THIS year’s Guyana Awards (Canada) Gala was again a resounding success attended by some 430 guests on Saturday last at the Centennial Ballroom, Inn on the Park, in Toronto.

The 2009 Guyana Awards recipients pose with volunteer coordinator Felicia Kwang. (Sitting L- R) : Shauntel Parkinson, Angela Brijmohan, Amanda Brijmohan, Devani Singh. (Standing L- R) : Fareed Amin, John Rodriguez, Joy Simon, Chris Mohan, Felicia Kwang, Dr. Anne Dipchand and Dr. John Farley.

It was a magnificent evening of celebrating achievements of excellence within the Guyanese-Canadian community.

The high calibre and levels of accomplishment of the seven recipients of the prestigious Guyana Awards, and the five national Guyana Awards Scholarship winners, were inspiring and certainly instilled a sense of deep pride in the Guyanese-Canadian community.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds made the keynote address by video link-up from Guyana. He was unable to travel to Canada at the last moment due to President Bharrat Jagdeo having to attend an emergency CARICOM session in Trinidad over the weekend.

Among the special attendees were H.E. Rajnarine Singh, Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada; The Hon. Bas Balkissoon, MPP for Scarborough-Rouge River; and York Region Police Chief Armand LaBarge.

Held under the patronage of Guyana’s Consul General in Toronto Mr. Danny Doobay, the Guyana Awards was initiated in 2000, as part of the Guyana Independence Festival celebrations, to promote and honour excellence and leadership within the Guyanese-Canadian community. The Guyana Awards National Scholarship component was later added in 2008.

The Awards ceremonies kick-off a month-long celebration of Guyana Heritage Celebration in Canada. The festivities spanning five provinces, encompassing over 40 activities, and involving thousands of Guyanese and Canadians culminate with the Guyana Festival on June 20-21 at L’Amoreaux Community Centre in Toronto.

High Commissioner presenting the Academic Excellence Awards to Dr. Ann Dipchand

“Tonight, our community in Canada and indeed the entire Diaspora commence the celebration of the 43rd independence anniversary of the Republic of Guyana. In doing so, we pay tribute to our leaders who undertook this courageous step on May 26, 1966. And as we pay tribute, I encourage you to continue your homage and service to the land of our birth, and to your adopted country, Canada. Our leaders would have asked for no less!” said Consul General Doobay.

The Gala evening included performances by the Andrea Douglas Children’s Dance Theatre, and hauntingly beautiful solos by Tracey Soman on keyboards and vocals. It continued into the wee hours of the morning with dancing to the inimitable sounds of Victor Shim and the Surefire Band.

In a toast directed at Guyanese nostalgia, the Consul General said:

“There is, after all, much credence to the phrase ‘there is no place like home”. And if you are one of the few who have not visited Guyana since the Berbice Bridge was opened, may I encourage you to do so. Better yet, you may wish to join me in the first annual golf tournament to Guyana or the international softball competition we are about to launch.

Tuesday, May 26 is Guyana’s 43rd independence anniversary. We are a few days away from that magical date, but please join with me in a toast.
To the great friendship between Guyana and Canada!
To our government and people of Guyana!
To Guyanese the world over!”
The 2009 Guyana Award Recipients and National Scholarship Recipients were judged by an independent panel of distinguished individuals comprising the Honourable Justice Vibert Lampkin; Gale Lee, former Acting Ambassador to Brussels; and Ken Singh, a prominent Guyanese-Canadian business leader.

Consul General Doobay noted that the process of being recognized is a competitive one which, at the minimum, “requires an accomplished track record in service to your community, country and vocation, combined with an impeccable character”.

The recipients of the 2009 Guyana Awards (Canada) were by Category:
** LEADERSHIP AWARD
Mr. Fareed Amin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

** LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Mayor John Rodriguez, Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury

** ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
Dr. Anne Dipchand, Associate Professor in Pediatrics, University of Toronto;

Staff Cardiologist, Hospital for Sick Children; Head of the Heart Transplant Program,

Hospital for Sick Children; Associate Director, Sick Kids Transplant Centre.

** SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dr. John Farley, Epidemiologist and Specialist in Infectious Diseases

** BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Mr. Chris Mohan, President/Owner, Maple Leaf Wheelchair Manufacturing Inc.

** COMMUNITY SERVICE (INDIVIDUAL) AWARD
Ms. Joy Simon, President, Guyanese Canadian Community Centre;

Vice-President, Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organizations;
Founder/Owner, Bourda Green Nutrition

** MEDIA & CULTURE AWARD:
Mr. Harry Ramkhelawan, INDO Caribbean World newspaper

And the five young adults of Guyanese heritage, awarded monetary scholarships for their academic excellence to pursue post-secondary and/or postgraduate studies were:

Devani Singh, Angela Brijmohan, Amanda Brijmohan, Shauntel Parkinson & Tara Omaid.

The Gala’s Charity of Choice this year is the Hospital for Sick Children, a world-renowned academic health science centre that is ranked as one of the top paediatric health-care facilities in the world, and a benefactor to scores of Guyanese children.

Major sponsors were TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, RBC Royal Bank, Dr. Nar Daljeet & Associates, Topnotch Employment Services Inc., and Guyana Current.

Scholarships were donated by Scotiabank, Kee Plus Realty Ltd., Sherene Shaw, and Frank Fernandes.
It’s time to cast-off those limits that have shackled us in the past while embracing the rich history and the land that contribute to what is best in us today.