CANADA’S LARGEST ETHNIC NEWSPAPER CANADA’S LARGEST ETHNIC NEWSPAPER
After winning a by-election in October 2020, MARCI IEN was re-elected in September 2021 and appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth. Now the award-winning journalist known for compelling storytelling and amplifying marginalized voices looks to the future. See story on page 3. Photo contributed
Guyana’s opposition APNU party campaigns in T.O.
ABy LINCOLN DEPRADINE
political coalition in Guyana, op-
posed to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government, is appealing for the support of Guyanese in Canada to help remove the administration led by President Irfaan Ali when general elections are held in the country later this year.
Ganesh Mahipaul and Juretha Fernandes, outgoing MPs in the National Assembly and members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), told a Toronto audience that change is necessary in Guyana, criticizing the government for what they describe as its failure to invest in people.
“It’s absolutely necessary to unite our voices to get them out of there,” said Fernandes, who is slated to be prime minister in a victorious APNU government.
Fernandes and Mahipaul, speaking at a fundraising event and “meet and greet” in Scarborough, updated the audience on the campaigning for general elections on September 1. Regional elections in Guyana will also be held on the same day.
“We are ready to deliver our message of continued progress to the people of Guyana in the election campaign,” said Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), soon after the general election date was announced.
The PPP/Civic, in office since 2020, has been overseeing a Guyanese economy buoyed by oil production.
Guyana has the largest per capita oil reserves in the world, reportedly producing just over 600,000 barrels of oil per day.
Mahipaul expressed confidence that
APNU, headed by Aubrey Norton of the People’s National Congress-Reform (PNC-R), could defeat the PPP/Civic in the September polls.
“The APNU is a strong coalition, with the PNC-R at the top. We will win this election.”
Mahipaul promised that a Norton-led
government will be committed to “people-centred development”.
“The priority right now, from the Diaspora, is your support which you are giving to this fundraising activity and I thank you for that. The Guyanese people are “fed up” with the government.
“The People’s Progressive Party is not investing our oil money properly in our country. It’s all about friends, families and favourites; all about enriching themselves. What we are not getting is transparency in the spending of the money; what we are not getting is accountability for the money; and what we are not getting is good governance for the money. What we are not seeing is people being lifted up.”
Fernandes, continuing with the criticism of President Ali and members of the PPC/Civic, said “they are not investing your money in the best possible way”.
“Let us make sure that we are united in our mission to make sure that we put back our country in the hands of its people. Let Guyanese come out the winner of the 2025 election,” said Fernandes.
“We have that team put together and ready to work to make sure that Guyana is the best it can be. We invest in people and we make sure that our most valuable resource, our human resource, is taken care of first. Today, we are seeing the complete opposite.”
LEAPgraduatesreadytofacethefuture
Peel District School Board (PDSB) and Algoma University recently celebrated the graduation of the fourth cohort of the Learners Early Access Program (LEAP)—a forward thinking initiative launched in September 2023 that reimagines the high school experience and opens new pathways to post-secondary education for equity-deserving students.
This semester, 28 students from 13 secondary school sites across the Peel Region graduated from LEAP. These Grade 11 and 12 students, aged 16 to 18, spent one semester at Algoma University’s Brampton campus, earning both Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) credits and transferable university credits, while participating in career-oriented learning and hands-on experiential opportunities that bridge the gap between high school and post-secondary life.
LEAP, a partnership between PDSB and Algoma University delivered in collaboration with industry partners, enables students to earn high school credits—including courses like Black Literatures, Sports and Entertainment Marketing and Contemporary Indigenous Voices—while also taking university-level classes such as Introduction to Canadian Business, E-Sports or Social Work.
Students gain practical, career-ready skills through a non-credit Project Man-
agement micro-credential and engage in experiential learning that connects theory to practice. The program supports educational and
career exploration, post-secondary readiness and confidence building, while allowing students to remain enrolled in their home schools and participate in regular
activities, including
This
school
graduation.
semester, several LEAP students graduating from secondary school in June
JURETHA FERNANDES and GANESH MAHIPAUL of APNU
Graduating LEAP students.
JAMBANA returns to Brampton on Monday, August 4
The vibrant sights, sounds and flavours of the Caribbean will once again fill Chinguacousy Park as the JAMBANA One World Festival, presented by TD and in partnership with the City of Brampton, returns on Monday, August 4, 2025.
The event carries even greater meaning, as the festival proudly celebrates Emancipation Day, honouring the legacy, resilience and cultural contributions of the African diaspora in Canada and around the world.
JAMBANA continues to stand as one of Canada’s premier cultural festivals, drawing thousands for a high-energy celebration of music, unity and diversity.
The 2025 edition features an
exciting headline performance by Fab 5, one of Jamaica’s most iconic and influential groups.
The musical lineup also includes a stellar cast of performers: Exco Levi & High Priest, six-time Juno
Award-winning reggae artiste; Jah’Mila, blending reggae and soul with powerful storytelling; Pan Fantasy Steelband, one of Canada’s top steelpan ensembles; DJ Joshua Lucas providing the musical fix and more!
“JAMBANA is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of freedom, culture and community,” says Jerimi Jones, the festival’s Artistic Director. “Marking Emancipation
Day through this festival gives us an opportunity to reflect, uplift and come together through the power of music and culture.”
Beyond the stage, festivalgoers can enjoy a vibrant vendor marketplace and an array of Caribbean and international cuisines. From handmade crafts and delicious dishes to captivating on-stage performances, JAMBANA offers something for the whole family to enjoy.
Set in the heart of Brampton at Chinguacousy Park, the festival runs from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and provides a perfect setting for this meaningful day of celebration. And the best part of it all? Admission is free for everyone!
For more information, visit www.jambana.com and follow @ jambanafestival on social media.
JOSHUA LUCAS
JAH'MILA
EXCO LEVI
FAB 5
JAMBANA fans
Former MP Marci Ien planning for life after politics
By RON FANFAIR
With an office secured and campaign manager in place, Marci Ien was preparing to run in last April’s federal election.
Waking up on International Women’s Day on March 8, she had a change of heart.
“Something in me said not this time,” recounted Ien. “I felt that I was talking to myself that morning. When I called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to inform him of my decision, he said, ‘You served so well, only you can make this decision, I respect any decision you make and thank you’. He then added, ‘Guess I will see you on your next show as I am always around to be a guest’.”
After winning a by-election in October 2020, she was re-elected in September 2021 and appointed to Cabinet a month later as Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth.
Under growing pressure from his party, Trudeau announced last January he was stepping down as PM and party leader.
Was Ien’s decision two months later to not seek re-election based on his pending departure?
“No,” she emphatically said. “I was thinking about it before and kept going back and forth. I love the community so much. When I looked at the mandate I had for my portfolio, I had checked every box. The question was, ‘What do I do?’ In the end, my mother’s death played a huge role in my leaving politics.”
Just days before the by-election, Vilna Ien suffered a stroke. She passed away in September 2024, three weeks before her 86th birthday.
“Mom’s death got me thinking about time and the fact that it is not infinite, where do I want to be and who do I want to spend
it with,” Ien said. “The one thing I knew unequivocally is that I wanted to serve, but in what capacity and what does that look like.”
Five days after announcing she was not seeking re-election, she led Canada’s delegation to the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York City from March 10 to 21.
It was Ien’s last official assignment as a federal minister.
This year’s conference marked the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women where 189 countries adopted the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
“It was amazing leading the national delegation for the last time,” noted Ien. “It was an incredibly powerful time of learning, leading and communion with people who are doing the same work. It was an honour.”
After assuming office a decade ago, Trudeau mandated that his Cabinet would be evenly gender split which was a first in the history of the office.
His inaugural Cabinet comprised Jody Wilson-Raybould as Attorney General and Justice Minister, Carolyn Bennett held the Indigenous & Northern Affairs portfolio, Jane Philpott was Minister of Health, Chrystia Freeland was Minister of International Trade and Melanie Joly was Canadian Heritage Minister.
When Trudeau unveiled a new cabinet in October 2021, women were again in key positions.
Freeland, who was Deputy PM from 2019 to 2024, was Minister of Finance until her resignation last year, Anita Anand headed the national defence ministry and Joly was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ien did not hesitate when asked if Trudeau is a feminist.
“Absolutely he is,” said the Toronto Metropolitan University Radio & Television Arts School of Media Walk of Fame inductee. “I am a numbers person. You need not look at that, but what women were doing. When you go through the portfolios, women held senior roles. He saw things through a certain lens and asked questions that way. A lot of those things had to do with women or those who are on the margins.
The death of George Floyd five years ago was a flashpoint for many.
Captured on video, it
sparked worldwide protests, renewed racial injustice discussions and triggered personal reflection.
Co-hosting Canada’s top daytime talk show, ‘The Social’, Ien was touched by the powerful visual imagery.
“Though I loved the show I was doing, I started to think if I was in the right place and if I needed to serve in some other way,” she said.
A few weeks later in the summer of 2020, Ien received a phone call from Trudeau’s Chief of Staff Katie Telford.
“She asked if I would consider running and my response was, ‘Katie, run where and run what’,” recalled the award-winning journalist. “Katie said, ‘Running for us’.”
In April 2020, Bill Morneau resigned as finance minister and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre.
MARCI IEN
New agency a one-stop for Caribbean tourists
By RON FANFAIR
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Boasting vibrant cultures, diverse marine ecosystems and breathtaking natural landscapes makes the Caribbean islands unique and a destination for vacationers.
Working directly with tourism partners, including tourism boards, hotels, villas and airlines, the new One Caribbean Canada (OCC) organization is using a focused strategy to sell the Caribbean as a whole.
Many islands rely heavily on tourism for their economies with the product contributing about 50 per cent to some of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Nancy Drolet, the former Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) business development representative in Canada, started the organization with support from industry partners.
It fills a void after the CTO closed its offices in Toronto and New York in 2019, citing a need to restructure and reorganize to better promote and develop tourism in the region.
With nearly three decades of experience in the travel industry, Drolet knows that a well-designed website is important for promoting tourism as it serves as a central hub for information, leading to a significant increase in online visibility and direct bookings.
“As we started working on it, we realized that so much of the information is consumer-friendly,” said the multilingual travel and hospitality executive who was Jesson + Company Communications’ vice-president responsible for travel trade for 35 months until February 2024. “Consumers are hungry for information and this gets them exposed to more Caribbean countries that they previously knew about.
“The website could be a tool for agents to use to help close their bookings and provide information to their clients. When they are searching for information, they have to visit every country’s website which is set up differently. It is hard to find the information. With our website, every country’s page is set up the same way so the information is in the same place for them.”
Since the organization was launched just over a year ago, the website has been updated to address user needs.
“There have been requests for medical and accessibility information relating to the Caribbean and we added those,” said Drolet. “We responded to an agent with a lot of dive clients who wanted to know which destinations have hyperbaric chambers. Since the last elections in the United States, Canadians at consumer shows across the country have been requesting information on long stays.”
After the pandemic arrived in 2020, working remotely and travel arrangement flexibility have increased, contributing to the sharp increase in long-stay bookings in the Caribbean.
Starting with 18 members, OCC has increased to 25. They include Jamaica whose economy is heavily reliant on the tourism sector and St. Eustatius, also known as Statia, which is working on a new tourism master plan that will guide the sector’s inclusive and sustainable growth.
“This collaborative effort to unite a single marketing campaign is a game changer,” said Angella Bennett, the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) regional director in Canada. “This initiative aims to promote the region’s diverse offerings, enhance visibility and drive tourism.”
As the second most visited Caribbean destination last year with 2.9 million stopovers and 1.2 million cruise passengers, Jamaica is a tourism leader in the region.
Acknowledging there is strength in numbers, Bennett is confident the island will benefit from a single unified organization.
“We are looking at increased global visibility and reach, shared resources and expertise, enhanced competitiveness in the tourism market, opportunities for collaborative marketing and product development,” she said. “By working together, we can showcase the Caribbean’s unique culture, beauty and hospitality, attracting more visitors and boosting growth.
“We are confident that Jamaica’s rich heritage, stunning landscapes and warm people will shine through in this joint effort, solidifying its position as a premier destination. We are looking forward to being part of this initiative and will be exploring ways to leverage this partnership for Jamaica’s benefit.”
In 2024, Jamaica was among six Caribbean destinations that accounted for more than half of the region’s stopover arrivals.
Last year, Grenada’s tourism sector experienced significant growth with a 17 per cent year-over-year increase in visitor numbers.
Despite the surge, Grenada Tourism Authority’s Director of Sales in Canada Sekou Stroude said there is always room for growth.
“One Caribbean Canada is a powerful platform that will position Grenada and the Caribbean as premier destinations for Canadian travellers while serving as a one-stop resource for travel advisors for all things Caribbean,” he said. “The organization will leverage industry collaborations and promote tourism-driven initiatives to amplify brand visibility and drive visitor engagement, expanding Grenada’s reach and accelerating visitor arrivals. It will also engage media practitioners to craft compelling articles, ensuring Grenada remains top of mind for Canadian tourists.”
The Caribbean islands’ unique characteristics, encompassing diverse culture, cuisine and landscapes, create a rich tapestry of experiences.
Shelley John, the St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) Tourism Authority sales director in Canada, expects the OCC will boost visitation to the islands.
Last year, SVG was among the smaller islands that experienced growth in 2024 with a 27.2 per cent increase due mainly to a boost in airlift capacity and the launch of Sandals St. Vincent.
“One Caribbean Canada is the medium that will enable us to market our islands’ unique characteristics collectively on one site, creating a single resource centre for both travel advisors and their clients,” John said. “Collaborating as a single region on One Caribbean Canada augurs well for each country’s increased visibility in the marketplace.”
In 2024, Antigua & Barbuda welcomed approximately 1.2 million visitors, sparking a 6.1 per cent increase in GDP. Tourism accounts for 70 per cent of the
GDP. The country also hosted the 43rd Caribbean Travel Marketplace last month.
Erica Henry-Jackman, Antigua & Barbuda’s former Director of Tourism in Canada, said the OCC provides large and small member countries an opportunity to appeal to a wider audience.
“If we sell the Caribbean as a unit, we are appealing to a lot more people,” she said. “If I had a Canadian who visited Barbados or Jamaica, I knew I had an easy sell because that person understood the Caribbean’s best attributes. I didn’t have to explain in detail what the experience would be like in Antigua & Barbuda. With Canadians looking beyond doing the typical Florida and Arizona vacations, this is a perfect opportunity to reach these people uniquely by selling the entire Caribbean as one.”
Henry-Jackman noted that the entity will also benefit travel agents who market the Caribbean.
“When the CTO had a presence here, many Caribbean islands had tourism offices in Canada,” she said. “As the first point of contact in Canada, travel agents can use the OCC which amplifies the message instead of replacing a tourism board.
“Only Jamaica and Barbados have a sizeable tourism staff representing their countries in Canada. Destination marketing and public relations firms represent the others. The other thing is that the travel agency business has changed since the pandemic. Many agents are now working from home and some of them are new and only know Cancun and the Dominican Republic.
“These new agents, some of whom are doing the work part-time, may not be familiar with the English-speaking Caribbean which is where we have the largest deficit.”
Not only does the OCC promote the Caribbean, but it also offers critical marketing for some of the smaller islands that are not well known in Canada.
One of them is St. Eustatius, also known as Statia, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island in the northeastern Caribbean Sea with a population of about 3,500.
A regular visitor to the island for the last 15 years, media specialist Johnson Johnrose was the strategic communications advisor to the government for almost three years until January 2024. Before that, he was a communications specialist with the CTO for two decades.
“Comprising just 8.1 square miles, Statia is hardly known and it is not a mass tourism destination,” Johnrose said. “If you are seeking beaches, you would not get that. If you are a nature lover, you will find many hiking trails, including the Quill which is a dormant volcano and openair museum with nearly 120 historical
monuments. It is also a fantastic diving destination known for its vibrant underwater world. In addition, the people are extremely warm and welcoming and the island is very safe.”
Next year, St. Eustatius celebrates the 250th anniversary of the First Salute, acknowledging American independence.
On November 16, 1776, the island’s Dutch Governor fired an 11-gun salute in response to the USS Andrew Doria’s 13gun salute. The event is considered the first time a foreign country recognized the United States during the American Revolutionary War.
In addition to the 25 members, the OCC has 33 hotel partners and an exclusive air partnership with Caribbean Airlines.
“We would like to add InterCaribbean Airways to promote to Canadians,” said Drolet. “None of the airlines in the Caribbean are in an agent’s GDS (Global Distribution System). As a result, most Canadians who would like to island hop and do a ‘T centre holiday’ (multi-centre holiday) are not aware of the carriers to use to do those things. We have both public and private ferry options on our website that you can utilize if you want to explore various islands using that mode of transportation.
Last year, Canadian arrivals to the Caribbean reached 3.3 million which was a four per cent increase from the previous year.
There is increased flight capacity to the region with 26 weekly flights to Nassau, including new routes from Halifax and Ottawa, expanded service to Montego Bay, Grenada and other islands and seasonal non-stops to Exuma, St. Martin and Curacao.
Travelling at a young age to the region was a transformational experience for Drolet.
As a child, she visited Freeport on Grand Bahama Island with her sister and parents two successive years.
“It was the first time I had seen water that colour,” recounted the former Sears Travel Service regional and cruise product manager. “Also, everyone was so warm and welcoming which left an amazing impression on me. Speaking to a destination representative while visiting Cuba made me feel I would love to do to that job.” Later while working part-time with her cousin, Drolet met an Antiguan immigrant who was on the staff.
“This lady told me so many good things about the island that my family took a trip to Antigua,” she said. “We met her family and I returned with her for Carnival and Sailing Week. It is because of those experiences that I immersed myself in the travel industry.
NANCY DROLET
TWF raising money to ‘save Black men’s lives’
By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
The Walnut Foundation (TWF) is continuing with an ambitious plan that includes trying to raise thousands of dollars to save Black men’s lives and to increase the number of urologists and other medical specialists in the Canadian healthcare system.
TWF is an educational and support group for Black men, especially as it relates to prostate cancer.
Scientific research has shown that Black men may be genetically predisposed to prostate cancer, have a higher risk of developing the cancer, and are more likely to experience more severe disease at a younger age.
“This disease is treatable, but we have to lead the charge. If we are impacted more and we do like everybody else and just sit back, nobody is going to save us, so we have to save ourselves,” TWF president Anthony Henry told Share
Much of TWF’s financing for its programs and services — including community outreach and education, conferences, hosting clinics for early screening of prostate cancer and supporting medical school endowments for Black college students — is collected through an annual walkathon.
This year’s “Walk the Path Walkathon”, which was held last month, was led by honorary chair of the event Dr. Gervan Fearon, president of George Brown College.
“We’re always looking for people who can add their voice to the campaign to get the word out to our community about prostate cancer,” said Henry. “It was really gratifying to have somebody of the calibre of Dr. Fearon being involved in the walk.”
The walkathon began at the Paul Palleschi Recreation Centre in Brampton with more than 200 participants, including Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and other local, provincial and federal politicians.
The gathering and participation were “a powerful show of solidarity and support for Black men’s health”, Henry said.
“Together, they helped shine a light on the urgent need to improve outcomes for Black men who are up to 70 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it compared to other groups.”
The walkathon, according to Henry and other TWF officials, “was a huge success”, with $86,000 so far collected in “committed funds”.
However, Henry said the fundraising is ongoing with collection through the walkathon now in phase two. It continues into September, which is “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”.
The foundation’s goal is to raise $150,000 by September 30.
Apart from raising funds, the walkathon is also about “building awareness about the work we’re doing and the services we provide. It’s also about mobilizing community”, said Henry.
Program‘focusesonequity-deservinggroups’
CONTINUED FROM Pg. 1
2025 have already confirmed their next steps.
These individual successes add to a growing list of LEAP alumni who have pursued university studies at institutions such as the University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto, York University, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
The program was created with a focus on equity-deserving groups, particularly Black and Indigenous students, with the goal of addressing systemic barriers and increasing representation on university campuses. Students are fully integrated into campus life at Algoma’s Brampton campus,
benefitting from a dedicated, state-of-the-art learning space and full access to student services including free tutoring, mental health supports, recreation facilities and campus events.
As students cross the stage and move forward, the legacy of LEAP is clear: when students are given access, opportunity and support, they rise. The program continues to open doors to post-secondary pathways, and spark confidence, ambition, and a belief in what’s possible.
For many of the students, LEAP was more than a semester—it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey in learning, leadership and self-discovery.
The results of TWF’s activism and community engagement, including the walkathon, are manifested in numerous requests for foundation members to speak at community groups and churches, he said.
“The churches are coming on board now and a lot of them are requesting screening clinics that we are having a hard time fulfilling, because there are so many. What we are trying to do is package the clinics together in different groups, so that we can just do one screening in different communities,” said Henry.
“A case in point,” he said, “is the Seventh Day Adventist churches. One of the things we’re doing this summer, even though we’re supposed to be on a break, is a screening on a Sunday, August 24, at Toronto West Seventh Day Adventist Church. So, all the churches in the Rexdale/North Etobicoke community will be involved in that screening event.”
The Walnut Foundation’s prostate screening clinics are free and conducted in partnership with healthcare professionals at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, which is part of the University Health Network.
Henry underscored the importance of prostate screening, saying TWF’s push is to get Black men to start screening at age 40.
“That’s how you catch prostate cancer early, if you are proactive and you get to know what your own baseline score is
and what it’s supposed to be,” Henry said.
“From there, if you start seeing significant increases, then you know there’s something going on and they can rush you in to see a urologist, do some more investigation to determine if you’re a candidate for a biopsy, MRI or something like that, to see what is exactly going on.”
The money from the walkathon, Henry explained, is allocated to TWF’s outreach efforts, prostate screening clinics and an endowment fund at the faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T).
TWF has contributed $46,000 to the U of T endowment, which is named after the late founding-president of The Walnut Foundation, Dr. Winston Isaac.
TWF, in establishing the U of T endowment, said it’s aimed at providing student scholarships and “supporting more Black representation in healthcare and research”.
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is opening a medical school in Brampton. TWF also wants to establish an endowment at the TMU medical facility.
“We need to create an endowment fund of $150,000 for that. We obviously don’t have that money, so we’re looking to raise that amount. We’re committing to do some scholarships at TMU medical school at around $5,000 per year,” Henry said.
“It’s going to take a while to change the face of who we see when we engage with the healthcare system. We need more people who look like us, who understand us, to treat us.”
Part of TWF’s work now is going back to people who made pledges to the walkathon and collecting the promised cash, “and also reminding the people who haven’t donated yet, that they can still donate. We’re looking for more support. Every little bit helps,” said Henry. “Those who have not donated as yet can still do so from our website and get a tax deductible receipt.”
Donations can be made online at CanadaHelps via E-Transfer to info@thewalnutfoundation.com; or by visiting https:// www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ the-walnut-foundation/p2p/2025walk-thepath-walkathon/
More information on The Walnut Foundation is available at https://thewalnutfoundation.com/; or by calling 905-7992759 or 416-568-7442.
Walkathon participants (from left) Dr. GERVAN FEARON Dr. UPTON ALLEN from SickKids Hospital and TWF President ANTHONY HENRY Photo by Lincoln Depradine
Remembering two social justice warriors
MURPHY BROWNE
By By MURPHY BROWNE
Two men born on July 18, on different continents, made a difference in many lives during and after their lifetime.
Nelson Mandela (South Africa) and Julius Alexander Isaac (Grenada) were both born on July 18, 10 years apart. Mandela was born in 1918, and Isaac in 1928.
These two men significantly impacted many lives and were leaders working for social justice and equality, inspiring those who knew them and who know about them. Both men were lawyers and although born in geographically distant locations, they both distinguished themselves in their field.
Nkosi Rolihlala Dalibhunga Mandela, born on July 18, was assigned the European name “Nelson” on his first day of school. Renaming racialized people was a common practice of European colonizer culture.
Mandela was born a member of the royal family of the Thembu in Mvezo, in the district of Mthatha which was the capital of the former Transkei (one of the several “homelands” established by a White supremacist settler society).
Mandela became a lawyer on March 27, 1952. In August 1952, he and Oliver Tambo, his close friend and fellow anti-apartheid activist, opened the law firm Mandela & Tambo in Johannesburg. It was the first African-owned law firm in South Africa and focused on cases related to apartheid legislation.
He was an anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who spent 27 years in prison because of his activism.
Following his release from prison, Mandela played
a key role in dismantling apartheid and establishing a democratic, multiracial South Africa. His commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness made him a global symbol of hope and justice.
On May 2, 1994, following South Africa’s first legitimate, democratic election, Nelson Mandela was elected the President of South Africa.
Julius Alexander Isaac was born in Grenada in 1928 and came to Canada to attend the University of Toronto, where he co-founded the U of T West Indies Student Association. He worked as a maintenance person at the Toronto Star newspaper, and as a railway porter.
While he was studying for his law degree Isaac served as legal advisor to the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Employees and Other Transport Workers, the union of sleeping- and parlour-car porters.
Isaac was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1960 and practiced law in Ontario and Saskatchewan from 1962. He returned to Grenada for a year to serve as a senior magistrate 1969-1970.
For 18 years beginning in 1971, Isaac served in various posts with the Canada Department of Justice. He was the leading attorney for the Ontario Securities Commission and served as a director and treasurer of the Caribbean Cultural Committee (Caribana) in Toronto.
Isaac was the first African Canadian to sit on the Federal Court of Canada. He was designated Queen’s Counsel in 1975 and in 1989, he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Ontario. In 1991, he became the first African Canadian appointed as Chief Justice of the Canadian Federal Court.
Isaac received several honorary doctorates and the Silver Jubilee Award of Grenada. On October 21, 2000, he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree
from the University of the West Indies which stated in part: “the Honourable Justice Julius Isaac has served the cause of justice and caused justice to be served, with honour and integrity, from the reaches of Upper Canada, to the courts of the Lesser Antilles,” and recognized his contribution to various groups including the Afro-Caribbean Association of Manitoba Inc., the Congress of Black Women of Canada and the Quebec Black Medical Association.
Isaac transitioned to the ancestral realm on July 16, 2011, in Regina, Saskatchewan. In 2012, The Julius Alexander Isaac Moot (“The Isaac”) was named in his honour. “The Isaac” moot court competition focuses on equity and diversity issues in law and often incorporates elements of critical race theory.
The Black Law Student Association of Canada administers “The Isaac” in collaboration with law firms, law schools and community organizations.
“The Isaac” is a competitive, for-credit moot held at the Ontario Court of Appeal in Osgoode Hall. The final round of “The Isaac” features a panel of sitting judges which has included justices from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
The recent unhinged attacks on (DEI) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, south of the border which could easily spread to the Great White North where we dwell, is a wake-up call. It is important that we remain vigilant even during the summer when school is out. Acknowledging our history, our heroes and sheroes is vital.
Bob Marley famously sang: “How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?”
Not on my watch!! The pen is still mightier than the sword.
tiakoma@hotmail.com
Ont.gov’ttakeoverofschoolsquestionable
By PATRICK HUNTER
Whenever the Doug Ford government announces a takeover or other similar major announcement, I get really nervous. One of Ford’s first moves on replacing the Liberals at Queen’s Park was to shrink the City of Toronto Council. Now, he has decided, essentially, to replace a few boards of education with a supervisor.
I have always had concerns about whether Ford believes in education. From the outset of his administration, I was struck by a statement in which his government’s aim was to make education “equal” to the rest of Canada. I would have thought that any political statement of its kind would aim for “leadership” in the country, or similar aspirations.
For years, advocates have been calling on the government to stop the cuts in education. There has been a shortage of teachers, some of the buildings are in poor repair, and we often hear stories of teachers spending on supplies from their own pockets.
But then, on the other hand, we have also been hearing stories of extravagant trips that some schools have organized. In the past, when such trips were organized, parents chipped in for their child to take part. I suspect that remains the same although schools have to also do their part. Bear in mind that the members of the board are trustees, elected every four years. The trustee essentially represents the community’s interest in the governance of the schools, much like what elected officials are expected to do. They set policies, approve budgets and ensure that schools are run properly. Most of all, they set in place the
proper environment for student achievement.
The Ministry of Education’s announcement stated: “The Ontario government is appointing supervisors to four school boards to oversee their finances and operations after recent investigations showed they each had accumulated deficits.”
It goes on: “The supervisors will provide the ministry with regular updates on their work and focus on addressing the deteriorating financial positions of the boards and identify where they can implement savings measures and improve operational efficiencies.”
“Savings measures” and “operational efficiencies”. It is hard not think about the dramatics south of the border and DOGE – the Elon Musk’s department of government efficiencies. In that scenario, employees were being given short-term notices that they would be out of a job and that their agency or department was being discontinued.
The fact is that is exactly what these supervisors will be looking for; where can “savings” be made? Could it be education assistants? Could it be custodians? Could it be increased class sizes?
It is worth noting that one of the reasons that prompted the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) was a review, conducted by Patrick Case, a well-known figure in education circles, of an outing to the Grassy Narrows River Run. The outing caused controversy as pro-Palestinian demonstrations became part of the outing which was meant to highlight related Indigenous issues.
There was another announcement that should be of great concern. The Toronto Star reported that curriculum changes which were to be implemented this fall has been postponed. The changes were to provide mandatory instructions on the Holodomor – the “famine -genocide”
in Ukraine, the Holocaust and Black Canadian history among other subjects. The reason for the delay is so that teachers could be better prepared to teach these subject areas.
I thought that some of these changes would have begun to be applied in teacher-education institutions years ago. I would have thought that there would be enough expertise in the communities to support this transition.
Needleless to say, some community members are disappointed at this turn of events. Teachers, apparently, are not disappointed. They believe that the delay will give them more time to develop the necessary wherewithal to teach.
One of the problems with delays of initiatives is that they are often forgotten in the heat of things – other challenges that demand the attention of the actors involved. Who knows? Next year there could be reasons why they will have to delay implementation again. For example, now that supervisors are in place to curb spending, possibly change objectives and do what is necessary to curb spending and reduce deficits could be one of the reasons for another delay. Somehow, these feel like the priorities that will take precedent over the next year.
Oh, and another “gift” from the Ford government: Ford has decided that he wants to put school resource officers – police officers – back in schools. The Black communities in particular have spent a long time fighting to get police officers out of the schools. The belief is that having police in schools clearly presents a negative environment to some students, and Black students in particular. But that is the pattern of the Progressive Conservatives, they rarely listen to the concerns of the Black communities, and even more rarely, respond to them positively.
Email: patrick.hunter11@gmail.com
Special recognition for aviation students
By RON FANFAIR
Pursuing a pilot’s license can be particu larly challenging for individuals with limited resources, due to the high costs associated with aviation education, training, and equip ment.
Through scholarships, grants and various programs, they can receive assistance to achieve their goals.
When Lloyd Skeen, a commercial pilot licensee with an instrument rating, died sud denly in 2003 soon after his 32nd birthday, family and friends pledged his death would not be in vain.
They established the Dream Never Dies Foundation (DNDF) that collaborates with donors and partners to provide financial support and guidance for young people pursuing aviation careers.
Partnering with the Urban Pilots Network (UPN), the foundation awarded Aviation Excellence scholarships to Kimani Hayden, Stephon Lamy, Dimetri DaCosta, Timothy Okwii, Chidozie Ogodo, Malik Shwehdi and Luzina DaCunha at the 22nd annual awards ceremony on June 1 in Mississauga.
“Overcoming financial hurdles is one the biggest obstacles facing young people, especially those from challenged communities, who want to get into aviation,” said UPN President Warren Holt who is an Air Canada pilot. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between the urban and aviation communities by putting more Black and racialized faces in flight decks, air traffic control towers, hangars and right across the board.
“Three years ago, we went a step further by collaborating with the DNDF to offer a two-week aviation summer camp.”
This year’s camp is from July 7-18 at Sheridan College.
A young person’s initial exposure to aviation can spark a lifelong passion for flying.
Born in Canada on April 26, which is World Aviation Day, Hayden spent his first nine years in St. Lucia with his grandparents.
“During childhood, I did a lot of travelling in the Caribbean and to Toronto,” he said. “My father took me to Wendy’s on Airport Rd. to see planes take off and land. On one occasion, a friend of his, who works at WestJet, took me on a tour of the hangar and I went inside a 737. Whenever I was flying from St. Lucia to Toronto, I asked the pilot if I could have a peek inside the cockpit. I have always had that love for planes.”
Hayden is enrolled in Sault College Aviation Technology program.
“After graduation, I will build time and
experience to secure my Air Transport Pilot License,” the 20-year-old said. “That process could take up to five years.”
Watching ‘Top Gun’, a military action-drama movie released in 1986, motivated Stephon Lamy to take up flying.
While in Piarco Airport’s waving gallery, saying goodbye to his grandfather returning to England after vacation, the young man had his first close-up of a large aircraft.
At age 12, he attended an air show at the Chaguaramas Military Museum.
“That was where my interest in aviation took off,” said Lamy who got his private license in Trinidad & Tobago in 2017. “It was a struggle to get funding to secure my commercial license back home, hence the reason why I came to Canada two years ago.”
He does aviation training at Durham College while employed at Porter Airlines as a line service representative.
Growing up in Nigeria, Ogodo realized he loved fixing things.
“I also had a passion for flying, so I decided I was going to fix big birds,” he said.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Aircraft Engineering from Don State Technical University in Russia, Ogodo came to Ontario last year and is enrolled in Centennial College’s Advanced Diploma in Aircraft Engineering program.
In the final phase of flight training at the Canadian Flight Academy: Toronto Airways, Shwehdi hopes his qualifications and the
connections he forged with UPN will help land him a job in the aviation industry.
“I will take anything that will help me build hours to get that job as a pilot while mentoring young people and giving back,” the former lead swim instructor said.
From his residence in Bridgeport, Portmore, DaCosta had a bird’s eye view of aircraft’s final approach to Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica.
“That stuck with me,” he said. “I also have family in Florida, so I travelled back and forth to the United States. That was exciting.”
DaCosta graduated from Brampton Flight Centre in 2022.
Flying alone for the first time could be either exciting or stressful.
On a 45-minute flight on IndiGo from Goa to Mumbai to visit family members in 2014, DaCunha was intrigued, seeing a woman at the controls in the cockpit.
“I was fascinated and I told my parents I wanted to fly planes,” she said. “They told me to go ahead and make it happen.”
Eleven years later, DaCunha is on the verge of completing her instructor rating at Durham Flight Centre.
She plans to become a pilot.
In Grade Nine, Okwii practiced take-offs around an airport in Kenya.
“That was so much fun,” he recalled.
The holder of a private pilot’s licence, Okwii is working towards securing a commercial license and an Airline Transport Pilot License which is the highest level of
certification in civil aviation.
Neghat Hidari was the recipient of the Air Canada $2,000 scholarship awarded to UPN members who aspire to become commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers at Canada’s largest airline and flag carrier.
Though she flew at a young age, she never thought she could be the one operating the flying controls.
A conversation with a Grade 11 classmate at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute in Scarborough changed that perspective.
He told me he wanted to be a pilot,” Hidari said. “It occurred to me that I could do that too. That is when I jumped into it.”
She recently completed Seneca Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program and is pursuing her commercial pilot’s license at Diamond Flight Centre in London.
Lloyd Skeen Memorial bursaries were presented to Jada Best and Brandon El-Jurdi. Best is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology degree at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus and El-Jurdi is majoring in biology for health science and chemistry at the University of Toronto.
An aspiring pediatrician, Rosen completed McGill University’s undergraduate neuroscience program in 2021 with a 4.0 Grade Point Average and is a third-year medical student at Yale University.
Abena McRae, Azka Siddiqui, and Silvana Garcia-Otero were recognized with Patrina Bailey-Hohn Memorial scholarships awarded to young women chasing higher education.
The DNDF co-founder and Mississauga Seventh-day Adventist Church member passed away in October 2010 at the age of 36. McCrae, who last month completed the first year of the Bachelor of Management & Organization Studies program offered by Western’s Huron University College, aspires to be a corporate lawyer.
The CW Jefferys Collegiate Institute graduate and Ontario Scholar spent the summer of 2023 in the Toronto Police Youth in Policing Initiative program, assigned to 31 Division.
A Grade 12 student at St. Joseph Secondary School in Mississauga, Siddiqui will pursue engineering with a minor in business in university.
“This scholarship will go a long way in helping me to achieve my academic goals,” the teenager said.
See STUDENTS Pg. 10
AEBSrecognizesYRDSBgraduatingstudents
By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
Malak Elhag, a multilingual Canadian who is planning a career in the legal pro fession, was one of several students recog nized at this year’s scholarship ceremony of the Alliance of Educators for Black Students (AEBS).
“The AEBS team always gave me encour agement and taught me resilience,” said Elhag, who is headed to the University of Ottawa in the fall to study politics, law and communications.
She’s graduating from Pierre Elliott Trudeau Secondary School, which is part of the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) system.
Trinidad-born Henrietta Akit, who has been associated with YRDSB for many years and has volunteered with AEBS, said that in speaking with Elhag, her “feelings and words” left her happy, adding that Elhag’s comments will remain with her “forever”.
“She is going to the University of Ottawa
in the fall to study politics, law and communications. She is eloquent and plans on being a lawyer,” Akit said. “She speaks Arabic fluently and learned English only five years ago, and she hopes to take courses in Mandarin soon.”
The AEBS’ 25th Scholarships and Awards were open to “self-identifying Black students who are graduating from a high school in the York Region District School Board”.
Among the YRDSB trustees, whose roles and responsibilities include “setting policy for the operation of all public schools in York Region” and “advocating for quality public education”, is community member Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair. She’s a veteran educator, who formerly served as a principal and superintendent of education for the Peel District School Board.
More than 70 elementary school students, and another 38 from secondary
VANESSA PAGE
STEPHON LAMY
YRDSB Chair RON LYNN
Dr. ELIZABETH SINCLAIR
Honorary doctorates for Massey, Bailey-Wisdom
By RON FANFAIR
Retired Centennial College registrar Trevor Massey and Canadian Centre for Diversity former vice-chair Marva Bailey-Wisdom were conferred with honorary degrees at the University of Guelph convocation ceremonies last month.
Under Massey’s leadership as registrar, the college was the first to implement a one-stop service at each of four campuses and utilize novel concepts in student information systems. He served as executive
director for an innovative college-system project (CI-
ITE) given to exploring the ways the Ontario college system would leverage its educational resources and its extensive footprint across Ontario in supporting the integration into the workforce of highly trained immigrants.
He chairs the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) that administers the LDP that provides at least seven years of developmental support for high school students in the Greater Toronto Area.
Bailey-Wisdom has
dedicated her career to advancing equity and amplifying the voices of Black communities across Canada.
A visionary collaborator and strategist, she played a central role in the ‘Black Experience Project’, a landmark, multi-year study that revealed the complex realities of Black life in the Greater Toronto Area. Its findings continue to influence policy development and equity strategies at all levels of government and across institutions
nationwide. As a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Bailey-Wisdom mentors graduate students preparing to lead in complex global contexts. She also co-directs the ArtsEverywhere Festival in Guelph which convenes international, national and local artists to explore urgent issues of our time, including the climate crisis, social justice, and Indigeneity, through the lens of art and dialogue.
Reelworld’sTonyaWilliamsnamedtotheOrderofCanada
Reelworld Film Festival founder Tonya Williams is among 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada.
“This honour is deeply meaningful,” she said. “It represents the totality of my journey, one that started in an industry where I rarely saw myself reflected. From those early moments on Canadian television to my time in the United States and through building Reelworld, I have always been guided by the belief that there is power in inclusion.
“It has been my joy to blend my passion for the work with my passion for seeing more diversity on
our screens. I carry my pride as a Canadian Black woman into everything I do, always striving to shine a positive light on my community where I go. I share
this honour with every artiste, every advocate and every underrepresented voice who continue to push the country forward.”
Best known for her role as Dr. Olivia Hastings on the daytime drama, ‘The Young and the Restless’ which she was associated with for 23 years, Williams founded the Reelworld Film Festival in 2000 to showcase Canada’s diversity and provide a platform for visible minorities to display their artistic talent and, in the process, motivate audiences through film.
The Miss Junior Personality contest winner at age 14 did commercials in high
school, was crowned Miss Black Ontario four years later in 1977 and spent a year in the Toronto Metropolitan University Drama program two years later after landing the lead role in ‘Love & Politics’ which was authored and composed by Mavor Moore who died in 2006.
Williams also co-hosted the Miss Teen Canada pageant, landed small television roles and worked in
Canadian theatre for a few years before heading to Los Angeles in 1987 in search of a major acting role.
She made guest appearances in ‘Hill Street Blues’, ‘Matlock’, ‘Falcon Crest’, ‘What’s Happening Now’, ‘Generations’ and ‘A Very Brady Christmas’ before getting her big break in 1990 in ‘Young & the Restless’.
The recipient of two Emmy nominations for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a daytime drama series, Williams hosted ‘Tonya Williams: Gospel Jubilee’ on CBC Television in 2004, led a diverse cast in Vision TV’s original comedy series, ‘She’s The Mayor’ and was cast in Clement Virgo’s ‘Poor Boy’s Game’. She also directed Trey Anthony’s ‘Da Kink in My Hair’ for Vision TV in 2004. FANFAIR
Order of Canada appointment
‘an incredible honour’
– Rowe
Honey Jam founder Ebonnie Rowe has been appointed to the Order of Canada.
“This is such an incredible honour,” she said. “What is most important to me is the national spotlight it will shine on the work that we and others are doing and on the artistes that we work with. Thanks also to everyone who worked with me over many decades on various initiatives to ensure their success and impact.”
began as a one-off event in 1995 to celebrate the all-female edition of the now defunct ‘Mic Check’ magazine edited by Rowe. The party featured some of the young females highlighted in the magazine, prompting the name Honey Jam.
Rowe was among 150 of Canada’s most inspiring, groundbreaking and powerful female role models who provided insight into their achievements in a coffee-table book released for the Christmas holidays in 2017.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Honey Jam
Rowe dropped out of university where she was pursuing English Literature studies and co-founded and directed ‘Each One, Teach One’ which was a mentoring program for youths before starting ‘Honey Jam’ that provides educational, networking, mentoring, promotional and performance opportunities for aspiring female artistes across Canada.
Splitting time between Barbados and Canada, she enjoys working independently on projects she’s passionate about.
FANFAIR
MARVA BAILEY-WISDOM
TREVOR MASSEY
TONYA WILLIAMS
EBONNIE ROWE
Holness’ film, 40Acres,in cinemas across Canada
By RON FANFAIR
Named among the Best Canadian Films of All Time by Hollywood Reporter, 40 Acres opened in cinemas across Canada on July 4.
Danielle Deadwyler and Michael Greyeyes star in R.T. Thorne’s thriller set in a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce.
Descended from African American farmers who settled in rural Canada after the American Civil War, Hailey (Deadwyler) lives on her generational farm with her Indigenous partner Galen (Greyeyes) and their blended family of four children. Thanks to the farm, the family is surviving and thriving, and Hailey will do any-
thing to safeguard the land against those hellbent on taking it. But her son (Kataem O’Connor) jeopardizes their safety when he secretly hides a beautiful young woman (Milcania Diaz-Rojas) on their property.
Also starring are Leenah Robinson as Galen’s daughter, Jaeda LeBlanc and Haile Amare as the couple’s shared children, and Elizabeth Saunders as the one person Hailey trusts outside her family.
The film’s title is a nod to the U.S. federal government’s promise to give freed slaves 40 acres of land after the Civil War, only to rescind that promise during the Reconstruction era.
The film marks the feature debut of Toronto director R.T. Thorne, known for
his award-winning work on the TV series ‘The Porter, Utopia Falls’. Thorne co-wrote the script with Glenn Taylor, based on a story by Thorne and Lora Campbell.
40 Acres was shot in Northern Ontario’s Sudbury area on a stunning farm in a remote location.
The film made the Toronto International Film Festival’s ‘Canada Top Ten’ list last year and received a Special Jury Mention for Directing at the 2025 Dallas International Film Festival.
“This recognition means so much to our team,” said producer Jennifer Holness. “Thank you for celebrating bold storytelling and to everyone who’s been supporting this journey from day one.”
WalkingtourscelebrateLittleJamaica’smusicalhistory
By KENYA ISAAC
The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) launched the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour during the summer of 2024 and was met with massive success. Now the immersive walk returns for the 2025 season, adding several exciting components including new stops, a specially curated exhibit and musical performances.
The free guided tour takes participants through Little Jamaica on Eglinton West, with the goal to bring people into the neighbourhood and to educate on the community’s cultural importance. A unique twist to the standard walking tour formula, they highlight the rich music history of the area.
This year’s remaining tour dates are July 13 & 27, August 1, 3 & 17, and September 7 & 21. All tours run from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., beginning at 2353 Dufferin St. in front of the Fairbank LRT station, and head towards Marlee Avenue.
The 2025 season now concludes at Monica’s Gallery (formerly Monica’s Beauty Supply and Cosmetics) where a specially curated exhibition will be on display. The exhibit highlights pieces of local history, including vinyl’s, CD’s, flyers, and magazines.
To top it all off, this year also includes a special performance piece featuring artistes who have witnessed the rich history of Little Jamaica firsthand.
The first performer slated for July is international reggae star, Papa Levy, to perform on July 13. His warm vocals and captivating presence have landed him on stage at Afro Fest, Irie Fest, and Jambana. Levy is known for hit tracks like “Praise Without Raise”, “Stimulus Package” and “Mr. Money Man”. Dahlia Anderson will be performing on July 27. For her performance, Anderson brings her multi-language and contagious fusion style to the stage. Dahlia has two EP’s Open My Eyes and Broken Hearted under her belt, as well as several singles.
Steelpan performer and educator, Pat McNeilly, aka Panman Pat, will be performing on August 1. Kicking off the Toronto Carnival Weekend, McNeilly has a special relationship with the festival and has been performing at every Carnival since its inaugural year in 1967.
Singer, songwriter, and producer, Dave Vassell, aka Comfort, will be performing on August 3. He has performed across Canada as lead singer for ska band, the Arsenals. Now a solo artiste, he has released album, Take Comfort , and several smooth tracks including “Where is the love”, “Groove Me Move Me”, and
Tour stops at industry landmarks like Jimmy Wisdom’s Barbershop, Monica’s Beauty Supply and Cosmetics, the Sattalite’s Music School, and Reggae Lane. They also cover various community figures, all while playing popular tracks by local favourites.
McNeilly, who previously owned a roti shop in the area called The Roti Man, located at Oakwood Ave. and Vaughan Rd, reflects on what it was like “up on Eglinton”
back in the day.
“I was so happy to see it transformed into something musical, connecting to Bob Marley and so many musicians from that area. We had calypso music, Jamaican reggae and all coming together on Eglinton.”
Little Jamaica is one of Toronto’s many significant enclaves. The historic hub has been home to the Caribbean diaspora who migrated in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond, bringing with them their food, music and
RT THORNE
DAHLIA ANDERSON
COMFORT
PAPA LEVY
PANMAN PAT MCNEILLY
Students express appreciation for scholarships
Winding down high school at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary in Oakville, Garcia-Otero is enrolled in the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
“My parents migrated from Colombia about 20 years ago and our family has had financial struggles,” she said. “As I embark on another chapter of my education journey, the scholarship will ease some of the challenges.”
Adobe Founders Award 2021 winner Dr. Ransford Morel Hyman Jr., a cousin of Skeen and the second African American to complete a PhD in Computer Science Engineering at the University of South Florida, launched a scholarship program in his late father’s name shortly after his death in 2009.
This year’s recipients were Omarian Hussain and Arielle Rosen.
A graduate of Newtonbrook Secondary School, Hussain is enrolled in Western University’s Bachelor of Health Studies program.
The University Health Network Princess Margaret Centre Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology summer intern is in Japan this month for a cardiac surgery observership at Showa University Hospital’s Cardiovascular Surgery Unit.
Scholarships were also presented to Kailyn Blair, Nia Frazer, Robin Kerr, Victory Okeuo, Ruth Abdi and Vanessa Page.
Blair just completed her first year at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama where she is majoring in Business Administration with a focus on marketing.
After graduation, she plans to enroll in a Master’s in Business program.
“When I am done with that, the goal is to come back home and hopefully have my marketing agency,” Blair said.
An honour roll student every year at Cardinal Leger Secondary in Brampton, Frazer enters Wilfrid Laurier University in September to pursue Business Administration studies.
“This scholarship will help alleviate
some financial burdens,” the Brampton Racers Association awardee said. “It will allow me to excel in my studies and play basketball.”
Sometimes, young people underestimate parental support, which is critical for their development and well-being. Not Frazer who is the eldest of three siblings.
“My parents have been there every step of the way,” she said. “They drive me to basketball practices and tournaments and push me to apply for scholarships.”
Ray and Jacinda Frazer accompanied their daughter to the awards ceremony.
“Nia is smart, positive and very motivated,” said her father.
Completing high school at Port Perry High with 280 volunteer hours, Page was the recipient of the Brenda Williams Memorial scholarship.
The honour roll student and animal lover is enrolled in Trent University’s Indigenous Bachelor of Education Studies program, the first of its kind in North America that allows students to complete three years of undergraduate studies and two years of professional studies that lead to certification.
“I want to advocate for Indigenous students and mother nature,” said Page who volunteers with the Save the Wetlands and Marine Biology Rescue. “The Truth & Reconciliation Commission report touched me and I want to spread awareness.”
Kerr, the recipient of the Rising Star scholarship, is a registered practicing nurse, specializing in perioperative surgery at Halton Healthcare. Abdi – the winner of the Fitzharold Gillespie Memorial scholarship – is a fourth-year University of Toronto student, majoring in immunology and
global health and Okeugo, the Darlene & Derek Quashie scholarship awardee, is in Toronto Metropolitan University’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law program.
Greg Claxton, who met Skeen in an aviation program in high school, started a one-man Polar Dip that lasted four years and raised about $40,000 for the DNDF. He will restart in January after a six-year hiatus.
Since the inception in 2003 when it awarded a $500 scholarship, the foundation has presented approximately $325,000 in scholarships – over $35,000 this year.
Beneficiaries include Dr. Tshea Dowers who was the keynote speaker at the event.
“The scholarship helped me get through medical school at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California,” she said. “The cost is much higher for international students and without that financial aid, I would not have been able to buy books and pay rent.”
Migrating from Trinidad & Tobago at age seven, Dowers completed high school at Cawthra Park Secondary and undergraduate studies at McGill University before enrolling in medical school.
Last year while at U of T doing a neuroradiology fellowship, she won the Best Oral Presentation for her research into the benefits and drawbacks of lowering contrast dye in neurological imaging.
“That work revolved around imaging brain tumors and decreasing the dye used in meningiomas which are indolent and slow-growing tumors of the central nervous system that don’t always require surgical resection,” Dowers said. “Decreasing the amount of dye used to image those tumors is better for the patient, the environment and the hospital system.”
York U.’s Faculty of Science gets new Dean
By RON FANFAIR
Dr. Maydianne Andrade has joined York University as Dean of the Faculty of Science.
She joins York from the University of Toronto where she is a professor in Biolog ical Sciences. At the U of T Scarborough campus, she has also held the roles of special advisor to the dean on inclusive recruitment and equity education, vicedean faculty affairs and equity, acting vice-principal academic and dean, and she served two terms as Canada Research Chair in Integrative Behavioural Ecology.
Andrade, who holds a PhD in Neuro biology and Behaviour from Cornell Uni versity, was the recipient of the Trailblazer Award in the Policy for Science category from the Canadian Science Policy Centre, adding to her dozens of awards and honours for outstanding academic service, academic excellence, research, teaching and community and societal engagement.
Moving from Jamaica to British Columbia with her family at age three, she graduated from Simon Fraser University and U of T Mississauga campus with science degrees.
While pursuing her Master’s at UTMC, Andrade met Dr. Darryl Gwynne who introduced her to the indigenous nocturnal Australia redback spider.
Spending many nights as a voyeur
watching these strange mate behaviours occur and crawling through the dirt looking for webs, she discovered that mating is so dangerous and unlikely for male redbacks that only about 20 per cent of them successfully make the journey to a female’s web. She constructed a theory around this fact that it was evolutionarily sound for a male to be cannibalized while mating.
An internationally recognized expert on widow spiders, her research examines
An online digital repository
CONTINUED FROM Pg. 9
culture. The vibrant community became one of the largest producers of reggae music outside of Jamaica.
The Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour gives a behind the scenes look at music landmarks, and spotlights significant music figures like Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Nana McLean, Jo Jo Bennett and more. Offering several tours throughout the summer, the CBMA takes you on a journey to
explore the music history of Eglinton West.
The Canada Black Music Archives is an online digital repository with a mission to research, document, preserve and amplify the untold stories of Black Canadian musicians.
To sign up for the tour, or to learn more about the archive, visit the CBMA website.
Kenya Isaac is the Managing Editor of the Canada Black Music Archives, a digital site. For more information visit thecbma.com.
how reciprocal effects of ecological and social factors influence reproductive tactics, life history patterns, sexual selection, invasiveness and diversification in the diverse mating systems and ecologies of spiders.
Andrade has received exemplar awards from the Animal Behavior Soci-
ety and from the Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior for her longterm research contributions to the field and has received upwards of $4.5 million in research funding.
The Canadian Black Scientists Network co-founder takes up her new appointment on January 1, 2026.
McMasternamesDr.JulietDaniela DistinguishedUniversityProfessor
Dr. Juliet Daniel has been named a Distinguished University Professor at McMaster University where she has been since 1999.
It is the university’s highest honour for faculty members for their significant and lasting impact on McMaster, their respective fields and society at large.
“Juliet’s groundbreaking work on the Kaiso transcription factor has provided important insights into aggressive breast cancer in young Black women,” said Susan Tighe, provost and vice-president (Academic).
Daniel is an internationally recognized cancer biologist whose innovative research has deepened society’s understanding of aggressive breast cancer in young Black women.
She discovered the transcription factor Kaiso which plays a critical role in tumor progression.
Her groundbreaking work revealed that high Kaiso levels correlate with worst outcomes for Black women diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, a discovery that is paving the way for new diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Beyond her research, Daniel is a dedicated mentor and advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM. She has
played a crucial role in mentoring emerging scholars, particularly women and Black scientists, and has led many initiatives aimed at fostering diversity in academia. Daniel’s leadership extends to community engagement where she has worked to address systemic health disparities and promote cancer awareness among marginalized groups.
FANFAIR
Ten-year-oldworldchampionninjainherdivision
The World Ninja League World Championships held in Greensboro, North Carolina hosts the very best ninja obstacle course athletes from around the world.
While the United States has routinely dominated the world ninja circuit, having posted over a hundred champions across various divisions in the event’s history, 10-year-old Ella Crichlow-Mainguy, from Acton, Ontario won the title of World Champion recently in the Mature Kids Female division.
Ella is the first Canadian to win the coveted title in her division.
Given that the sport has gained international spotlight due in large part to the popularity of television shows such as ‘American Ninja Warrior’ and ‘American Ninja Warrior Kids’, for a relatively unknown Canadian to win was an epic upset.
Ella won Canadian National Champion earlier this year and is the first Black athlete to do so as well.
Ella only began doing ninja two years ago but, this year, she won the Mature Kids Female division at Canadian Nationals
in Montreal. Her trainer Matt (The Bat) Hallak is an award-winning coach and is considered among the best in the world.
Under her coach, Ella and his team, the EVOS which trains out of Aspire Climbing in Milton, were out to prove to everyone
that Canada is to be taken very seriously.
Though she is young, Ella wanted to make her own statement this weekend about Canadian solidarity and how proud she is to train in Canada and represent it internationally. She is inspiring Black youth to join the sport one buzzer at a time.
Ella’s victory resonates deeply within the ninja and wellness communities, offering vital representation in a sport where diversity is still emerging. Outside the obstacle arena, she’s equally driven in holistic health. She holds a 200-hour yoga teacher training certification and this year is collaborating with Power Yoga Canada – Guelph as an ambassador. In support of her achievements, she has been given a membership to train for the year, bringing mindfulness and balance to her physical training – blending athleticism with wellness practices.
Ella’s father is second generation Canadian of Trinidadian and Barbadian descent and her mother is French-Canadian.
Dr. MAYDIANNE ANDRADE
Ten-year-old Ella Crichlow-Mainguy atop the podium.
Stage 2 Final Obstacle The Mouse Trap.
Dr. JULIET DANIEL
July 13 - 19, 2025
ARIES (March 21-April 19): On the 13th, temptation will result in excess. Think twice before you make a purchase or promise. Delve into the minimalist handbook to curb clutter. Your creativity will take you on an adventure on the 14th and 15th. A change will boost your energy and fuel your imagination. Consider what you can achieve at a price you can afford. Choose the path that leads to happiness, not frustration. Stick close to home on the 16th and 17th, where you can avoid being pressured by outside influences. Offer innovative suggestions to ward off opposition and emotional manipulation. Channel energy into what concerns you on the 18th and 19th and make a difference. Your donation or help will count. Invest time and money in yourself and events that help you advance.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your emotional energy will serve you best if you engage in competitive activities on the 13th. Feeling passionate about what you do will encourage success and growth. Reset your budget on the 14th and 15th. Designate funds for home improvement projects, travel or education. Consider the best way to settle a difference with someone regarding money or a joint venture. Preparation is your best bet on the 16th and 17th. Use your intelligence, connections and discipline to hone your directives and unleash your plans. Surprise someone with an invitation or kind gesture. Put your energy into something you enjoy doing on the 18th and 19th, and it will help you expand your circle of friends. Embrace change and opportunity will follow. Protect against injury and illness.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): On the 13th, charm, kind gestures and paying attention will help you gain acceptance and a healthier lifestyle. Personal growth and home improvements are favoured. Rethink each move on the 14th and 15th. You’ll hit an emotional, financial or physical wall if you aren’t paying attention to detail. Consider making a deliberate change that alters your course of action. Calculate your next move and continue your journey. You’re in the zone on the 16th and 17th, so don’t slow down, give in or dedicate time to something that doesn’t offer worthwhile benefits. Count your money and rethink your investments on the 18th and 19th. An expert’s advice will help you make a better decision. Domestic problems will surface if you neglect your responsibilities or loved ones.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do what’s right on the 13th, and you’ll have no regrets. Gather information and sort through any differences before making choices that impact others. Uncertainty signals you to sit tight, be secretive and take a wait-and-see position. On the 14th and 15th, you’ll gain perspective regarding what’s available and what you can achieve. A change at home or work will offer an opportunity too good to refuse. Don’t hesitate; take advantage of what comes your way. It’s one step forward and two steps back on the 16th and 17th. Live within your means, and don’t be tempted by offers that sound exaggerated. Participating in something you care about will make a difference on the 18th and 19th. What you discover will change your perspective and future actions.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Live, laugh and learn as you navigate your way forward on the 13th. Those you encounter along the way will impact your choices. Opportunity is within reach; be ready to act appropriately. Not everyone will have your best interests in mind when money is the issue on the 14th and 15th. Review important details, and don’t hesitate to make revisions. An opportunity is
apparent on the 16th and 17th. Reframe how you want to proceed, offer suggestions and wholeheartedly go after what you want. Love, romance and self-improvement are in the stars. Be aware of emotions on the 18th and 19th. You or someone you interact with will feel vulnerable, thanks to what transpires. Do your best to calm the situation by offering options that are equalizing.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stick to prep work on the 13th, especially if it will help you get ahead professionally, raise your profile or launch you to a position of authority. Put emotions aside on the 14th and 15th and do what you can to help. Offering your skills, experience or knowledge will help you establish a place for yourself among your peers. Do what you do best and make a positive statement. Put your wallet away on the 16th and 17th when someone tries to cajole you into offering a handout for something that doesn’t resonate with you. Protect against attempts to exploit you. Live and learn on the 18th and 19th. Dig deep and discover how to zigzag past anyone trying to change your beliefs or indoctrinate you with theirs.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A calm state on the 13th will help ward off emotional whims and disagreements that can lead to distancing yourself from someone special. Don’t jump to conclusions or act in haste. Make your professional aims your focus on the 14th and 15th. Putting yourself out there, interacting with those who can help further your goals and doing whatever you can to enhance your reputation and build solid relationships are favoured. Physical fitness and maintaining a healthy mind will give you the confidence to strive for perfection and prominence on the 16th and 17th. Discussions will lead to closer connections and encourage you to join interest groups. Taking care of medical, legal and financial matters on the 18th and 19th will ease your mind.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Discussions revolving around money, health or legal matters will change your outlook on the 13th. Research and take notes before you retaliate or disregard information you receive. On the 14th and 15th, networking events will offer informative details to guide you forward and point you in a helpful direction. Evaluate your position and reputation on the 16th and 17th and consider the ramifications you might face if you don’t pace yourself. Stretch the guidelines to suit your needs, and you’ll find it easier to balance your work and relaxation time more definitively. Pay attention to how you get along with others on the 18th and 19th. Recognize if someone close to you requires a helping hand or a nonjudgmental ear.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen and pay attention on the 13th; you’ll know when to take advantage of an opportunity. Use charm and a positive attitude to win favours. Problems will mount at home on the 14th and 15th if you mix emotions with conflict and let a simple situation spin out of control. Take a moment to absorb information and formulate a positive plan. Domestic costs will become overwhelming if you let someone take advantage of you on the 16th and 17th. A tight budget and setting boundaries with those using persuasive tactics to manipulate results are necessary. Put your energy where it counts on the 18th and 19th. Learn something new, upgrade your skills, find a professional slot that feels like a good fit and seize the moment.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): On the 13th, take time for yourself and enjoy doing things that put a smile on your face or ease stress or fatigue. A change of scenery will encourage mindfulness and a positive attitude. Relationships will prosper emotionally
if you communicate to ensure you are on the same page on the 14th and 15th. Make concessions to ensure you maintain equality. Be grateful for what you’ve got. Conflict will arise on the 16th and 17th if you overreact or allow a situation to escalate. Make your point clear but be willing to negotiate. Time with loved ones on the 18th and 19th will be irreplaceable. Build fond memories and share your feelings openly. Make home, family, love and happiness priorities.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Embrace change on the 13th, and you’ll find a balance between work and play that puts your mind at ease. On the 14th and 15th, investigate what you can afford to spend that will cover the costs of learning a new trade, buying equipment that will help you enhance a project you want to market or allow you to meet someone you can partner with personally or professionally. You’re sitting on a gold mine on the 16th and 17th. A positive attitude will help restore your faith in how good you are and what you have to offer. Don’t sell yourself short when you can raise your profile and financial intake. Say very little on the 18th and 19th and let your actions speak for you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Give whatever is happening around you a chance to settle on the 13th. Once you detach your feelings and embrace the right and best thing to do, you’ll find it easier to gain ground. Socialize, network and share your talents, knowledge and energy with those heading in a similar direction on the 14th and 15th. The result will be spectacular if you develop a group willing to work together to achieve the utmost. Money and emotions won’t blend well on the 16th and 17th. Think twice before you agree to pay or donate to something when money is tight. A partnership will help you excel on the 18th and 19th. Whether you join forces to advance professionally or personally, the outcome will offer relief and a successful passage forward.
UNIVERSAL SUNDAY CROSSWORD
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT BY KAREEM AYAS, EDITED BY TAYLOR JOHNSON
Ien ‘excited about what might come next’
“Katie said there would be a by-election and wanted to know if I would consider running,” said Ien who is the author of ‘Off Script; Living out Loud’, a moving collection of personal stories and behind-the-scenes reflections of her life and professional career. “That threw me for a loop and I told her I would have to think about it as it had never crossed my mind.”
Though speaking to a few people in her inner circle about the proposition and fielding phone calls from some party members, asking her to consider the request, she was unsure about getting into politics.
A few weeks later while having a Sunday bite with her daughter Blaize, Ien’s phone rang.
“There was a woman at the other end sounding very official,” she said. “When I confirmed it was me, she said, ‘The Prime Minister is on the line’.”
As ‘Canada AM’ news anchor and co-host for 13 years until the national breakfast television news show ended in 2016, Ien had interviewed Trudeau.
Touched by the school shooting in a small Saskatchewan town in January 2016 that left four people dead and seven injured, she and former Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri visited the school in La Loche and brought 10 students to Toronto to share their story about the events that significantly impacted their school.
Ien also contacted the Prime Minister’s Office which scheduled a closed-door meeting with the students and Trudeau in the city that lasted 45 minutes.
“He knew me well through the years and said, ‘Listen Marci, you are at the very top of a very short list’,” she revealed. “I said, ‘Prime Minister, you know I am squeaky and I am not changing anytime soon’. I let him know I have opinions and his response was, ‘Yeah, the country needs that voice’.”
After discussions with her two children, other family members and close friends, Ien decided to run in the 2020 by-election where she secured 42 per cent of the vote in Toronto Centre that comprises Regent Park, which is Canada’s first social housing development, the 2SLGBTQ1+ neighbourhood and the largely immigrant and densely populated St. Jamestown where Ien was born 55 years ago.
Calypso,
An award-winning journalist known for compelling storytelling and amplifying marginalized voices, it is not surprising that strategic frameworks designed to address specific issues affecting vulnerable populations stand out as
the highlight of her five-year political run.
Three years ago, the federal government launched the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in Canada. The 10-year strategic framework focuses on supporting victims, survivors and their families, prevention, a responsive justice system, implementing Indigenous-led approaches and establishing social infrastructure.
“To make the $500,000 plan work, we had to deal with every province and territory in Canada because they have the organizations that help women fleeing violence,” Ien said. “Cutting a deal with each province and territory was challenging. It was tense sometimes, but we got there. Signing those agreements and watching how they work was historic. But more than that, just talking to the people who are impacted by it was fulfilling.”
In August 2022, Ien stood beside Trudeau for the launch of Canada’s first 2SLGBTQ1+ Action Plan. In that year’s budget, $100 million was committed for five years to develop and implement the plan.
“I know people said this is ‘woke’ and whatever,” she said. “But that money goes to grassroots organizations and kids who have been kicked out of their homes and have nowhere to go. When you talk about the heart, those plans helped people who suffer the most and whose voices do not get heard. It is standing up for people who are left out all the time and I am so happy that I was part of that.”
With carnival being a powerful symbol of culture in Trinidad & Tobago where Ien’s parents were born, culture is close to her heart.
In 2023, she fiercely advocated for a $3.5 million funding commitment over two years for the Toronto Festival Committee, the organizers of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
Ien’s Godfather, Jamaican-born dentist and entrepreneur Maurice Bygrave who came to Toronto in 1954 to join his parents, co-founded North America’s largest street festival in 1967.
“While in Rwanda at a women’s conference, I got calls that the festival was in dire financial straits,” she said. “I advocated hard for funding and Kamal Khera, who was then Minister of Diversity, Inclusion & Persons with Disabilities, got it done.”
Ien also pushed for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), under Cameron Bailey’s leadership, to get a $10 million non-repayable investment to support
the festival’s in-person return after the pandemic.
The 11-day festival attracts almost 700,000 attendees and generates more than $114 million in economic activity in the region.
“When you think about the money that TIFF brings into the country and how important the arts are, it was important that the festival survive,” she said.
Family means much to Ien who is still grieving her mother’s death. The matriarch was an accountant and Agincourt Pentecostal Church’s first woman deacon.
“There was a quiet power to her,” said Ien who, in 2008, travelled to Sierra Leone on behalf of Journalists for Human Rights and led training workshops for reporters. “At her funeral, people who we did not know came forward with stories about her and how she helped them. She was kind, open and led by example.
“My parents could not afford to pursue higher education at the same time. So dad went first and she started her career later. Though she was a clerk with the provincial government, she aspired to be an accountant. While she worked, she studied and became a CGA (Certified General Accountant) in her 40s before serving as a tax auditor with the Ontario government for 25 years. Her work ethic was off the charts.”
A retired Toronto District School Board principal and superintendent, Joel Ien suffered a few strokes and is bedridden.
As season ticket holders, he and his daughter attended Toronto Raptors basketball home games for nearly two decades.
“I get very sad during the basketball season because that was our thing,” said Ien who was a CTV reporter based in the Atlantic bureau for three years before joining Canada AM.
What does the future hold for the celebrated media practitioner who, in 2018, was listed among Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women?
“I think I have a bit of broadcasting and writing left in me,” said Ien who made her first TV appearance as a 10-year-old in ‘Circle Square’, a children’s television show. “I am not sure if it will be one thing or a collection of many things that I end up doing. I will know it when I see it. Each place that I have been has led me to the next and given me a certain skill set. So I am excited about what might come next and what that looks like. I guess it might be Marci 5.0.”
YRDSB‘honouringidentityofBlackstudents’
CONTINUED FROM Pg. 7
schools, applied to AEBS for one of its scholarships and awards this year.
Apart from Elhag, other student recipients of scholarships and awards at the AEBS event, held at Richmond Green Secondary School, included Debby Morgan, Noah Bennett, Amrra Mengistu, Janae Layne, Kallai Thomas, Noah Bryan, Ava Dedier, Chisom Agbakwa and Dominique Mascoll.
Ron Lynn, chairman of the board of trustees of the YRDSB, commended the students and congratulated AEBS for organizing the event.
Moving, Delivery and Garbage Removal. 416-3332464.
renovated, no pets, nonsmokers, ready to occupy. Call Keith: 416-650-9558.
“We look forward to continuing to work with you to create an environment where all Black students can excel and celebrate,” said Lynn.
With the support of organizations like AEBS, the YRDSB is “honouring the identity of Black students” and their “unique experiences”, and is better able to support the students as they pursue their goals “from elementary to secondary to postsecondary”, Lynn said.
647-447-2104.
Canada qualifies for T20 World Cup next year
By RON FANFAIR
On June 22, the hottest day of the year to that point, blazing light burst through the gloom hovering over Canadian cricket in the past few months.
Canada qualified for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka with a clean sweep in the four-team Americas Regional qualifier at King City.
Though ranked above Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 ranking, Canada went into the tournament knowing that strength on paper does not automatically translate to success on the field.
“Winning every game was at the top of the list of goals we set,” said interim coach Ingleton Liburd who represented Canada in three ICC Trophy tournaments and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. “The amount of runs we scored, keeping teams under 100 and dominating the matches were also right up there on the list. I am very happy that the players paid attention to what was said which allowed us to accomplish every mark we set.”
The only team to reach 200, Canada’s 110-run and 59-run wins over Bermuda and the Cayman Islands respectively were the largest margins of victory in the tournament.
Ranked 19th, Canada demolished 27th-ranked Bermuda by 110 runs and six wickets, the 41st-ranked Cayman Islands by 59 and 42 runs and the Bahamas –ranked 56th – by 10 and seven wickets in the round-robin series.
“They need to play more competitive cricket and receive additional funding,” Liburd said. “They also have to look at enhancing their infrastructure and either get coaches to come to their countries or send some of their players to high-performance camps. That will go a long way in helping them to get better.”
Left-handed opener Yuvraj Samra was Canada’s most productive batsman, scoring 216 runs – the second most in the tournament – at an average of 54.
In the June 18 rain-shortened fixture against the Bahamas, the 18-year-old set the Canadian record for the fastest T20 half-century, scoring an unbeaten 50 off 15 balls with five sixes and three fours.
Samra also had the second-best strike rate, 209.70, behind teammate Dilpreet Bajwa with 228.88.
“He is a gifted player with natural talent,” said Liburd who will be inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame in Connecticut in October. “I don’t think he has reached his full potential. Once he keeps working hard and gets there, he is going to be a very destructive batsman that bowlers will fear.”
Off-spinner Shivam Sharma and leftarm medium pacer Kaleem Sana were the leading wicket-takers with 11 and 10 respectively.
Selected in the Babar Azam-led Pakistan squad for the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand where they were the runner-up, Sana had to withdraw at the last minute because of injury.
While pleased with the team’s performance, Liburd feels the squad could be improved.
“This is the nucleus of the squad that will compete in the World Cup,” he said. “We have three fast bowlers and will be looking to see if we can add another one or an all-rounder who can bowl.”
Winning the Americas qualifier guarantees Canada almost US$500,000 in ICC funding to prepare for the World Cup.
“Some of that money will go towards trying to secure T20 matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in their home countries,” said Liburd, who played
league cricket in Transvaal, South Africa in 1995-96. “If that is not possible, playing against their ‘A’ teams is the next option so that we can get acclimatized to the conditions in the Indian sub-continent.”
The World Cup will take place next February and March.
This will be Canada’s second participation in the biennial tournament. In 2024, they defeated Ireland by 12 runs for their first and only win in the competition that was expanded from 16 to 20 teams.
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, the West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan and the co-hosts have already qualified for the tournament.
The seven remaining spots will be filled after the European, African and Asia East Asia-Pacific qualifiers later this year.
Liburd stepped back into the coaching role for this tournament after Khurram Chohan was relieved of his duties last month.
While Cricket Canada is seeking a replacement, the ex-Canadian cricket captain said he will take the job if it is offered.
“It is something I have done well in the past and I am comfortable working with the current group of players,” the Cricket Canada general manager said. “I know what they need and how to get them to listen and work as a unit.”
Liburd holds a Cricket West Indies Advanced Level coaching certificate and has completed the ICC Integral Coaching Certificate program.
He coached Canada which won every game in the ICC World Cup qualifier in Bermuda in 2017 and the global World Cup qualifier in Dubai two years later.
Off the field, Canadian cricket has been littered
with controversy recently.
Three months ago, Chief Executive Officer Salman Khan was charged with fraud and theft over $5,000, stemming from his tenure with the Calgary and District League that he presided over.
National captain Nicholas Kirton is on bail for drug-related charges after deplaning in Barbados on March 30 while the ICC Anti-Corruption team is investigating alleged match-fixing involving national team members.
“We can’t control what happens off the field,” said Liburd, who led Victoria Park to its first Toronto and District Cricket League title in 1993. “At the same time, we can’t ignore what is happening. All we can do is play positive cricket, win matches and give people something good to talk about. Qualifying for the World Cup is an excellent step in the right direction.”
INGLETON LIBURD
