Toronto, ON - The
University of the West Indies today announced five leaders of Canadian and
Caribbean origin, and one organization, to be honoured at the seventh annual
Toronto Benefit Gala, on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at The Ritz-Carlton.
The
G. Raymond Chang Award will be
presented to
The Hon. Dr. Vivienne Poy.
The award was established to honour outstanding
individuals who exemplify the leadership and ideals of G. Raymond Chang, O.C.,
O.J.(1948-2014). Mr. Chang was recognized
as an outstanding business leader and philanthropist. He
was the
Gala’s patron for five years.
Dr. Poy
was the first Canadian of Asian descent appointed to the Senate of Canada. She
is also an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, community volunteer, historian
and fashion designer. During her time in the Senate, from 1998 to 2012, she was
integral to establishing May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. She served as
Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 2003 to 2006 and is active in many
community and cultural organizations. She has authored five books and co-edited
one other.
The
Luminary Award will be presented to
Dr. Shirley Thompson. The Luminary
Award is given to people of Caribbean heritage who are outstanding achievers on
an international scale in their respective fields or people who have brought to
prominence issues, which affect the Caribbean. Dr. Thompson is of Jamaican
descent; the first woman in Europe to have composed and conducted a symphony in
the last 40 years, and the first woman to compose and musically direct music
for a major drama series at the BBC. She is a Reader in Music at the University
of Westminster and a freelance composer of music for TV, films and the theatre.
The
Chancellor’s Award will be presented to
Food For The Poor Inc. This award is
given to organizations, which have contributed significantly to the Caribbean,
or outstanding organizations owned by persons of Caribbean heritage.
Food for
the Poor Inc. is an interdenominational, Christian, international relief and
development organization. It has
affiliated agencies in Canada, Jamaica the U.S.A., Haiti, and Guyana. It serves
the poor, providing food, housing, healthcare, fresh water, emergency relief,
micro-enterprise, skills training and other services. It promotes self-sustainable development
projects helping the less fortunate to break free from the cycle of poverty.
The
Vice Chancellor’s Award is given to
people of Caribbean heritage who have made significant contributions within
their organizations and communities. The 2016 honourees are
: Mr. Stephen Ames;
Mr. Wesley
Hall and
Dr. Paul Steinbok.
Mr. Ames
is a professional golfer, born in
Trinidad & Tobago. He made his Hoerman Cup debut in 1980 at the age of 16
and turned professional in 1987. In 2004, he enjoyed his first PGA Tour victory,
reached the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and was awarded the
Chaconia Medal, Trinidad & Tobago's second highest honour. He initiated the
Stephen Ames Cup, an international Ryder Cup style competition that pits CJGA
Team Canada against Team Trinidad & Tobago. He also co-hosts an annual
charity golf tournament for kids and owns the Vintage Chophouse in Calgary.
Mr. Wesley Hall
is a well-respected
businessman and philanthropist. He
is founder of Kingsdale Shareholder
Services, the leading firm in the growing area of outsourced strategic
shareholder communication, and was born in Jamaica. He has over 20 years of experience in
corporate governance and shareholder communications. Hall
is a founding member of the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries (CSCS)
and is involved in other corporate governance and investor relations
organizations. He is an industry expert in proxy solicitation, depositary,
corporate governance and other shareholder related initiatives and has been
involved in some of the highest profile deals and proxy contests in North
America. His generosity has enabled
cancer care for children in the Caribbean.
Dr. Paul Steinbok
is recognized
internationally as a leader in pediatric neurosurgery. He is the Head Emeritus
of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the BC Children's Hospital and a
full Professor at the University of British Columbia, in the Department of
Surgery. His medical areas of interest are the surgical treatment of children
with spastic cerebral palsy, epilepsy surgery in children and looking after
children with craniopharyngiomas, a relatively uncommon type of brain tumor. He
was born in Barbados, received medical training at the University of the West
Indies and an honors degree at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Dr.
Steinbok completed an internship in Toronto and a residency in neurosurgery in
Vancouver at the University of British Columbia. He became a Fellow of the
Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in Neurosurgery in 1977. He has also provided professional assistance in
neurosurgery at hospitals in the Caribbean.
Under the
theme
“Light, Learning and Liberty”,
The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Gala provides funds for
scholarships. Almost 250 scholarships
have been awarded in six years. Over 70 have graduated, most with first class
honours. The Patron of the seventh annual Gala is The G. Raymond Chang
Family. Lead Sponsor is Scotiabank for
the seventh consecutive year.
For
tickets please orderusing the online form at www.uwitorontogala.com, or call 416-214-7848
or email the secretariat toni@uwitorontogala.com.