To mark Bob Marley’s 78th Birthday

By Stephen Weir

Bob Marley would have been pleased.  Toronto’s 32nd annual Bob Marley Day went without a hitch albeit as a virtual event.

It all started Monday morning when the Toronto City Council once again proclaimed February 6th, as Bob Marley Day (BMD) in Toronto.

In previous years there have been public events held to mark the Reggae star’s birthday, this year it was pre-recorded and broadcast on YouTube.

After the Proclamation, issued by Mayor John Tory, was read, the BMD committee announced this year’s recipients of the Bob Marley Humanitarian Award.

This year award winners are: Senator Bernadette Clement (Canadian Senator from Ontario); Dr. Wisdom Tettey (Vice-President & Principal of University of Toronto Scarborough); Yolanda McClean (Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE Ontario); Cheryl Kerr (Founder of MedEx Health Services); Kevin Modeste (Former Deputy Director of Research and Legislative Affairs for the Ontario NDP Caucus);    Yasmin Hurd (Ward-Coleman Chair of Translational Neuroscience and the Director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai, New York City); Viola Stewart (Toronto Entrepreneur), and Elladj Baldé (Canadian Olympic Figure Skater).

“This marks the 32nd year in a row that the City of Toronto has officially declared February 6th Bob Marley Day (which began with former Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton),” explained founder of Bob Marley Day, Courtney Betty. “Were he still alive Bob Marley would have turned 78 on Monday”.

“Bob Marley said “One Love”.  So, each year we take time to honour the best of the best, people – acting in the diversity spirit of Bob Marley’s One Love, – who have worked hard to make our country a better place for all.  As the diverse population continues its tremendous growth, it becomes even more critical that the doors of opportunities are open to all, “continued Mr. Betty.

Marley fans were at City Hall to skate on the outdoor rink by the Marley lit sign.