Posted on 02 December 2010.
Gregory Isaacs
Singer, songwriter, producer and recording executive Gregory Isaacs called the “Cool Ruler” died at 59 from lung cancer. He had traveled to the UK for medical tests earlier this year, according to his manager Copeland Forbes, and died in London on October 24th.
Posted in International News, MiscellaneousComments (0)
Posted on 23 September 2010.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Jerry Rice
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 7th, former San Francisco 49er Jerry Rice established records that might never be broken. He is considered the greatest wide receiver in the history of the National Football League. Over his 20-year career Rice: Caught 1,549 passes
Posted in Sports NewsComments (0)
Posted on 08 September 2010.
Rosemary Sadlier
By michelle-lee
On Sunday August 1st the 2nd Annual Emancipation Day was celebrated in Toronto.
Rosemary Sadlier who was instrumental in getting the Ontario Legislature to recognize August 1st as Emancipation Day noted that Ontario was the final destination in the Underground Railroad for American slaves searching for freedom.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGinty presided over the ceremony in Queen’s Park on July 30th. He said the abolitionist legislation is one of the province’s greatest achievements. “Ontario is so much better. so much stronger because of our Black history. Ontario is always showing the way, all the way back to 1793 when John Graves Simcoe passed the Anti-slavery Act making Ontario the first British colony to limit slavery”.
Emancipation Day legislation was passed in 2008, moved by Conservative MPP Ted Arnott and Liberal MPP Maria Von Bommel – the first such bipartisan legislation in the history of Ontario.
Posted in Canadian NewsComments (0)
Posted on 23 June 2010.
Rocco Achampong is campaigning for Mayor of Toronto
By michelle-lee The Afro News Ontario :Admittedly a long shot, Rocco Achampong is campaigning for Mayor of Toronto. He is 31, a lawyer, who has recently opened his own law office, and is considered by some as “a rising political star”. Ignored by mainstream media – he was dumbfounded that no one from mainstream media showed up on February 1st to cover his campaign launch – he contemplated withdrawing his name and stopped taking campaign donations.
Recently he has been encouraged by supporters and the results on an online poll that placed him at the top of the list and earned him a place at the table alongside the front-runners at the recent Better Ballots forum. During that debate Achampong’s remarks addressed several issues including, arts funding, partisan politics at City Hall, voter apathy, housing initiatives and road congestion. Achampong now says that although it is unlikely to win he’s “in this (race) to the end. Organizers of candidate meetings, forums, etc. have indicated that Achampong will now be included.
Brief Bio:
Name: Rocco Achampong
Born: Tema, Ghana, Africa
Came to Canada as a 9-year old.
Education: 1999: Entered the University of Toronto,
2001 – Co-founded and became President of the Black Students Association
2002 – Elected Student President (41,000 constituents – $12 million budget)
Osgoode Hall Law School
2008 -Graduated Law School
2009 – Called to the Bar in January
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Posted on 24 April 2010.
Delores Lawrence the recipient of the Bell Business Award
By Michelle-lee The Afro News Ontario
The 28th Annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards was held April 24th at The Toronto Congress Centre. Here is a list of this year’s winners:
CIBC Academics Award – Kwesi Johnson
BBPA Athletic Award – Aaron Brown
BBPA Arts Award – Michael Chambers
Bell Business Award – Delores Lawrence
RBC Community Service Award – Winston W. LaRose
Sterling Dentistry Health Science Award – Dr. Lisa Robinson
Scotiabank Leadership Award – Saron Gebresellassi
TD Bank Financial Group Lifetime Achievement Award – Stanley G. Grizzle
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration Media Award – Ron Fanfair
BMO Financial Group President’s Award – Hamlin Grange
Hewitt Associates Professional Excellence Award – Akwatu Khenti
BBPA Trailblazer Award – Dr. Andrew Knight
FLOW 93.5 Young Entrepreneur Award – Thomas Tewoldemedhin
Delores Lawrence the recipient of the Bell Business Award
Among the award winners: Delores Lawrence was presented with the Bell Business Award. She is a Registered Nurse and the founder, president and CEO of NHI nursing and Homemakers Inc. Lawrence is an Order of Ontario recipient and was recently appointed to the Ontario Judicial Council. She was born in Jamaica and raised in Ontario (Belleville and Toronto). She is the former Chair of Seneca College, Chair of Sunnybrook & Women’s Hospital Academic and Patient Care Committee and Chair of Operation Black Vote Canada. She earned a BA from York University, an MBA from the University of New Hampshire and is a graduate of the Rotman Institute of Corporate Governance Program. She is also an OPM graduate of Harvard Business School. Ms. Lawrence is described as a philanthropist and community builder.
Posted on 20 April 2010.
Actor Raven Dauda
By michelle-lee: Dora-winning actor Raven Dauda is starring in Lynn Nottage’s “Intimate Apparel” – a component of the Canadian Stage Company’s new season. Dauda, the offspring of a Jamaican mother and a father (now deceased) from Sierra Leone, was born in Ottawa in 1973. Her Mom, says Dauda, always pushed her to explore her artistic talent, often reminding her of cousins who worked in Caribbean Theatre and telling her that theatre “was in her blood”.
Dauda performed the role of Esther the shy seamstress in “Intimate Apparel” for the first time in 2008 at the intimate Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre. At the time she was unknown to Toronto audiences but her performance drew raves from critics and theatergoers alike. Between then and now Dauda has made lasting impressions in three other plays (“Wild Dogs, “Miss Julie: Freedom Summer” and “Doubt”) and earned two Dora nominations and one Dora award for her work. She also attended Vancouver’s Studio 58 for a short time (she says she regrets not completing that program). She returned to Toronto, toured with Children’s Theatre until TV and Film entered her life. She was cast in nearly three dozen projects beginning with “Murder at 1600” and including recurring roles in series such as “Paradise Falls” and “Across the River to Motor City”.
She starred in trey anthony’s “da Kink in my Hair” when the play was remounted for Theatre Passe Muraille. She says of “da Kink…” – “I was so honored to be a part of that journey with trey and it helped me redefine my devotion to the theatre”. Her acclaimed performances have all been in roles specifically written for Black women but Dauda has no problem with that. She said, “Yes It has been Black specific, but it’s allowed me to delve into myself and into my race and I am grateful for those opportunities.” She added that she takes pride in “telling these stories”.
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Posted on 17 February 2010.
The Hon. Jean Augustine – former MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore,
By michelle-lee The Afro News Ontario
Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor-General of Canada announced 57 New appointments to the Order of Canada in the fields of arts, education, music, politics, public service and health. These appointments include 25 Officers (O.C.) and 32 Members (C.M.) Two residents from Ontario’s Black community were among those named.
Named Officer of the Order of Canada:
The Hon. Jean Augustine – former MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Federal Cabinet Minister, Educator, President of the Congress of Black Women in Canada, recognized for her career in education, politics and social justice.
Named A Member of the Order of Canada:
Joseph A. Sealy for his contributions as an actor, musician and composer, notably for his acclaimed “Africville Suite”.
The appointments wee made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada
Posted in Canadian NewsComments (0)
Posted on 17 December 2009.
Dolores Lawrence winner of The 2009 Planet Africa Awards Gala
By michelle-lee The Afro News Ontario
Michael “Pinball” Clemons, CEO of the Toronto Argonauts together with his wife Diane, hosted the 6th annual Planet Africa Awards gala recently, at the International Centre in Toronto. Over 500 people gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of 15 distinguished recipients of the prestigious awards. Guests were treated to a great dinner, world class entertainment, along with the award presentations by VIPs. Entertainment was by Nigerian artist Yinka Farinde and his African Beats band, Diane Clemons and South Africa’s Lorraine Klaasen. Supermodel. Actor, Television Host and Hip Hop Star Sam Sarpong conducted a runway fashion show to live music where he performed, backed by his L.A.-based band, A tribute to Michael Jackson was performed by Baby Bonz Dance Group. Many VIPs were in attendance, including the High Commissioners of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, guests from the Parliament of Canada, and senior executives from the Bank of Montreal, the Royal Bank of Canada, and many other corporations.
The recipients were:
Pan Africa Leadership Award :
Senator Donald Oliver
Lawyer, Businessman, Statesman
Marcus Garvey Award
Isaiah Washington,
Actor/Philanthropist
Media & Entertainment Award
Cameron Bailey
Co-Director Toronto International Film Festival
Professional Excellence Award
Dr. Titus Owalabi
Chief Obstetrician & Gynecologist
North York General Hospital (Toronto)
Planet Africa Enterprise Award
CEO, NHI Nursing & Homemakers Inc.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Hon. Dr. Alvin Curling,
Former Speaker of Ontario Legislative Assembly
Science & Technology Award
Dr. Abdullah Kirumira
CEO- Biomedica Diagnostics Inc., (Nova Scotia)
Heritage Award
Joy Nneji,
Artistic Director & Founder Toronto African Dance Festival
Rising Star Award
Sam Sarpong, (England)
Supermodel, Actor, Hip Hop Star
Community Development Award
Dr. Anthony Hutchinson,
CEO-Brampton Neighbourhoiod Resource Centre
African Renaissance Award
Austin Clarke
Award Winning Author
Volunteer of the Year Award
Danielle Francis,
Analyst-Toronto Police Service
Community Advocate
Sports and Athletics Award
Kenneth Kerto,
Hoickey Player, Tracer & Field
Academic Achievement Award
Jelani Watson & Shomari Edwards
Grade 7 students perform as Twaambo
Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Award
Rotary Club of Newmarket, Ontario
Development Projects in Africa
Posted in Canadian NewsComments (0)
Posted on 14 December 2009.
Prominent Canadian Musicians Join Family In Celebration of Haydain Neale
By Michelle Lee ,The Afro News Ontario
Haydain Neale, 39, Juno-winning front man of the group Jacksoul has passed after a seven-month battle with lung cancer. Neale was involved in a serious car accident in 2007 but recovered to record a new album – “SOULmate” which was released December lst. Family members said the album was a gift to the many who supported him after his accident.
Nelly Furtado, Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, k-os, Chantal Kreviazuk and Keshia Chante were among the artists who performed in honour of Neale He leaves his wife Michaela, daughter Yasmin and many other family members and friends.
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Posted on 20 November 2009.
Musical tribute to former Ontario Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander.
By michelle-lee The Afro News Toronto
The Jazz Performance & Education Centre, recently obtained charitable status and held its first fundraising gala October 2nd. The event, held at Glenn Gould Theatre, was a $250.00 per person musical tribute to former Ontario Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander. Alexander is an honorary co-chair of the organization with Ontario Chief Justice Warren K. Winkler. Two life long jazz fans, Ray and Rochelle Koskie, the driving forces of the group, said the gala is the first step to building a permanent home for jazz in Toronto, similar to New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Centre, “to inspire and grow audiences for jazz music” in Canada. The current plans call for a 9,000 square foot space that can accommodate a performance hall, recording studio, classrooms, archives and a restaurant. Ray Koskie said, “we know we have to expose the younger generation to jazz in its many different forms” and next month a reasonably priced concert series will begin with Montreal pianist Oliver Jones at the Bluma Appel Theatre. There will also be a children’s jazz music program launched at Casa Loma in the spring.
Posted in Entertainment NewsComments (0)
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