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Olympian Charmaine Crooks To Receive Ontario Black History Society Award

TORONTO, Ontario – Five-time Olympian, Charmaine Crooks, a Member of the Order of Canada, Olympic silver medalist and the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, will receive the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) and UN International Decade Award, on Sunday, January 31.

The current member of the International Olympic Commission (IOC) Press Commission will be honoured at the OBHS’s annual Black History Month Kick-off Brunch, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Founded in 1978, the OBHS has become one of Canada’s foremost organizational advocates, dedicated to the highlighting of African Canadian history and heritage and, is also the only Ontario Provincial Heritage Organization of the Ministry of Culture.

In addition to Crooks, seven other deserving individuals will receive tributes and high praise, at the OBHS Brunch, which celebrates African Canadian culture and, this year, marks the 20th anniversary of the official recognition of Black History Month in Canada.

Five-time Olympian, Charmaine Crooks

Five-time Olympian, Charmaine Crooks

Jamaica-born Crooks — the President of NGU Consultants Inc., a global strategic advisory company; and Director of several profit and non-profit Boards — was elected a Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1999 to 2004.

While there, she was on the IOC Athlete’s Commission from 1996 to 2011; the founding IOC Ethics Commission; the IOC New Media working group; and the IOC Culture/Education Commission.

She also served on the founding Boards of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

A longstanding Director of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Crooks is also the immediate past President of Olympians Canada, Honorary President of PASO Athletes Commission and former Vice President of the World Olympians Association.

A founding member of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid and a Board of Director, from the initial Bid phase through to the successful Games, Crooks also played an integral role in the Toronto 2008 Bid and the 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games successful Bid.

Awarded the 2006 IOC “Women and Sport Trophy”, in recognition of her efforts towards supporting gender equity in sport, she was inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame, BC Sports Hall of Fame and is the first female inductee into the University of Texas at El Paso Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2009, the freelance TV host and former host of “Cycle” and “Company of Women”, was recognized with the Jack Diamond Award as BC’s Sports Personality of the Year and has been named one of the “Top 50 Women of Power” in Canada.

The OBHS’s other inspirational and talented individuals, being recognised for their achievements in the arts and community service, are:

Sarah Onyango will receive The Mathieu DaCosta Award Award;

Barry Penhale and Jane Gibson will be honoured with The Harriet Tubman Award in recognition of their commitment to a purpose;

Former MP and former Ontario Fairness Commissioner, Hon Dr. Jean Augustine, will be recognised for Advocacy in Public Education with The Mary Matilda Winslow Award;

Sam and Rita Burke gets the Rev. Addie Aylestock Award for “Paving the way for others to follow”;

Senator Anne Cools will receive The Olivier le Jeune Award for trailblazing;

The Rose Fortune Award, exemplifying strength of character and firm resolve, will go to Norma Nicholson;

And award-winning chef and Pride News Magazine lifestyle columnist, Selwyn Richards, will be honoured with The Dr. Anderson Abbott Award in recognition of his high achievement.

Co-hosted by youth engagement specialist and motivational speaker, Mawuli Chai, and Tammie Sutherland of CityNews, this year’s OBHS event will feature the Honourable Jean Augustine as keynote speaker and Dr. Akua Benjamin and Kevin Junor will make special appearances.

The 2016 Kick-Off Brunch — which starts with a reception at 12:00PM and brunch at 1:00PM — will offer a four-course meal, shoppers’ market; silent auction and live entertaining performances by Blackburn and Andy Phillips, an international pannist.

Tickets to the event cost: OBHS adult members — $90.00; adult non-members — $100.00; and students — under 18 with current ID — $75.00.

For tickets and additional information contact OBHS at: (416) 867-9420 or online at www.blackhistorysociety.ca.

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