Nineteen persons were presented with Harry Jerome Awards at the 30th annual event organized by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) and RBC Royal Bank at the Toronto Congress Centre last Saturday, April 28.

Keynote speaker, Roland Martin, a political analyst of CNN, Roland Martin charged those in attendance to be change agents and difference-makers in their world, starting today. He told them that in order to build a legacy, they have to be selfless, put the work in and have no fear.

“There are those who never saw the fruits of their labour,” said Martin referring to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “When we talk about legacy we should not always be focused on the people who we award, but we must also consider the very people who are fighting to change and fighting for justice every single day of their lives.

What we really should be about is how can we work as a collective to work with each other, build one another, support one another,” he said.

The recipients are: Justice Dr. Irving Andre (Legacy Award), Hugh Graham (Lifetime Achievement Award), Damon Allen (Trailblazer Award), Tut Ruach (Athletics Award), Paul Barnett (Community Service), Justice Michael H. Tulloch (President’s Award); Senator Don Meredith (Youth Advocacy Award); Andrew Forde (Young Entrepreneur Award); Eugenia Duodu (Academics Award); Armand La Barge (Diversity Award); Sergeant Craig Smith (Media Award); Dr. Godfrey Bacheyie (Health Sciences Award); Julius Tapper (Leadership Award); Fitzroy Gordon (Heritage Award); Anthony Sterling (Business Award); Cordell Samuels (Professional Excellence Award); Jay Douglas (Entertainment Award); Errol Lee (Arts Award) and Dr. David Tay (Technology and Innovation) The BBPA Harry Jerome Awards are recognized as the premier national awards gala in the African-Canadian community.

Established in the memory of Harry Jerome, an outstanding African Canadian Olympic athlete, scholar and social advocate, the awards presentation is an annual celebration of African-Canadian achievement that pays tribute to outstanding and inspirational African-Canadians who are considered role models of excellence.