Several Activities in Canada to Mark Diaspora Day

The Jamaican Diaspora-Canada Foundation (JD-CF) will hold several events over a three-week period to mark Diaspora Day in Canada.
Although Diaspora Day is officially June 16, the JD-CF will hold a youth leadership conference on Saturday, June 9, a Brunch and a Bazaar on June 16, and a Discussion/Forum on June 23.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Kenneth Hall is slated to be the main speaker at the Jamaican Diaspora Future Leadership Conference on Saturday, June 9, at the Revivaltime Tabernacle in Toronto. It will be held under the theme: ‘Future Leadership in Jamaica and the Diaspora’.
The conference will target more than 100 young people of Jamaican heritage between 15 and 30 years of age from across Canada, the United States, and Jamaica.The topics on the agenda include ‘Future Leadership in Politics’, ‘Future Leadership in Business’, and ‘Future Leadership in the Foreign Service and Academia’.
Jamaican-born MaryAnne Chambers, Ontario’s Minister of Youth and Children Services; Alvin Curling, Former Speaker of the Ontario Legislature; Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Denis Kingsley; Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto, Anne-Marie Bonner; and Hugh Morris, Chair of the Mico University Past Students Association are also expected to be in attendance.
Conference Co-ordinator, Andre Moulton said the conference was organized because many young people are disillusioned and angry, because their leadership potential is under-utilized.
President of the JD-CF, Philip Mascoll said the workshops at the conference would deal with “future leadership in the Jamaican community at home and abroad, and how young people in the Diaspora can move into positions of leadership to carry on the work of the now aging community stalwarts.”
On Diaspora Day, June 16, Jamaicans in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, will celebrate the day with a Brunch at the McNabb Community Centre. The guest speaker will be Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, Her Excellency Evadne Coye. Meanwhile in Toronto, the day will be observed with an outdoor Festival, featuring Jamaican entertainers, books and crafts on display and for sale. Mr. Edmund Bartlett, Opposition Spokesperson on the Diaspora will be the special guest.
On Saturday, June 23, a discussion/forum will be held on the Diaspora and the ‘Role of the Church in Transforming the Inner-cities of Kingston’, at the Revivaltime Tabernacle in Toronto.
Pastor for the Diaspora, Bishop Peter Morgan, his wife, Dr. Pat Morgan and their son, Rev. Carrington Morgan will speak about their work in the inner cities of Southside, Trench Town and Majesty Gardens in Kingston, and how the Diaspora can play a role in the transformation of the communities.