-for sterling contribution to the media
TORONTO – Former Guyana Chronicle freelance sports reporter, Ron Fanfair was last Saturday honoured for his sterling contribution to the media at the 28th annual Harry Jerome Awards ceremony and dinner, held at the Toronto Congress Centre here. Fanfair, who also served as Senior Sports Producer and Assistant Editor with the State-owned Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), was among this year’s 14 awardees at the gala black-tie affair which saw in attendance Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The awards, sponsored by the Black Business and Professional Association and named after the track and field superstar who died in 1982 of a brain aneurysm, honour black Canadians who have distinguished themselves in various fields, ranging from academic studies to career accomplishments.
Currently a freelance writer/photographer, Fanfair’s work appears principally in Share, Canada’s largest weekly ethnic newspaper, for the past two decades.
His weekly coverage of community and international events provide readers with an immediate ‘play-back’ of significant issues to members of Canada’s ethnic communities, a coverage often ignored by the mainstream media.
Fanfair’s articles and photos have also appeared in many local and international media outlets, among them The Toronto Star, The Globe & Mail, Canadian Press, Associated Press, The Barbados Nation, The Trinidad Guardian, The Jamaica Observer, The Wisden Cricket Annual, AC Enterprise and the defunct Caribbean Cricket Yearly and Monthly.
Over the years, he has conducted interviews with many dignitaries and heads-of-state, and covered several international events, including the 2007 World Cup of Cricket in the West Indies; the 2003 Road World Cycling Championship in Hamilton; international cricket tours to the Caribbean; The World Basketball Championships in Toronto; basketball star, Isaiah Thomas’ retirement ceremony at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit in 1996; Muhammad Ali’s last two visits to Toronto; and the Toronto Raptors’ first season in 1995-96.
Speaking on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Television here, Fanfair thanked his parents for laying the foundation for his success, and his wife, Desiree, and their three kids for their support “along the journey.” He also had special praise for Share, through its publisher, for allowing him to do the work for which he was honoured.
According to Fanfair, his motivation to be bright, bold, powerful and able come from “those who have paved the way, and have made it possible for me to be here.” He also attributed it to “the stories highlighting the achievements of young people who are doing a great job out there.”
As to how he felt about the achievement, the modest Fanfair declared: “Everyone who knows me know that I am not someone who likes to toot my horn, but allow my work to do the talk…”
Prior to migrating to Canada in 1985, Fanfair, who is also the Caribbean Media Corporation’s Canadian correspondent here, freelanced for the now defunct Citizen Mid-week newspaper, and was at one time the Caribbean News Agency’s sports correspondent in Guyana.
The holder of a Diploma in Magazine Publishing from Ryerson University, and a Certificate in Modern Marketing Processes from George Brown College, Fanfair has won several honours, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service; the African Canadian Achievement award; the Dinthill High School Alumni Continuing Education award for Excellence in Journalism; and the Guyana Sportswriter of the Year award.
Among the highlights of the dinner was a special presentation by the Canadian PM to Bromley Armstrong, a former Ontario Human Rights commissioner and past-president of the Jamaican-Canadian Association, who played a key role in the founding of the awards.
The other 13 recipients were Kwesi Johnson (academics); Aaron Brown (athletics); Michael Chambers (arts); Delores Lawrence (business); Winston W. La Rose (community service); Dr. Lisa Robinson (health sciences); Saron Gebresellassi (leadership); Stanley G. Grizzle (lifetime achievement); Hamlin Grange (President’s Award); Akwatu Khenti (professional excellence); Abdullah K. Kirumira (technology & innovation); Andy Knight (trailblazer); and Thomas Tewoldemedhin (young entrepreneur).