Remembering the fallen in 2019

December 31, 2019

As another year ends and a new decade begins, we remember those who left us in 2019 that touched lives and made lasting contributions in their communities, nationally and on the global stage.

A descendant of the Queen’s Bush pioneers who escaped slavery, Rella Braithwaite passed away at her Scarborough home last July in her 96th year.

The author and historian contributed Black History columns to the defunct Contrast community newspaper for a decade, co-authored a publication – Women of Our Times – for the Congress of Black Women meeting in 1973, published a book on outstanding Black women two years later and partnered with provincial educators on a Black studies guide for students.

Rella Braithwaite and her daughter Diana

“I feel so privileged to have had such an amazing woman as my aunt whose work and writings brought an awareness of Canadian Black history,” said Melissa Adamson. “She inspired me through my music to remember my ancestry and the journey of Black People through the singing of Negro spirituals.”

Braithwaite and her late husband of 62 years – Henry (Bob) -- moved to Scarborough in 1946.

Dr. Horace Alexis’ benevolence touched many lives.

When Maggie Fondong’s guidance counsellor encouraged her to apply for a new scholarship in 1998, she did and was rewarded with $40,000 over four years through the Black Canadian Scholarship Fund (BCSF) that Alexis helped to create two years earlier by investing $5,000 of his own money.

A total of 54 scholarships worth $312,000 have been awarded in the last two decades.

Leaving Trinidad & Tobago in 1958 on a scholarship to study medicine in Canada, he passed away on February 7 in his 87th year.

Administered by the Ottawa Community Foundation, the scholarship fund was near and dear to Alexis who did his medical studies at the University of Ottawa and interned at Toronto Western Hospital in 1967 before starting a practice in Petrolia, a small town in southwestern Ontario.

Alexis, who enjoyed dancing and travelling and was a standard-bred horse owner, spent seven years in Petrolia before returning to Ottawa and establishing a private practice in 1974.

He was part of a group that raised funds for the James Robinson Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies at Dalhousie University before starting the BCSF.

No mountain was too high for Fitzroy Gordon to scale.

The founding President and Chief Executive Officer of G98.7 FM died in May after a lengthy illness.

He was 65.

After making an unsuccessful attempt for a radio license in 2002, Gordon launched another application three years later. The Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) granted Gordon’s group, known at the time as the Caribbean & African Radio Network, a temporary license in April 2006 on condition that the applicant locate a spot on the busy FM dial which they thought they did with the 98.7 spot until the CBC objected on the grounds that it was too close to its 99.1 signal and could cause interference.

Frustrated that they couldn’t use the remaining frequency on the FM dial that could reach their target audience, Gordon successfully lobbied the federal government for assistance.

His love for radio started at age nine when he bought a small transistor with the money he earned helping his grandmother pull weeds from Hope Botanical Gardens in Kingston, Jamaica.

Migrating in his early 20s, Gordon was a medium pacer with West Indian Cricket Club in the Toronto & District Cricket Association second division and a medical equipment technician before switching to journalism and broadcasting.

He was a cricket columnist for the Toronto Sun, the Jamaica Gleaner North America edition and the defunct Contrast community newspaper, a co-creator of ‘The International Sports Show’ on the Fan 590 and the producer/host of the late night ‘Dr. Love Show’ on CHIN Radio prior to chasing his dream of owning a radio station.

During the city’s official church service seven years ago to mark Jamaica’s 50th independence anniversary, Bishop Audley James momentarily halted the proceedings to allow more than 1,000 celebrants to watch Usain Bolt win the 100-metre Olympic final.

“That’s one of my fondest memories of Rev. James,” said Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) President Adaoma Patterson after learning of the death of the Revivaltime Tabernacle Worldwide Ministries founding pastor. “What a moment. He was passionate about Jamaica and a big supporter of Diaspora initiatives here and in the country of his birth.”

James died in hospital in July at age 81.

Born in Trelawney, Jamaica, he was a police officer and health inspector before coming to Canada in 1969 to wed his sweetheart, Rosenda, and start a new chapter in his life.

James joined West End Revival temple where he was soon elevated to the Board of Deacons, the first Black to be elected to such an esteemed position in that church’s history. His desire to lead while at the same time justifying his belief in economic empowerment led to the establishment of Revivaltime Tabernacle in 1980 with a small congregation of 36, including 13 children.

Bishop Audley James and CCC President Charles McVety

Ordained a Bishop by Canada Christian College (CCC) in 2006, James spearheaded the drive to purchase 3.5 acres of land in Downsview to set up the church’s headquarters which now includes a mortgage-free sanctuary, gymnasium and school. He presided over two churches in Canada, two satellites in Jamaica and one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In 1993 with the assistance of Ontario’s Ministry of Housing, he spearheaded the development of a building in Mississauga which houses 45 three-bedroom units of affordable housing.

Bishop Audley James prepares to burn the mortgage documents after paying off for his church

Appointed an International Advisor to the Pan African Parliament in 2012, James was honoured with a Doctor of Divinity by CCC, an honourary doctorate of Humanities from Canon University and a Harry Jerome Award in 2017.

In addition to his pastoral duties at his church, he served as Chaplain of the Jamaica National Building Society and the Jamaica Diaspora in Canada.

Bishop Joseph Fisher, who was a Revivaltime Tabernacle member before starting the Family Worship Centre in Pickering, died in November in his 73rd year.

Migrating from Guyana in 1972 where he was an active member of the Young Socialist Movement (YSM) which was the youth arm of the People’s National Congress (PNC) party, Fisher entered full-time ministry in 1995 and, five years later, started the Word of Truth Christian Centre.

Bishop Joseph Fisher and Pickering-Uxbridge Member of Parliament Jennifer O’Connell

In 2004, he launched the World of Truth Family Life Centre that, for 11 years, ran a life skills link employment program – supported by the federal government – that helped new immigrants and young unemployed Canadians secure useful career information, develop marketable skills, find suitable jobs and remain employed.

Boasting an 80 per cent success rate, the program produced graduates who went on to pursue post-secondary education and are employed.

Multicultural consultant Leyland Gudge who, in 1998, established the first federally funded community-based youth employment program for challenged youths, was a friend of Fisher for over 50 years.

“Joseph was a true pastoral leader, visionary and community builder who achieved his goals of building a church which is a well-known landmark in Pickering and one of the few churches in the Black community that’s independently-owned, and creating a community learning centre focussed on removing barriers to employment and education for Black youths,” he said.

Bishop Joseph Fisher (back row with white jacket) was a firm believer in empowering young people

Elevated to Bishop in 2005, Fisher was a member of the Potter’s House International Pastoral Alliance and the Mount Calvary Holy Churches of America.

Jordon Veira was bright, creative, talented and excellent.

He was also a source of inspiration for many young people struggling to find their purpose.

The poet, author, entrepreneur and arts & equity educator who founded an arts & humanities platform – The Heard – at age 17, succumbed to an asthma attack in June. He was 26.

At a two-day conference in May 2018 organized by the Peel District School Board to, among other things, explore ways of navigating systemic barriers to male Black success, Veira – of the keynote speakers and workshop facilitators -- reminded Black male middle and high school students they have much value.

“Never give yourself an excuse to give up and check out,” he said. “I am not saying you don’t have a right to be angry and ticked off when you feel like you have been disrespected and when you feel you have been unfairly targeted. The world ain’t going to get any easier, but you will get stronger and smarter and you will develop the tools to navigate this space.”

Jordon Veira (r) with his mom Nicolle Coco Veira, school principal Rasulan Hoppie (r) and Ontario Court of Appeal Judge Michael Tulloch

Veira, the son of motivation speaker and spoken word artist Nicolle Coco Veira, was addressing them from experience having grown up without a father.

“When I was five years old, my parents divorced and my entire world was split into two,” he pointed out. “I remember my dad saying, ‘I am not going to be around much anymore’. Those words cut me deep because I knew exactly what he was talking about. He said I was going to have to be the man of the home. At that young age and feeling I had all this power was the single most important thing to me. That meant I had problems with people with authority. I just felt nobody could tell me what to do. I didn’t treat adults and teachers the way they should be and I ended up going to 17 schools.”

It wasn't until Veira was enrolled in Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School that he met a teacher who recognized his talent.

“She believed in me and pushed me forward,” he added. “She was the first teacher that saw greatness in me.”

With civil war looming, Hodan Nalayeh’s parents fled Somalia in 1984 with their 11 children.

Just after nearly three decades leading a successful life in Canada where the last of the 12 siblings was born, the media practitioner and entrepreneur moved back to her birth country last year to capture and share uplifting stories.

Nalayeh and her husband were among 26 people killed in July when terrorists stormed the Asasey Hotel in Kismayo, a port city about 528 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu.

She was 43.

Nalayeh earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Windsor where her classmates included filmmaker Ryan Singh, Detroit Pistons Senior Director of Public Relations Cletus Lewis Jr., Caribbean Vibrations TV Executive Producer Alain Arthur and motivational speaker/entrepreneur Noel Walrond.

Lewis said Nalayeh represented all that was good in people.

“She really cared about others and I remember her taking younger students under her wings and serving as a mentor,” said the 2000 graduate. “She was always passionate about being a voice for the voiceless, so I wasn’t surprised to see her continue along that career path. That passion and her personality made her endearing and led to her hosting a very popular radio show on campus. Never shy about showcasing her culture, Hodan was an ambassador for Somalia on a campus that was very well represented by Somalian students.”

After completing her undergraduate degree, Nalayeh pursued Broadcast Journalism post-graduate certificate studies at Seneca College and launched the Cultural Integration Agency that specialized in the development, production, marketing and distribution of multicultural programs.

The company’s flagship program, Integration TV, was the first English language online TV connecting Somali communities of diverse backgrounds to share inspiring stories

“I learnt at an early age that people who run this world are the ones who control the voice of the world,” she once said. “You have to learn how to be storytellers for your community.”

In 2014, Nalayeh’s agency collaborated with Cameraworks Productions International to produce a weekly 30-minute television show targeted to the Somali community.

Pregnant at the time of her death, Nalayeh left behind two boys, aged 10 and seven.

Almaas Elman was just as passionate as Nalayeh when it came to contributing to their birth country.

The human rights activist, who came to Canada in 1999 with her mother and two younger siblings after the family patriarch – a popular peace activist – was murdered three years earlier, was killed by a stray bullet in Mogadishu in November.

The former Canadian military reserve member had returned to Somalia to help rebuild the country mired in conflict.

The last time Jay Douglas saw close friend Ronald ‘Jimmy’ Wisdom, they hugged and exchanged pleasantries.

It was at the street naming ceremony for entrepreneur Denham Jolly in Scarborough on November 1.

“I was so happy to see him and I remember remarking, ‘You look good my friend to which he replied, ‘I feel good’,” said Douglas.

Wisdom died on November 28, two days after collapsing while exercising on the treadmill at his residence.

The owner of the popular Wisdom’s Barber Shop on Eglinton Ave. W. was 72.

A member of the soul duo, Bob & Wisdom, the R & B singer migrated to Canada in 1968 and worked with Golden Barber Shop on Bathurst St. before opening his store that became a community hub.

Wisdom’s clients included Share community newspaper publisher Arnold Auguste.

“He was not only my barber for decades, but he was also my friend,” said Auguste. “As long-time business people in the community, we had a lot in common and frequently shared our experiences – the good and the bad – without the concern of being misunderstood. I know he was a man of faith and so I am comforted in the belief that he’s in a better place. I only wished that it was not so soon. I will find another barber, but I may never find another friend like Jimmy”.

George Cummings, who was generous, fun loving and full of confidence, died in early December at age 77. He suffered a stroke on Boxing Day eight years ago and never fully recovered.

Prior to leaving Guyana in 1962 to join his partner – Joan Cummings – in England who he later married, Cummings – a right hand medium fast bowler – represented Malteenoes Sports Club. He was also called to Guyana senior team trials.

Moving to Canada in 1970, he played for Civics and Grace Church in the Toronto & District Cricket Association league and worked for a Ford Canada Dealership in the city for six years before launching his business – George Auto Clinic -- in June 1984 after he was laid off.

Many in the community were the beneficiaries of Cummings’ benevolence.

He sponsored D-Hawks in the Toronto & District Soccer League and another club in Oshawa, donated scholarships and repaired vehicles free of charge.

Regional Senior Judge Aston Hall was a pallbearer at Cummings’ funeral.

“George was my friend and mechanic and he was very good to me,” said Hall. “When I was in university and law school, money was tight. He repaired my car for free on many occasions. There was a time when my car broke down on the street and he sent a tow truck to pick it up and did the repairs without charge while encouraging me to stay in school. I am where I am in life because of many people in the community and George is in that group.”

When the Toronto’s summer carnival was in dire financial straits in 2003, John Kam bailed it out with $15,000 from his line of credit.

His loan return was wrongfully perceived by some individuals as financial impropriety and a police investigation was launched.

Though clear of wrongdoing, Kam was deeply hurt by the false allegation and attempt to tarnish his reputation.

With every reason to cut ties with North America’s largest summer festival, he didn’t.

Kam, who was the Festival Management Committee festival producer for two years, the Toronto Mas Bands Association liaison manager for another two years and the FMC liaison manager up until 2017, passed away on November 18.

He was 68.

Kam, who attended Ryerson university and was the Administrative Assistant with Saldenah Carnival for the last two years of his life, didn’t have to go far to be influenced by mas’.

He was raised in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain just a few metres from the residence of the late George Bailey, considered Trinidad & Tobago’s greatest bandleader. As a young boy, he admired Bailey’s creative Carnival presentations and resisted his parents’ attempts to separate him from the islands’ most significant cultural event.

The 1968 Woodbrook Secondary School graduate played mas’ with Stephen Leung’s band for five years before migrating to Canada with his family in 1969.

After a decade watching the Toronto summer parade, the mas’ bug hit Kam who was a member of Eddie Merchant’s band for five years and Arnold Hughes & Associates outfit for two years before forming his own band – Caribbean Canadian Cultural Club or the 4Cs as they were known -- that lasted four years.

Kam clinched the King of the Band title with the Hughes group in 1990 and 1991 and shared the top spot with his own band the following year while presenting ‘King Solomon’s Dream’, making him the only individual at the time to win three straight competitions until Saldenah equalled the record this year.

Becoming part of the festival administration in late 1992, Kam was elected Treasurer the next year. He held that post until 1998 when he became the Chair for four years and later Director and Festival Producer.

In 2005, he led a festival delegation to the Hong Kong International Chinese New Year’s parade.

For nearly 34 years, Kam worked with the City of Toronto before retiring in 2002 just after the death of his father at age 67. He received almost 15 promotions before leaving as a Senior Financial Budget Systems Analyst.

He managed a Chinese restaurant he co-owned in Mount Albert and enjoyed travelling, playing tennis and chess and collecting expensive oriental antique.

Elizabeth Cromwell was for most of her life an advocate of Nova Scotia’s Black Loyalist history, heritage and culture. In the late 1980s, she co-founded the Shelburne County Cultural Awareness Society that morphed into the Black Loyalist Heritage Society and served as President from the inception until December 2002 and again from 2008 to 2016.

Cromwell, who played a lead role in the BLHS opening its doors in Birchtown in 2015, died in October in her 75th year.

Graduating as a social welfare worker in 1969, she was a casework supervisor with the Children’s Aid Society in Shelburne County for many years until her retirement in the 1990s.

The recipient of the Order of Canada and honourary degrees from Mount Saint Vincent University and Dalhousie University, Crowmell was married for 47 years to Everett Cromwell who was a mechanic with the Canadian military during World War II and the only Black member of the 2nd Division that took part in the Normandy Invasion. He died four months before his wife at age 97.

Buffalo-born Oakville-raised Joan Jones, who played a significant role in the establishment of the civil rights movement in Nova Scotia, passed away in April at age 79.

She and her former husband, Burnley ‘Rocky” Jones, who died six years ago, set up the Nova Scotia Project.

Jones assisted with the planning of Black History Month celebrations in the province and, in the early 1990s, sat on a liaison committee with the police that helped encourage the training and hiring of Black officers in a largely White force that had a strained relationship with the Black community.

The boutique owner also was a consultant to the provincial government and a Nova Scotia Legal Aid employee.

Dr. Ludlow Burke was among the first batch of 33 students that started classes when the University College of the West Indies (now the University of the West Indies) opened in October 1948.

The trailblazer, who went on to have a distinguished medical career, died in a Toronto hospital on November 20.

He was at 90.

While at Munro College where he played cricket before graduating in 1948, Burke also captained the school’s field hockey and track & field teams and was Head Boy in 1947 and 1948 and Junior Master for a term.

One of UWI’s first medical graduates in 1954, he was a senior Medical House Officer at the University College Hospital. He specialized in Internal Medicine in England, obtaining a Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh membership and a Diploma of Child Health of England.

Returning to Jamaica in 1960 to join the public health sector, Burke – who represented Jamaica in field hockey and was a national team manager in that sport -- was an Internal Medicine Specialist at the Kingston Public Hospital and, in 1963, was appointed Montego Bay Hospital Senior Medical Officer. He also served as Senior Medical Officer of the Cornwall Regional Hospital when it opened in 1974.

UWI’s first class of 33 students included Dr. Ludlow Burke

Leaving the Jamaica medical service in 1978, he migrated to Canada and practiced Family Internal Medicine in Regina, Saskatchewan for 24 years until 2002.

Longtime community activist Fleurette Osborne, who in 1981 became the first National President of the Congress of Black Women of Canada, died in Hamilton in November at age 92.

She taught in Barbados before migrating to Canada where she completed undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Fleurette Osborne (r) with Nancy Simms (l), Dudley Laws & Florine Powell

A member of the Canadian Coordinating Committee for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, Osborne took part in many international fora on women rights.

Keith Curnow, who owned a record and music paraphernalia store in Mandeville, Jamaica before migrating permanently to Canada in the 1970s, died in hospital in November just 10 days after suffering a stroke. He was 76.

He had lived and worked in Toronto during the 1960s and 70s before setting up his business in Jamaica.

A prolific reader and sports lover, Curnow managed Victoria Park Cricket Club and was often looked up to by the younger players who often referred to him as ‘Mr. President’.

Keith Curnow, his wife Pat (r) & a family friend joined Jamaal Magloire at an Appreciation picnic hosted by the Toronto Raptors coach last August

“Keith was from an era when gentlemen were…well gentle men,” said his brother-in-law, Hamlin Grange, who delivered the eulogy at his funeral. “Their shoes were always shine, they dressed properly when leaving the house and they showed respect to their elders.”

A few weeks before Curnow’s passing, David Telfer, a retired school teacher and cricket lover, died in a Scarborough long-term care home. He was 79.

In the 1970s and early 80s, Telfer contributed cricket articles to Share which is Canada’s largest ethnic newspaper.

Harold Hoyte, who was an editor with the defunct Contrast newspaper, died in May. He suffered an aneurysm in December 2017 while in Florida for a family reunion.

Starting as a copy writer with the Barbados Advocate, Hoyte relocated to Canada in the 1960s and worked with the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Telegram before joining Contrast.

He attained a Communications diploma from Centennial College and a Business Management diploma from Ryerson University during the five years he spent in the Greater Toronto Area before returning to Barbados in 1973 to become editor of the Caribbean Contact prior to co-founding the Nation newspaper.

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