President’s Award - Mary Tidlund















Mary A. Tidlund was adopted at the age of seven by a loving Calgary family along with three other adopted children. Over the years, Mary shared her childhood with at least fourty foster children that her parents nurtured and loved; leading her to study at the university level.

After completing a science degree in Geography from the University of Calgary, Mary began a 15-year career in the oil industry; later becoming President and CEO of a publicly traded oil exploration and service company. She located the head office for the company in Saskatchewan where she was committed to the community through her entrepreneurial work. Her activities expanded to include drilling and trucking companies, a clothing store, an art gallery, and a restaurant based in Arcola. Mary's businesses employed more than two-hundred and fifty people. Mary's commitment to her community was recognized nationally in 1993, where she was a finalist in the Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. In addition, Mary received an In Award for having the most impact on the local community.

While business had been strong, an industry downturn led Mary from the oil business and she turned her energy to traveling internationally where she discovered and actualized her desire to serve others. On October 14, 1998 she founded the Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation which is designated as a public foundation. The foundation financially supports and participates in medical, dental and educational programs in Canada and overseas. It started with medical teams in Peru and Ecuador, but activities quickly expanded to India, Haiti, and Kenya among many other nations. Other key initiatives include providing meals for the homeless, educational programs for children and promoting complimentary medicine.

Not only does the foundation have its’ own programs, but it collaborates with organizations nationwide in facilitating programs to improve living conditions. The mission statement of the foundation states:

Our vision is to grow and work together as a creative part of the world community with respect, compassion, understanding and openness to empowering each other. Our objectives, through a combination of volunteers and financial funding, are to share and exchange knowledge of health, education and the alleviation of poverty.

Essentially, this mission is the definition of a life dedicated to improving the lives of other.

Leadership Award – Tolulope (Tolu) Taiwo Shannon Quadri

The first step in leadership is overcoming the challenges on your own path, and this is why Tolulope Quadrihas been able to become a leader in the many environments that she has been a part of over the years.

Her passion for helping others flourished at the age of ten through volunteer efforts and active participation within the community, which continued while attending high school at Mother Theresa Secondary School in Malvern.

During this period, Tolu committed her time to volunteering at the Malvern Public library and Recreation Centre as a tutor for a children’s after school homework club and a Leading to Reading program. She had also started to write and perform spoken word poetry focused on uplifting those around her.

In 2002, Tolu and her twin sister were selected as part of a group of ten students chosen by the principal of Mother Teresa high school to attend the Harry Jerome Awards Ceremony; a ceremony honoring leadership in the black community. In Tolu’s final year of high school, 2002-2003, it was a year of the escalating violence in Toronto; as a response, she co-founded a singing and spoken word trio with her twin sister and friend. In addition to this group, she had poems and essays published that encouraged positive attitudes and thinking.
Tolu graduated from Mother Teresa Secondary School with honors in June 2003, receiving an Ontario Scholar Medal for Academic Excellence and for maintaining honor roll standing all throughout her four years of high school.

Following high school graduation, Tolu completed a year of studies at York University before enrolling into a collaborative program between Ryerson and George Brown, studying Early Childhood Education (ECE).

Tolu was later selected as one of twelve students to participate in the Jamaica Project-an international educational outreach project with the centre of Early Childhood Development at George Brown College which did fundraisers for children in Jamaica and led to Tolu actually going to the country to teach.

She currently works with One80 Youth Newspaper, as the Youth Advice Columnist

Tolu’s educational goals are to complete a Masters in Education and a Masters in Social Work. She firmly believes that her future aspirations will reflect a combination of her interests and she will create a non-profit Christian organization that will serve all levels of society.

Trailblazer Award - Commander Dr. Alvin Curling











The first black Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a position to which he was elected in November, 2003; Dr. Alvin F. Dr. Curling was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 1985, representing the former riding of Scarborough North, now Scarborough-Rouge River. Upon winning the riding he amassed the highest vote total in Canadian history. He was re-elected in five subsequent elections ending in October 2003 and in August 2005 was appointed Canada’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Between 1985 and 1990, Dr. Curling served as Minister of Housing introducing a comprehensive housing strategy and Ontario’s first province wide rent control legislation. Dr. Curling also served as Minister of Skills Development and was a member of the Premier's Council on Science and Technology and chaired the Standing Committee on Estimates from November 1995 to January 1997.
Educated at CAST/ University of Technology, Kingston Jamaica, Seneca College and Atkinson College at York University in Toronto, before entering politics, Dr. Curling was the Director of Student Affairs for Seneca College from 1972 to 1985.

Strongly committed to promoting literacy, Dr. Curling was President of World Literacy of Canada from 1981 to 1984. He is actively involved in many community organizations and was Chair of the Advisory Board to the Caribana Cultural Committee from 1997 to 1998. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the World Hunger Project.

For his strong community involvement, Curling was honoured by the Government of Jamaica with the Order of Distinction, and carries the rank of Commander and was most recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Letters from the University of Technology in Jamaica. Throughout his career Dr. Curling has displayed a strong commitment to public service and continues to do so.

Staff Superintendent Peter Sloly – Toronto Police Service

Peter Sloly was born in Kingston, Jamaica and immigrated to Canada in 1976.

After arriving in Canada, he obtained a BA in Sociology from McMaster University and a Masters in Business Administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business.

Staff Superintendent Peter Sloly is in his nineteenth year as a police officer with the Toronto Police Service (TPS). In 1999, Peter Sloly became the youngest officer to be promoted to a senior officer rank in TPS history and is the highest-ranking Jamaican born police officer in Canada. He is presently in charge of the following units: Employment, Training, Staff Planning, Community Mobilization and Diversity Management.

Peter Sloly has also been the Unit Commander of the 55 Division, 53 Division and Corporate Communications. He has represented the TPS on numerous local, national and international peace making and community building initiatives including: Mayor Miller’s “City Safety Plan”, the Toronto City Summit Alliance “Income Security Task Force”, the Jamaica Diaspora Conference, and the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo.

Among his career highlights are: outreach programs specific to the Black community, the Jamaican Canadian Diaspora and new immigrants that has improved the quality of life, he has championed a new innovative recruiting and hiring system for the TPS that has significantly increased the proportion of women and visible minorities in the Service, and he has organized youth specific programs including the Police/Youth Basket Ball League, Police/Youth Soccer League, Police/Youth Mentorship Program and the Newcomer Outreach Program.

Peter Sloly is a member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers and has been on the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Harry Jerome Scholarship Fund, Covenant House and Spirit of the People Aboriginal Centre.

Throughout his career he has received the numerous awards including The Bob Marley Day Award, United Nations Peacekeeping Medal & Canadian Peacekeeping Medal, and the Certificate of Recognition – Minister of State, Multiculturalism & Status of Women.
Prior to his policing career, Peter Sloly was a professional soccer player with the Toronto Blizzard and he was a member of the Canadian National Soccer Team.

Arts, Media and Entertainment Award - Farley Flex










Farley Flex is of an elite breed of icons in the history of the Canadian music industry. His career in the business began more than twenty-five years ago as a young event promoter, but was truly launched through his role as the manager of Maestro (Fresh Wes), Canada’s most successful urban artist.

As a founding member of FLOW 93.5 FM (Milestone Radio), Canada’s first urban radio station, Flex became a part of another major step forward in the nation’s urban industry

In 2003, Flex was named as one of the four judges of Canadian Idol, CTV's national hit talent search program. Through the combination of his musical insight and the strength of his on-camera personality, he was able to help make Canadian Idol the most viewed television series in Canadian history for four consecutive seasons.

While he is quite known for the previously mentioned roles, Flex is also a Board member of VideoFACT, he served on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA), and as a juror for the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records (FACTOR). He has also served as a consultant to companies looking to understand the nation’s urban market and has played the lead role in presentations to the CRTC for two other urban stations in Canada.

Flex is the founder of Plasma Management & Productions Inc, and co-founder of Plasma Pictures Entertainment and Plasma Corporation, an integrated media company with a focus on producing and developing music, film and television projects. Artists under his company include Gary Beals, Toya Alexis, Belinda Brady, and Ammoye.

Flex has managed to parlay his celebrity status into what he refers to as “the most rewarding part of his career”, motivational speaking, where he speaks to young audiences across the nation, from the core of Toronto to the periphery of Canada’s Aboriginal Reserves.

Technology and Innovation Award - Dr. Victor E. Gooding

It is only in recent years that the reality of satellite technology has come to enter into the popular consciousness and into everyday life: whether it is satellite radio, satellite television, or satellite surveillance – innovation in this field touch most of our lives daily.

The work and career of Victor E. Gooding is a major contributor to this reality in our nation. Born in Barbados, he attended the Caribbean Meteorological Institute in Barbados, later working as a weather scientist at the Barbados Meteorological Office.

In 1969, he immigrated to Canada to attend Sir George Williams University in Montreal (now Concordia University). Throughout his entire academic career, including the completion of his Masters’ degree and PhD at Queen’s, Dr. Gooding received prestigious scholarships and awards of merit – not to mention innovations on communications technologies (e.g. new insight into the design of optimum communications transmission systems).

In addition to his academic exploits, he also played varsity soccer for four years, garnering MVP honours in 1973 and the Association of Alumni Award in 1973 as the top graduating athlete; he also set a number of national and school records in track and field.

In 1980, Dr. Gooding left Queen’s University to join Telesat Canada as a Senior Engineer. Telesat had been established in 1969 by the Federal Government and was operating its first set of satellites, the Anik A and Anik B series.

Dr. Gooding continued to move through the ranks, receiving numerous promotions and contributing to groundbreaking projects in communications technology.

He currently works as a Broadband Satellite specialist at Telesat Canada, the country’s leading satellite owner, operator and communications services provider.

His successful patent application for an innovative satellite system models was drawn from over twenty-seven years of experience in the telecommunications industry. This achievement was recognized last year by a Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) First Invention Award.

In addition to his academic accolades and his invaluable contributions to satellite technology, Dr. Gooding has also carried on his love for sports. For the last twelve years he has maintained significant community involvement as a soccer coach, and is raising his two teenaged daughters with his wife. Notably, he also participated in the 1976 Olympics as a member of the Barbados National team.

Lifetime Acheivement Award - Dr. Leebert A Wright

Born in Jamaica, West Indies, Dr. Leebert Wright came to Canada in 1951 to study at McGill University.

After graduating, he assumed the position of Clinical Biochemist at the Montreal General Hospital with a cross appointment in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Such arrangements continued after arriving in Toronto, where he held a director level position with a Toronto hospitals and played vital roles in major universities.

Following his M.Sc. in Biochemistry he worked as a biochemist in the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control before going to the University of Toronto to continue his studies in the Department of Pathological Chemistry. His outstanding work won him the Allan Hoffman Memorial Award.

While establishing a enviable career, Dr. Wright became a member of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemistry (CSCC) where he had the opportunity of his life to work with some of the most outstanding scientists in the country dedicated to improving healthcare in Canada.

In 1971, Dr. Wright became President of the CSCC. His leadership and creative energies were directed towards research and development of a range of reference methods and tests for substances such as cholesterol, testosterone and other chemicals that directly affect the well-being of millions of people across Canada.

He also influenced the standardization of Clinical Chemistry in Canada while Chairman of influential national scientific bodies.

For his contribution to Clinical Chemistry and his advocacy both nationally and internationally the CSCC awarded Dr. Wright its most prestigious award, the Ames Award for outstanding contribution to the field of Clinical Chemistry.
He is also a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemists and the National Academy of Clinical Biochemists in the United States.

Although retired, Dr. Wright remains actively engaged not only with the CSCC and a range of community organizations.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Ouida Marina Wright

The life of Dr. Ouida Marina Wright is one dedicated to education, and has touched more lives in this country than most will ever realize.

Throughout nearly fifty years of professional life, Dr. Wright held many influential positions ranging from teaching, consultative, supervisory and administrative positions in both elementary and secondary schools. These positions varied geographically from Jamaica, to Quebec and Ontario. She also held positions in the faculties of education at McGill University and the University of Toronto.

At McGill University, first as lecturer and then as Assistant Professor, Dr. Wright taught and conducted research in reading and the language arts, and she chaired the committee which developed the Master of Education (Teaching of Reading) degree as well as the Diploma in Reading granted by the Quebec Department of Education.

For fifteen years, Dr. Wright was a Superintendent of Curriculum in the Toronto Board of Education where she helped develop and supervise a wide range of policies, including race relations, multiculturalism, mathematics, health, science and music. During this portion of her career she initiated, coordinated and contributed to the Toronto Observation Project comprising a team of principals, consultants and teachers which developed curriculum materials based on theories of child development and learning acquisition to help meet the needs of the one of the most ethnically, racially, culturally and linguistically diverse cities in the world.

Her work in curriculum won her the Colonel Watson Award for curriculum development and the Canadian Women in Science Award for outstanding contribution to mathematics and science. .

Born in Jamaica, West Indies, Dr. Wright was educated at St. Andrew High School. Though she applied much of her expertise in Canada, her high school honoured her by inviting her to be a panelist at the school's 75th anniversary celebrations.

Dr. Ouida Wright retired in 1995 as Assistant Deputy Minister of Anti-racism, Access and Equity in Ontario's Ministry of Education and Training, in which she had the responsibility for the implementation of the provincial government's policies regarding these issues in elementary, secondary and post-secondary institutions.

Health Services Award – Dr. Kwadwo Asante

Dr. Kwadwo Asante is a Pediatrician and Medical Director of the Asante Centre for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

Dr. Asante was born in Ghana, West Africa, where he obtained his early education. Later on, he won a scholarship to the University of British Columbia for undergraduate science studies and a B.Sc. degree. This was followed by medical training in the University of Glasgow, Scotland, after which, he returned to Canada for specialist pediatric training in Vancouver and Montreal.

To gain more practical experience in pediatric care, Dr. Asante chose to work in Northern British Columbia, a practice which soon grew to include responsibility for children in the Yukon. He soon came to take on this serious, but preventable, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which he realized was the cause of physical and developmental handicaps. He was one of the first physicians in Canada to study and write about the recognition and prevention of FAS.

Dr. Asante has continued to work in pediatrics, and has devoted his efforts to educating physicians, other health personnel, educators and the public about FAS. He has given numerous talks and workshops on the subject, traveling extensively in Canada, the United States, as well as internationally.

The Asante Centre for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was opened in 2000 with the help of concerned parents and professionals, and was named the Asante Centre to recognize his work. The Centre provides assessments, diagnosis and support for children, youth and adults and the families of those with FAS.

Among the many awards and honors bestowed on Dr. Asante in recognition of his contributions to the health of children in Canada are his election as “Senior Member” of the Canadian Medical Association in 2000, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Northern B.C.in 2004, and the award by the Governor General of Canada of the Meritorious Service Medal in 2005.

Trailblazer Award – Dr. Jean Augustine


















Much of the path that the life of Dr. Jean Augustine has taken is ground that had not been stepped on before her.

From 1993 to 2005 Augustine was a Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore.

In the 1993 federal election, Augustine became the first African Canadian woman elected to the Parliament of Canada and subsequently the first Black woman in a federal Cabinet. She also served three terms as Chair of the National Liberal Women's Caucus.

She is a former member of Cabinet, and a former school principal. Notably, Augustine served as the Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chretien from 1994 to 1996.

In February 2002, Jean Augustine was elected Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. On May 26, 2002 Jean Augustine was appointed Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women). In December 2003, she was re-appointed to the new Cabinet as Minister of State (Multiculturalism and Status of Women). In 2004, she was appointed to the position of Assistant Deputy Chairs of Committees of the Whole, making her the first African Canadian to occupy the Speaker's Chair in the Canadian House of Commons. She was also the Minister of State for multiculturalism, and the status of women until
2004.

Jean Augustine holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Education and Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Toronto.

Through fundraising efforts, Ms. Augustine supports the Jean Augustine Scholarship Fund, which assists single mothers to undertake post-secondary study at
George Brown College.

On November 28 2005, Augustine announced her intention to retire and that she would not be a candidate in the 2006 Canadian election. While she is no longer directly involved in Canadian politics, the imprint of her presence and contributions will be felt in this nation for generations to come.

Business Award - Chief Emmanuel C. Mbulu


Adversity struck hard and early in the life of Chief Emmanuel C. Mbulu. Having been born in Igbodo, Delta State, Nigeria, he was only twelve years old when his father, a Chief, was brutally murdered just before the Nigerian civil war. He was severely impacted by his father's death.

Rather then be embittered by the situation, Chief Mbulu focused on living a virtuous personal life and inspiring the same in those he influenced.

In the years that would follow, he would arrive in Canada and was able to obtain an Honours BA in Economics from York University in Toronto, and a Masters of Business (MBA) and Public Administration (MPA) from Southwestern University in Washington, D.C..

As an entrepreneur, Chief Mbulu's influence extends throughout North America, to the African continent, and worldwide. He owns several companies in Canada, the United States, and Nigeria. As well, he is the President and CEO of Tone-A-Matic International Inc.

The value of his expertise has become quite recognized in business and social circles, leading to service on several corporate and community boards, including the Community Foundation of Mississauga, among many others.

In addition, Chief Mbulu is a special adviser to His Royal Highness The Obi (King) Of Igbodo Kingdom: he is a member of the Obi-Counsel, and is also his overseas representative.

His philanthropic work has both a national and international focus. His domestic involvements are highlighted by a York University scholarship being his name, the Annual African Canadian Teen Summer Jam, and his support of the Rainbow Ball.

Internationally, he has been instrumental in building numerous schools and churches abroad, with his efforts focused on Nigeria.

This saavy business man and advocate of community improvement has became a part Canada’s historical fabric after the approval of "Chief Mbulu Way" as a street name in Mississauga.

Young Entrepreneur Award - Rayonne Caesar-Chavannes

It is said that disappointments can often become blessings in disguise.

After high school, Rayonne was determined to complete her degree at the University of Toronto and become a medical doctor. However, after failing to graduate with her class in 1996, taking six years to finish her degree, and tarnishing her academic record, her dream seemed to be slipping away.

After getting married in 1999 and giving birth to her first of two daughters, Rayonne decided to return to the University of Toronto, taking an independent undergraduate program in research. This led to a few successful positons as a research assistant, and then to a Masters program in Business Administration at the University of Phoneix.

Though she had achieved great accomplishments in her schooling and her career, she was still unsatisfied due to a desire ‘for more’.

”I finally began to really listen to my inner dialogue, trusted my spirit, and started ReSolve Research Solutions Inc. in 2005”, she explains.

ReSolve Research Solutions Inc. is a Site Management Organization that assists Pharmaceutical Companies in recruiting physicians for upcoming clinical trials. They also manage clinical programs from initiation to closeout, and are a primary contact to many companies for outsourced projects available to Canadian sites.

While working at ReSolve Research Solutions Inc., Rayonne is always mindful to advance the agenda of Black peoples in North America through her commitment to seeing greater visible minority representation in clinical drug trials; which is an issue with more implications than most people realize.

As a strong believer that, “to whom much is given, much is required” she has become involved in the community in a more official manner, with the Congress of Black Women where she is the President of the Ajax-Pickering Chapter, and the Secretary of the Ontario Region..

She adds, “Juggling my responsibilities as the owner of a corporation, the president of an established community organization, and a committed mother and wife, is not always easy, however, in the tradition of the great Black women before me, I ‘make it work’ ".

Athletics Award - Brittnee Habbib

Often, it is only an athlete that understands the scale of the accomplishment of competing at the highest level of a given sport. This is even more of an achievement when coupled with success in the academic arena. Now at the age of eighteen, Britnee Habbib is a gymnast for the Canadian national team and has engaged in her schooling through the Independent Study Program/Extended French Program curriculum, making her fluent in French.

Having found her beginnings in gymnastics at the age of three, it was at the age of thirteen when she had committed the focus of her training toward reaching the national level.

While her passion for the sport was strong, it was inspiration from the lives of heroes like Harry Jerome that helped her to persevere as a young Black female competing in Canadian gymnastics. The hard work paid off.

In 2003 she received a bronze medal in the All Around final at the Junior Level at the Canadian Nationals. In 2004 she traveled to Luxembourg and placed fifth on the Vault, while receiving silver in Russia on the Floor Exercise later that year.

In 2005 she traveled to Kiev, Ukraine, where she captured the gold medal on the Floor Exercise. That same year she was awarded a bronze medal at the Pan Am Championship for the Canadian team, and in Pottsville, USA, she captured the Bronze Medal, among other top finishes.

In 2006, Brittnee made the Commonwealth team for the Games in Melbourne, Australia, where she won a silver medal.

Britnee has also been an advocate for the support of our Canadian athletes over the years. In July 2006, Brittnee was chosen by HBC Company as a spokesperson for amateur athletes in Canada.

This remarkable young woman has yet to reach her plateau and has now set her sights on becoming a member of the 2008 Canadian Olympic Team competing in Beijing, China.

Academics Award - Andrew Brown

To receive the Academics Award is to be placed in the company of a group that has been gifted with great aptitude and talent. While tremendous potential dwells within us all, it takes hard work and dedication to touch the heights of the possibilities that we contain. Andrew Brown has shown that he understands this principle through striving to live by the well known quotation, “continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential”.

Aside from the rigors that one that must go through in order to attain academic success, it should be noted that the academic environment can be very competitive. For this reason, the great lengths that Andrew has gone through over the years to ensure the success of those around him stands out amidst his accomplishments.

At the age of thirteen, while attending Tomken Road Public School, Andrew Brown pioneered an initiative tutoring students in the adjacent primary schools. To this day, Brown continues to mentor high school students in partnership with various groups and organizations. He has also taken this drive for change to the post-secondary level establishing the programs Culture U and the UP (University Preparation) Project after entering studies at McMaster University.

Culture U was established to raise awareness about the importance of cultural understanding and to encourage the community to think critically about cultural diversity, while highlighting the values and contributions through various events taking place over the ‘Cultural Calendar’.

The UP Program places high school students with exceptional university students who serve them as mentors and role models. This program also gives high school students the opportunity of giving back to the community through tutoring at elementary schools affiliated with the UP Project.

Andrew’s work in mentoring is complimented by his academic success. He has earned a number of scholarships and awards for his outstanding academic achievements, including the Jack A. MacDonald Award, the Valley City Manufacturing Scholarship and many Senate Scholarships awarded while completing his studies at McMaster University.