follow their lead.”
“We are very excited to celebrate our 30th anniversary and welcome back RBC Royal Bank as Presenting Sponsor,” said Pauline Christian, President of the BBPA. “The BBPA has been fortunate to continue to attract a broad spectrum of sponsors to this event and would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters.”
The BBPA is proud to honour and celebrate the following award winners:
- BBPA Harry Jerome Athletics Award: Mr. Tut Ruach
- RBC Community Service Award: Mr. Paul Barnett
- Chevrolet Technology & Innovation Award: Dr. David Tay
- IntelliPharmaCeutics Young Entrepreneur Award: Mr. Andrew Forde
- CIBC Academics Award: Ms. Eugenia Duodu
- Aon Hewitt Diversity Award: Retired Chief Armand La Barge
- Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Media Award: Sergeant Craig Smith
- Sterling Dental Health Sciences Award: Dr. Godfrey Bacheyie
- Scotiabank Leadership Award: Mr. Julius Tapper
- BBPA Legacy Award: Hon. Justice Dr. Irving Andre
- TD Bank Financial Group Lifetime Achievement Award: Mr. Hugh Graham
- IBM Trailblazer Award: Mr. Damon Allen
- BBPA Heritage Award: Mr. Fitzroy Gordon
- BMO Financial Group President’s Award: Hon. Mr. Justice Michael H. Tulloch
- Bell Canada Business Award: Dr. Anthony Sterling
- BBPA Youth Advocacy Award: Senator Don Meredith
- Nursing & HomemakersInc. Professional Excellence Award: Mr. Cordell Samuels
- G98.7 FM Entertainment Award: Mr. Jay Douglas
- Planet Africa Arts Award: Mr. Errol Lee