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.