It was an inspirational night celebrating Black Excellence at the 28th annual Reverend John C. Holland Awards. The annual awards and gala which hosts about 600 guests is Hamilton’s largest Black History Month celebration.
Organized by the Hamilton Black History Council, the Awards celebrate and recognize the academic achievements and aspirations of Black youth by offering scholarships and support to assist them in accessing post-secondary education. The Awards also celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Black community and recognize the contributions of local Black leaders to the social, economic, and cultural life of our city.
Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa provided inspirational remarks as a highlight of the evening’s celebrations. In her remarks, she noted the historic significance of this year’s celebration, which aligned with the final year of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD), which has been marked by a celebration of Black heritage, culture, achievements, enduring spirit and resilience.
The event provided an opportunity to share the mandate of the Office of the SEIRTI and a glimpse into the SEIRTI’s heritage as described “As a Black Canadian of African, specifically Sierra Leonean descent, who immigrated to Canada from the United States, my unique trajectory now provides an impetus to serve as a conduit to facilitate international and diplomatic relations, cultivate meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships and opportunities for Sierra Leone internationally.”
Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa reflected on the shared history, mutual interests and opportunities between Sierra Leone, Canada, and the Caribbean, as Maroons from Nova Scotia via United States and Jamaica contributed significantly to establishing Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown in the 1800s. She also encouraged guests to visit Sierra Leone stating “with a rich history, culture, tremendous natural and mineral resources, and beautiful white sandy beaches, Sierra Leone has a lot to offer to the rest of the world. On behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone, I warmly invite you to visit Sierra Leone and experience the breathtaking landscapes and kind hospitality of Sierra Leoneans.”
The importance of unity and community-building was also emphasized by the SEIRTI stating “as a community, let us commit to contributing our skills, talents, expertise to initiatives that advance the collective Black experience both locally and globally. Let us engage in dialogue and discussions that will bridge the divides that often separate us. United, we can continue to build on the rich heritage and achievements we honour tonight. Empowered, we can create the future we desire. Connected, we can attain our dreams and aspirations.”
A total of 35 awards were presented in various categories including the Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson “Business/ Entrepreneurship” Bursary, which was presented to Camilla Rabia. The award has been sponsored since 2016 by Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa, in honour of Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson, a successful entrepreneur was the first black vendor at Hamilton’s Farmers’ Market, who died at the age of 90 years old. Miss Tilly, as she was fondly called, was a fervent believer in education and provided annual scholarships to students during her time in Hamilton. In 2002, McMaster University conferred an honorary doctorate on her. She was also inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.
Other awards and scholarships included the Audre Lorde LGBTQ2S+ Scholarship, Damptey Scholarship for Civic Leadership, Lincoln Alexander “Breaking down Barriers” Scholarship, Raymond G. Lewis “Sports Leadership” Scholarship, STEM Scholarship, YWCA Hamilton Young Woman – Trailblazer Scholarship, Dr. Ethilda “Tilly” Johnson “Business/Entrepreneurship” Bursary, Evelyn Myrie “Political Action” Bursary, Marlene Thomas “Community Advocacy” Bursary and Nelson Mandela “Social Justice” Scholarship.
Click here to read Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa’s full remarks.
