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TORONTO, Ontario Tuesday, February 28, 2017 — The City of Toronto, today, the final day of Black History Month, authorized the naming of a street in a new Scarborough sub-division in honour of a Black pioneer in Canada’s radio broadcasting industry.
“Jolly Way” will commemorate the exceptional contributions to Canada of Brandeis Denham Jolly, a Jamaican-Canadian businessman, publisher, broadcaster, civil rights activist and author.
Cigar-smoking B. Denham Jolly seen in his younger days.
Jolly Way is located near the southwest corner of Midland Avenue and Ellesmere Avenue, in a residential neighbourhood under development by the Goldman Group.
“It is most appropriate that approval to name a street after Mr. Jolly has come through today, the last day of Black History Month 2017,” said Councillor Michael Thompson, Chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee.
“Mr. Jolly has been instrumental in giving voice to the culture, achievements, challenges and aspirations of Toronto’s Black and Caribbean communities when few channels for such messages were available,” Thompson added.
In his long and distinguished career, Jolly published the newspaper Contrast, founded and led the Black Business and Professional Association, and spoke out on social justice issues as a member of the Black Action Defence Committee.
Jolly launched Canada’s first Black-owned radio station, FLOW 93.5, which actively promoted Canada’s Black musicians and provided opportunities for Black Canadians in the radio industry.
In 2005 FLOW won the Station of the Year Award in the Contemporary Hit Radio category at the Canadian Music Week Industry Awards.
Jolly, who recently published his memoir, “In the Black: My Life”, has served on the Board of the Toronto International Film Festival.
He is the recipient of the Black Media Pioneer Award; the African Canadian Achievement Awards of Excellence(ACAA) for Excellence in Business in 1998 and in 2011, the Lifetime Achievement Award; and the Canadian Urban Institute’s City Soul Award. In 2007 he was presented with a Black History Award from the Markham African Caribbean Association.
Temporary street signs for Jolly Way are being prepared, with permanent signs slated for installation when the subdivision’s construction is completed.
