Five selected for inaugural Jamaica Diaspora Impact Awards

TORONTO:

Five outstanding Jamaican-Canadians will be celebrated by the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto for their contributions to justice, business, education, health, community and youth empowerment within Canada and across the diaspora.

The inaugural Jamaica Diaspora Impact Awards (JDIA) will be presented to Marcia Brown, a playwright, actor and producer; Inez Johnson, an educator, administrator and mentor; Kevin Ormsby, a choreographer, arts strategist and cultural instigator; David Smith, a performing artiste and youth mentor; and Rose Spencer Gibbs, an educator, author and community leader. An independent panel of judges selected them from over 40 nominations submitted by the public.

“The inaugural Jamaica Diaspora Impact Awards is a milestone occasion and an opportunity to celebrate inspiring leaders who have made an indelible impact on the wellbeing of the Jamaican-Canadian community,” said Consul-General Kurt Davis, noting that, “This event is about honouring legacy, inspiring the next generation, and showcasing the strength and vibrancy of our diaspora.”

Brown, who is the recipient in the culture and community service category, is a leading cultural ambassador using her platform in the arts to celebrate and preserve Jamaican and Caribbean heritage.

She is a driving force in ensuring that Jamaican traditions are passed down to younger and diaspora generations. The popular playwright has also played an integral role supporting education through scholarships empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education.

“To think that I came out on top in an inaugural award feels so good. It makes me feel so extra special,” says Brown, who noted that this is her first major award in Canada.

Recognised for arts and culture leadership, Ormsby is the artistic director of KasheDance. He has performed internationally and worked with some of the most celebrated dance choreographers across Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean.

A passionate advocate for equity and cultural pluralism in the arts, he has shaped dance education and programming at leading institutions, while championing Caribbean and African Diaspora cultural practices.

“It means an honouring of community, a recognition of the work put into community, and it means that I’m on my life’s path which is to make sure that I’m Jamaican and representing the many aspects of Jamaica within every space that I exist in,” says Ormsby.

He is inspired daily by what he describes as “the cultural investment from so many people, both in Jamaica and in the diaspora, into who I’ve become as an artist, choreographer and advocate.”

Smith is an actor, dancer and fitness innovator who has spent over three decades uplifting Jamaicans at home and abroad. From “Ring Ding” to “Love, Togetherness and Devotion” (LTD), and from CTV to his iconic “Reggaecise” programme, he fuses culture with wellness, inspiring generations to embrace their Jamaican heritage with pride, purpose, and healthy living.

“This is the biggest thing that has ever happened in my life to be recognised by my own Jamaican people. It makes me feel like I’m on top of Jamaica, that what I’ve been doing all this time was being seen by somebody who decided to nominate me,” said Smith who will be awarded in the culture, health and wellbeing category. This is the first time that the health and fitness expert is receiving an award in Canada.

Dr. Spencer Gibbs is a retired department head of library at Markham District High School in the York Region District School Board where she served for 19 years. She will be honoured for education and community service.

“I’m very appreciative, very grateful for the recognition. Most of what I do I really don’t do for the recognition; I do appreciate that some people thought it was worthy of being celebrated, said the author of the memoir, “ Island of Plantations: A Jamaican Reflection.”

The St. Andrew High School for Girls alumna feels that anything she can help with in the black community is important because she got so much from growing up in Jamaica.

Her career spans Jamaica, Guyana, and Canada. She has served as an educator, researcher, and community leader, founding cultural programmes for youth, mentoring black educators, and publishing works that preserve Jamaican history and heritage.

Described as “the machine that keeps on giving,” Johnson, who is being recognised for education and community development, devoted her career to education in Jamaica and the Toronto District School Board.

She coordinated the Saturday Morning Tutorial Programme for black students and workshops for parents, while also leading a mentoring group of retired educators that continues to support Jamaican and black teachers in securing school board positions.

The JDIA gala will be held at the Toronto Botanical Garden on October 24, and feature a gourmet dining experience curated by the multi-award-winning Chef Noel Cunningham, live entertainment, and cultural performances.

Established to honour the extraordinary achievements of Jamaican-Canadians who exemplify leadership, innovation, and service in their fields, the JDIA is presented by the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto.