The annual gala event acknowledges and celebrates African Canadians who have achieved at a high level and have made a significant contributions in the world around them. Individual recipients walked away with a bronzed statue in the likeness of Jerome, the late and former world record holder in the track and field 100-metres. Awards were given in areas such as: athletics, academics, business, community service, leadership, entertainment, and the arts. Many major corporations like RBC have sponsored the event several times since its inception in 1983. The real story however lies behind the individuals who laid the framework for the BBPA.
“We started the BBPA to get black business professionals together,” says Bromley L. Armstrong, a former Human Rights Commissioner and one of the nine founders of the BBPA and Harry Jerome Awards. “If one business owner needed an accountant, he had access to one. If he needed a lawyer, one was available. The idea behind it was to give (business owners) direction and help to establish themselves.”
Kamala-Jean Gopie, another founder of the BBPA added the annual formal affair all started as an idea to honour Afro-Canadian athletes after the 1982 Commonwealth Games. “We wanted to have an event in Harry Jerome’s name to honour him and recognize the athletes who did well at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. Jerome died in November 1982 before the inaugural event in March 1983. Following that first event we realized the possibilities of having an annual event to acknowledge others (in the black community).”
Grophie went on to add that the BBPA came together as a result of the success of the first Harry Jerome Awards back in 1983. “A group of us worked together very well and we recognized that we didn’t want this to be a one-time event. Since we came from different backgrounds like business, education and social work, we formed the spectrum of professionals that is now known as the BBPA.”
Through the years the Harry Jerome Awards has evolved from just honouring young people who show promise to also giving tribute to others who have lead the way and pioneers who have laid the foundation over the years. Simultaneously, the BBPA has gone from offering just one scholarship in 1986 to now having thirty scholarships totalling over $120,000.
With a solid foundation in place, and yearly commitments from major sponsors, the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards will undoubtedly have success in the years to come and continue to provide African Canadians a platform to honour role models of excellence within their community. (end)
List of the 14 Award Reciepients
Academics – Mr. Kwesi Johnson
Athletics – Mr. Aaron Brown
Arts – Mr. Michael Chambers
Business – Ms. Dolores Lawrence
Community Service – Mr. Winston La Rose
Health Sciences – Dr. Lisa Robinson
Leadership – Ms. Saron Gebresellasi
Lifetime Achievement – Mr. Stanley G. Grizzle
Media – Mr. Ron Fanfair
President’s Award – Mr. Hamlin Grange
Professional Excellence – Mr. Akwatu Khenti
Technology & Innovation – Dr. Abdullah K. Kirumira
Trailblazer – Dr. Andrew Knight
Young Entrepreneur – Mr. Thomas Tewoldemedhin
Below are some photos taken by Belinda of kamshuka Photography at the ceremony:
(Left to Right) AARON BROWN KWESI JOHNSON MICHAEL CHAMBERS
