Monday, March 31, 2014

University of The West Indies 5th Annual Benefit Gala 2014

The University of West Indies (UWI) presented its Fifth Annual Benefit Gala in Toronto, with Masters of Ceremonies, Michael Anthony Cuffe. The funds raised at the 2014 UWI Annual Benefit Gala in Toronto will benefit the UWI Scholarship Fund for outstanding academic achievers who lack the funds necessary to realize their potential.

The  evening celebrated the contributions of the University of the West Indies, its graduates and the Greater Caribbean community in Canada and worldwide.  Awards in three categories was presented to outstanding leaders of Caribbean and Canadian heritage: The Vice Chancellor’s Award is awarded to people of Caribbean heritage who have risen to the pinnacle of success in their organization. The Chancellor’s Award is given to a Canadian organization that has contributed to The University of the West Indies and/or the Caribbean or outstanding organization owned by people of Caribbean heritage.
The Luminary Award is presented to a person of Caribbean heritage who is an outstanding achiever on an international scale in their respective field or has brought prominence to issues affecting the Caribbean.  

The UWI Toronto Benefit Gala brings together Canada’s business and academic communities to celebrate the greatness and tireless work of the honourees, making it a much-anticipated event on the Toronto social calendar. Former honourees include: award winning author Lennox Lewis, Mary Anne Chambers, Dr. Upton Allen, Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay, The University of Toronto, Malcolm Gladwell, The University Health Network, Zanana Akande, The Honourable Harry Belafonte; The Right Hon. Michaëlle Jean, former Deputy Chief of Toronto police Mr. Keith L. Forde; Hon. Michael Lee-Chin, OJ; the Hon. Jean Augustine; the Hon. Justice Dr. Irving André and Dr. Karl Massiah.

With such a strong Caribbean community in Canada, UWI has initiated this successful Annual Benefit Gala that will continue to strengthen the relationship between Canada and the Caribbean for years to come. Over the past three years, over 75 scholarships have been awarded to students who are rising stars in the Caribbean. 

The University of the West Indies (UWI) was established in 1948 as a college of the University of London.  It achieved full university status in 1962 and today, is the only pan-Caribbean tertiary level institution offering a wide array of diverse and accredited programs to 40,000 students throughout the region, with campuses in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean.  UWI is an international university in every respect with links extending beyond the Caribbean to well over 100 universities worldwide through: collaborative research involving postgraduate students and faculty; study abroad and exchange programmes; cross-campus degree programmes; lecture series and conferences.

 Luminary Awards
The Honourable Hedy Fry, MP, PC (Vancouver Centre)
  • Born in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
  • Physician and politician
  • First elected to Parliament for Vancouver Centre in 1993, becoming the first rookie to defeat a sitting Prime Minister (Kim Campbell)
  • Re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011
  • The first immigrant woman to run for the Leadership of the Liberal Party with her True Grit campaign in 2006
  • She was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism, Minister for the Status of Women and the Minister responsible for the Vancouver agreement
  • Immigrated to Canada in 1970 from San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
  • She practiced family medicine and served as President of the Vancouver Medical Association, BC Medical Association and the Federation of Medical Women
  • Resides in Vancouver and is mother to three sons
The Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM
  • Born in Jamaica
  • Grammy winner, actor, singer, songwriter, producer
  • Rock and Rock Hall of Fame and Jamaican Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
  • Only living musician to receive the Order of Merit, Jamaica’s highest honor for achievements in arts and sciences
Tessanne Chin
  • Born in Jamaica
  • Recording artiste
  • Tessanne Chin was named The Voice in the fifth season of the NBC-TV broadcasted singing competition, as part of Adam Levine’s team.
  • Comes from a family steeped in music – her mother was the trumpeter and singer in her band called the Carnations and her father was the drummer.
  • The family owns a recording studio in Jamaica.
  • Tessanne started performing when she was six years old with Cathy Levy’s “Little People and Teen Players Club,” one of Jamaica’s top performing art schools.
  • She moved to England at the age of 12 and coped with the move by writing songs.
  • She opened for Patti Labelle, Pablo Bryson and Gladys Night; toured for three years with Jimmy Cliff, recorded with Shaggy and collaborated with many artistes, including Trinidad and Tobago’s KES.
Chancellor’s Award
The Hospital for Sick Children
Caribbean SickKids Paediatric Cancer Blood Disorders Project – founded in 2013
Led by 2013 Honouree Dr. Upton Allen

Vice Chancellor’s Award
The Right Reverend Peter DeCourcy Fenty
  • Born in Barbados
  • First Black Bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada, consecrated in 2013
  • Ordained in the Anglican Church 38 years ago
  • Served with distinction in five parishes in Dioceses of Barbados, Montreal and Toronto
  • Graduate of Codrington College, the University of the West Indies and Western University
  • Strong advocate for social justice, human rights and ecumenism
  • Married with a son and daughter
 Dr. Dorothy Anna Jarvis
  • Born in Jamaica
  • Alumnus of The University of the West Indies
  • Breast cancer survivor
  • Professor Emerita, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
  • Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children
  • Major contributor to the evolution of Canadian Emergency Medicine (EM) and Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM)
  • Participated in the development of Emergency Medical Services, instructing the initial Land and Air cohorts, and served on the Land Education Advisory
  • Creates and teaches Paediatric Life Support Courses for the Michener Institute, served as Chair, Paediatric Life Support Advisory and Medical Advisor
  • Facilitated academic success through coordination of student support services as Associate Dean Health Professions, Student Affairs, Faculty of Medicine
  • Created and participated in a wide range of Educational Programs for students in most Health Care Professionals
  • As Medical Director, Division of Paediatric Medicine, Sick Kids, she created a unique Clinical Fellowship in Paediatric Fellowship in Paediatric Emergency Medicine
  • The University of Toronto Annual Emergency Medicine Teaching Awards are named in her honour, as is an Award for the graduating medical student who demonstrated outstanding personal qualities, in support and care of their peers
  • The Canadian Paediatric Society Lifetime Achievement Teaching Award in Emergency, given biannually, is also named the Dr. Anna Jarvis Award
  • In 2012 she received the Physicians Care Award from The Ontario Medical Society
  • She collaborated with colleagues at Sick Kids to develop the first Sickle Cell Syndrome clinical treatment plans for the Child Health Network, Greater Toronto Area hospitals, to standardize and improve the emergency care received by Sickle patients
 Delores Lawrence
  • Born in Jamaica
  • Entrepreneur, Mentor, Philanthropist
  • Registered Nurse, College of Nurses of Ontario
  • Founder, President & CEO, NHI Nursing & Homemakers Inc., since 1985
  • NHI offers health care staffing and home care services.
  • Four consecutive recipient of Consumers’ Choice Award for Excellence in Nurse Services
  • NHI has provided placements and mentoring for students in a variety of programs
  • Organized shipment of medical equipment and supplies to various hospitals and infirmaries in Jamaica and has facilitated visits by politicians and medical students from Jamaica to hospitals and long term care facilities in Canada
  • Contributes financially to various community organizations in Jamaica and Canada
  • Delegate of the Canadian Government to the First Canadian business women trade mission to the USA in 1997
Vince J. Ciarlo
Ciarlo Communications
510 – 4070 Old Dundas Street West,Toronto, ON M6S 2R6
Tel: 416-763-3783    Cell: 416-458-5090   Email: vciarlo@ciarlo.ca








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