The City of Brampton is home to a rich mosaic of community and culture. The city is working to break cultural barriers and make every citizen feel appreciated and represented. This sentiment was definitely shared this week (August 6th, 2019) as Jamaican Canadians from across Brampton gathered at City Hall to celebrate 57 years since the land of their birth and heritage gained independence from Great Britain.
The occasion was marked with the raising of the Jamaican flag, accompanied by speeches from many outstanding Jamaican Bramptonians including “honourary Jamaican”, Mayor Patrick Brown, who declared August 6th to be “Emancipation Day” in the City of Brampton. There was also a special appearance by Mayor Brown’s son Theodore, who was sporting a Jamaican onesie in honour of the event. Councillor Charmaine Williams, who is of Jamaican heritage, shared an inspiring story of how she came to be the first black female elected to Brampton City Council.
The event included a spoken word poetry performance by Colin Brown on what Jamaican independence means to him. There were fantastic reggae and ska steel drum performances and authentic Jamaican food, which guests were invited to enjoy at the end.
The celebration was organized by the United Achievers Club. The United Achievers Club is a non-profit organization that seeks to “provide avenues through which people from the Caribbean and Black communities can freely express their background and heritage, and contribute to the multicultural blend of the Peel Region.”
Also deserving of special recognition is Peel District School Board Trustee for Wards 3 and 4, Kathy McDonald, for the undeniable energy that she brought as Master of Ceremonies.
Editor: Shantel Watson
