Happy Birthday to a Canadian Icon
She is a Canadian legend and one of the most generous and kindest souls I have met in my lifetime. The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine celebrates her 86th birthday on September 9th. I’ve had the privilege of celebrating a couple of milestone birthdays with her - 80th and 85th. I’ve also had the opportuity to travel with her last year to her Grenada homeland for the screening of her biography - Steadfast: The Message and The Messanger. This year isn’t a so-called milestone, but it is significant, and I am again involved in coordinating a celebration fitting for a woman of her stature.
My good friend Diana Webley, who is also the Festival Director of CaribbeanTales Film Festival, called me in March with one of her brilliant ideas. Last year, Dr. Augustine’s birthday was celebrated during the festival when Steadfast was screened on her birthday. Dr. Augustine also happens to sit on the Board of CaribbeanTales Media Group, so the festival was honoured to be able to mark this milestone occasion with the screening and a party. Diana decided to take things up a noch this year by creating the Augustine Award of Excellence to be presented each year on September 9th to somone who has excelled in the arts and has created a legacy for youth. This year’s recipient is Roy Cape, he is the legendary saxophonist and band leader - founder of the Roy Cape All Stars and is an accomplished arranger, composer and writer with an illustrious musical and philanthropic career spanning nearly six decades. A fixture in the early days of Toronto's Caribana festival, he has been featured on hundreds of recordings and has released eight albums with the Roy Cape All Stars. Along with receiving the award, the audience will be viewing, Iconography: Roy Cape and treated to a performance by the Roy Cape All Stars.
It’s going to be a great night! It is the start of a legacy as the award will be presented every year on Dr. Augustine’s birthday. She was flattered when I told her about Diana’s proposal and honoured that the festival would have an award in her name issued for excellence in the arts. Of course, having her name on buildings, parks, desginated days, honourary doctorates has become commonplace for this esteemed former politician. Afterall, she was the driving force behind having February officially designated Black History Month by the federal government. Although she is out of politics, her activism hasn’t slowed down, from speaking up for the African refugees living on the downtown streets to supporting equal access to education through her Jean Augustine Chair at York University to encouraging young girls and women to pursue their dreams at the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment, she is a trailblazer and a beloved Canadian icon.
I encourage everyone to come out and celebrate this living legend on Saturday September 9th at Harbourfront Centre. Here is the link for tickets. It is going to be grand affair, for a grand lady.
