Five Jamaicans Honoured at the Viola Desmond Awards

by Contributed

At the 16th annual Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Ceremony hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada, five individuals of Jamaican heritage were celebrated among 14 honorees. The prestigious event recognizes and uplifts Black women and gender-diverse individuals whose contributions positively impact the TMU community through their creativity, passion, and leadership.

Camara Chambers, Ashley Jane Lewis, Faith-Ann Clarke, Chelsi Campbell, and Cris Nippard were the Jamaican representatives celebrated at the event. The ceremony, held at The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, also gave special recognition to Pamela Appelt, a retired judge of the Court of Canadian Citizenship and patron of the awards.

The awards are named after Viola Desmond, a Canadian civil rights icon whose stand against racial segregation at the Roseland Theatre in Nova Scotia on November 8, 1946, sparked nationwide conversations on equality.

Honourees' Accomplishments
Camara Chambers received the staff award. A highly regarded leader, Chambers has been named one of the "100 Black Women in Canada to Watch" and is a Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow. Raised in England to Jamaican parents—her father from May Pen and her mother from Port Antonio—Chambers utilized her law degree from the University of Liverpool to lead impactful initiatives. Her career includes directing Volunteer Toronto and contributing to national policy at Europe’s largest LGBTQ charity. Now the Director of Leadership Development at The Dais, TMU’s public policy and leadership think tank, Chambers has been pivotal in launching the Dais Talks on Anti-Racism, engaging leaders and community members in crucial discussions.

“I’ve always been involved in different types of equity work, both professionally and through volunteerism,” said Chambers, emphasizing her passion for driving change.

Ashley Jane Lewis, recognized with the alumni award, is a new media artist and creative technologist specializing in bio art and social justice. Her background includes degrees from TMU and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She credits her inspiration to her Jamaican heritage, particularly her late grandmother, Suzanna Lewis from Clarendon. “She’s the reason behind my work; I long to make her proud,” Lewis shared, emphasizing the strength and resilience she hopes to embody. Currently, she is a Black Postdoctoral Fellow at TMU’s Black Scholarship Institute, where she continues her innovative research into Black culture and micro-organisms.

Cris Nippard, 19, who identifies as Black and queer, was awarded the student award. Nippard is currently in their second year of a journalism degree with a minor in LGBTQ Studies at TMU.

Faith-Ann Clarke, a recent graduate of TMU’s RTA School of Media, received a student bursary. Clarke completed her Media Production program with a focus on Television and Film, graduating with distinction.

Chelsi Campbell, born and raised in Toronto’s culturally rich East Side, was also awarded a student bursary. Campbell takes great pride in her Jamaican roots, which have shaped her journey. She highlighted, “I work in the media industry with a focus on creating spaces for Black women’s voices. This award is an incredible platform to share authentic stories by us, for us.”

These honourees’ stories embody the spirit of Viola Desmond and stand as a testament to the power of resilience, representation, and the impact of the Jamaican diaspora in Canada and beyond.

Reference(s):
The Jamaica Gleaner. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20241109/five-jcans-named-viola-desmond-awards

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