Hundreds of  past students of Cornwall College in Jamaica – or Cornwallians, as they are called  – came from far and wide  to attend the 40th anniversary gala of the Cornwall College Alumni Association  (CCAA) of  Toronto  two Saturdays ago.

The  gala held under the patronage of  Mary Anne Chambers, a former Ontario government minister and  retired vice-president  of Scotiabank, recognized the founders of the CCAA and supporters who had made generous contributions  to the 121-year old college.

“We are extremely proud of the contributions we have made over the past 40 years,” Charles Gordon, president of the association, told the gathering at the Markham Convention Centre which included Cornwallians from Jamaica, Florida, Atlanta, and New York.

Gordon spoke about several programs which the CCAA has successfully launched at the College.

He noted that the solar project ” continues to be pursued.

“And the school now has a full functioning air conditioned library equipped with periodicals and computers to assist the students in research for their studies.

“We have also given out numerous bursaries to students who have excelled in sports and academia. We continue through the benevolence of one of our members to provide awards to the teachers at the school who do well in and out of the classroom.”

Gordon noted that a school-feeding programme was launched with the assistance of foundation member Denham Jolly,  Scarlett House catering and its CEO, Steve Coulighan,

Over the  years the association has made numerous contributions  to various church programs “geared towards social development in Canada,” he said.

As part of the evening’s entertainment program, the trio Pakage – Patricia Edwards, formerly of Ebony, the Karen Smith and  Gem Myers – in their first appearance as a group outside of Jamaica, delighted  the audience  with their vocal stylings.

“We are fortunate to have three of the island’s most talented female singers in one room, and as soon as we heard they had become one, we decided we had to book them,” said the association’s president.

The Cornwall College Alumni Association formally known as Cornwall College Old Boys Association Canada (CCOBA Canada), is a charitable organization established in September 1978.

The founder : Dr. Byron Melbourne, Charles Agate, Charles Reynolds, Dr. Denham Jolly. Dr. Donald Holness, Edmund Gough.Karl Mullings, Kent V. Donaldson, Knollis Johnson. Dr. Lloyd McKenzie, Neville Arthurs, Clwen McKenziean and Dr. Winston Mclean

Having awarded numerous bursaries to students who have excelled in sports and schoolwork, the Canadians said they continue, through the benevolence of one of its members, to provide awards also to teachers at the school who do well in and out of the classroom.

Cornwallians from South Florida, Jamaica, Atlanta and New York were out in their numbers for the historic occasion.