Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards to honour six

By Neil Armstrong

For the second year, the Consulate General of Jamaica at Toronto has organized the Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards (JDIA) Gala to honour six people who represent a broad range of diaspora impact, including leadership in education, healthcare, youth development, culture, entrepreneurship, community service, mentorship, advocacy and charitable work across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Verna Andrade, Diana Burke, Maureen Henry, Dwayne Holness, Dionne Sinclair and Trevor Massey will be presented with JDIA, while Trevor Massey will receive the JDIA Icon Award on October 23 at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

“The Jamaican Diaspora Impact Awards are about recognizing people whose leadership, service and commitment have made a meaningful difference over many years,” said Kurt Davis, Consul-General of Jamaica at Toronto, about the event which will be held under the theme “Celebrating Legacy, Leadership and Community Impact.”.

He noted that the Jamaican diaspora in Canada is filled with extraordinary individuals who continue to strengthen communities while maintaining deep and meaningful connections to Jamaica. “The JDIA gives us an opportunity to celebrate their stories, honour their work, and inspire the next generation of community leaders.”

Describing her journey from Jamaica to Canada as one of courage, determination, and perseverance, Andrade said she migrated to Canada as a domestic worker, continued her education, and had a respected career in health care.

“I believe meaningful impact does not always begin on a stage; often, it begins through faithful service, through organizations that strengthen community, and through personal acts of encouragement, mentorship, and compassion,” said the retired registered nurse.

As the president of PACE Canada (Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education), Diana Burke has devoted decades to improving early childhood education and creating opportunities for some of Jamaica’s youngest and most vulnerable learners.

For her, leadership is ultimately measured not by titles or professional

accomplishments, but by the opportunities created for and through others. From

early childhood education to youth skills development and healthcare, her life’s work reflects a deep belief that investing in people is investing in our future.

Being raised in a family in Jamaica where the value of giving back was not only encouraged but expected, Henry said this early foundation shaped a lifelong dedication to service.

Her dedication to community development deepened through her extensive

involvement with nonprofit organizations such as Community MicroSkills Development Centre in Rexdale where she served for over 15 years on the board of

directors. Henry also worked with the Jamaican Canadian Association and CAFCAN (Caribbean African Canadian Social Services).

Dwayne Holness, the founder and creative director of Corex Creative Inc., built his multimillion-dollar cinematic brand storytelling agency from a side hustle. Corex has produced campaigns and films for several Canadian companies and institutions.

When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in 2025, Holness co-founded Jamaica Strong and raised over $20,000 in nine days for relief. He travelled to the country with a camera visiting St. James, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, and created Jamaica Strong: Rising After The Storm, a short documentary.

Dionne Sinclair is an internationally recognized certified healthcare executive, community builder, and financial literacy advocate whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, excellence, and empowerment across the diaspora.

She currently serves as vice president, clinical operations and chief nursing executive at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto.

Trevor Massey founded the Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) in Toronto, in 2012, as part of an initiative to recognize and celebrate Jamaica’s fiftieth anniversary of independence.

It is dedicated to leadership development and educational advancement for Black youth through its flagship programs, Leadership by Design, and SummerUp.

The awardees were selected after a public nomination process and evaluation by a panel of distinguished judges.

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