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Toronto Benefit Gala a success - Eight icons of Caribbean descent honoured

Published:Friday | May 17, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Chancellor of UWI Sir George Alleyne and his lovely wife Sylvan.
The very dapper Doctor Jamal Deen.
Nicholas Brathwaite and his wife Janice make a cute pair.
Judith Wolfson and Stanley Zlotkin are all smiles at the fourth annual UWI gala.
From left: Raymond Chang and Donette Chin Loy Chang, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley and his wife Ruth Ann.
Jetting in for the night's big event was the 007-clad Bruce Bowen, president and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica, and his lovely wife Suzanne.
Scholarship recipient Aaronia Stedman of Dominica gave us her best smile.
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 Last Saturday's Toronto Benefit Gala hosted by the University of the West Indies (UWI) was a resounding success.

Eight outstanding icons of Caribbean descent and the University of Toronto were honoured at the fourth staging of the event that took place at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto.

Patron of the gala, G. Raymond Chang, noted in his address, "We are joined in the commitment to education and upliftment of students as we honour the accomplishments of some extraordinary icons and community leaders, whose lives have been guided by clarity, vision, care and giving."

This year's honourees included Dr Budhendranaught Doobay and Lennox Lewis. The Chancellor's Award went to the University of Toronto and the Vice-chancellor's Award recipients included: Professor Brigitte Shim, Douglas Orane, Dr Jamal Deen, Dr Upton Alen, Mary Anne Chambers and Nicholas Brathwaite.

The gala raises funds for scholarships awarded to Caribbean students who live in challenging circumstances. In the past three years, the gala has awarded almost 100 scholarships.

Almost 500 guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner and live performance by blues/jazz artiste Shakura S'Aida.

In addition to receiving proceeds from the sales of gala tickets, the UWI scholarship fund also received proceeds from the silent and live auction that included collectibles such as; autographed running shoes by Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, as well as autographed boxing gloves from the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis.

ATTENDEES

Among those attending were; Jamaica's High Commissioner to Canada Sheila Sealy Monteith, Vivian Monteith; consul general of Jamaica, Seth George Ramocan, consul of Grenada to Toronto, Jenny Gumbs and husband Colin Cyrus Gibbons; consul general to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Vidhya Gyan Tota-Maharaj; Sir George Alleyne, chancellor of UWI, and Lady Alleyne; Professor Nigel Harris; and his wife Dr Yvette Williams; principal of the UWI Professor Gordon Shirley; Professor Clement Sankat, and Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald. Also in attendance were; Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Helen Vari; Harry and Evelyn Rosen; Sheldon and Tracey Levy; Thalia Lyn; Denis and Jo Ann Kingsley; Brigette Chang Addorisio and Anthony Addorisio; Andrew Chang, David McCrae; Justice Michael Tulloch; Elizabeth Buchanan Hind; Trevor and Linda Massey; Michael and Sonya Lee-Chin; Drs Herbert and Barbara Ho Ping Kong; Fred and Georgie Kennedy; Professor Alissa Trotz; Violet Blake; Gordon and Joanne Cressy; Bernie and Noreen Nisker; Howard Shearer; Jean Augustine; Justice Aston Hall and wife Linda Hall, and Antoinette and Hugh Spooner.