By Neil Armstrong

Four members of the Black and Caribbean Canadian community have been appointed to the Order of Ontario.

On January 1, Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario announced that Zanana Akande, the first African-Canadian to serve as provincial cabinet minister; Guyana-born humanitarian Winston Kassim; Jamaica-born prominent journalist, Royson James; and UK-born, retired Captain Kevin Junor were among 29 new appointments to the Order of Ontario for 2024.

This is the province’s highest civilian honour recognizing the extraordinary contributions of Ontarians. The appointees will be invested by the lieutenant governor at a ceremony in Toronto later in the year.

Akande was born in Toronto in 1937 to parents from St. Lucia and Barbados. She became a teacher in the Toronto District School Board where she served as a vice-principal and principal.

In 1990, she won a seat in the Ontario election, becoming the first Black woman elected to the provincial legislature. She was appointed as the Minister of Community and Social Services, a position she served until 1994.

“While in government, she led the passing of historic and critical legislation for the highest increases in social assistance rates and for employment equity, which improved and opened employment for women, people of colour, and the differently able. Outside politics, she had a distinguished career in education developing programs for special needs, including the gifted. She also contributed to the development of a more accurate and inclusive curriculum for history classes,” notes the citation.

Akande says the honour means that there are some people who recognize her small contribution to the community, and she always appreciate that. “It’s never been my objective to be recognized; it’s been my objective to make sure that other people have the opportunity to do their best and the support to do it.”

The citation notes that for over four decades, Kassim has been helping those in need and humanitarian causes in more than 25 countries.

“By sharing his passion in governance and sustainability acquired as an executive at RBC, he has helped many organizations including the Sunatul Jamaat of Ontario, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Malton Islamic Centre, International Development and Relief Foundation, Canadian Museum of Indian (Hindu) Civilization and the institute for Canadian Citizenship. Mr Kassim also played a key role in establishing the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce and the Doobay Gafoor Medical Centre in Guyana,” it said.

James immigrated to Canada in 1969 and started his journalism career as a reporter-writer for Contrast newspaper in 1979. The citation notes that his passion and writing have made him a powerful agent of change in areas such as policing, city governance, traffic and transportation, and racial equality.

He spent 35 years with the Toronto Star, becoming the Municipal Affairs Columnist in 1998. James has been a strong advocate on issues like gun violence, uplifting marginalized communities, and combating anti-Black racism. 

“I consider it affirmation of the community that I belong to — my church community, my civic community, the city of Toronto, and my African-Canadian community which includes all the wonderful Jamaicans that have relocated here and continue to make the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario and Canada a much better place,” said James who grew up in Orange, St. James, and attended Cornwall College.

Captain Junor’s military career spans almost four decades with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves, notably as regimental sergeant major with the Toronto Scottish Regiment – the first black individual appointed to this position in the regiment; later an officer in Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

The citation notes that beyond military service, Junor made significant contributions to community safety in Ontario. He also serves as citizen security sector-lead on the Global Jamaican Diaspora Council.

“I am just taking a breath as it soaks in. This is an incredible recognition for a small boy that grew up in Spanish Town. I thank God for this blessing; it is a direct result of a praying grandmother and mother,” he said.

Junor, who was born in Birmingham, England, on April 8, 1963, grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica, before migrating to Canada at the age of 10 to join his mother.

His role on the Global Jamaican Diaspora Council allows him to give back to Jamaica, he said. “I have developed competencies over my career that enable me to provide advice and guidance to security-focused professionals in Jamaica. I am also able to bring security experts from across the diaspora to share their expertise as required.” 

Since its creation in 1986, over 903 individuals have been recognized with the Order of Ontario.

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