The Honorable Mr. Justice Donald Mcleod received the Inaugural Martin Luther King Award at the 20th Anniversary MLK Celebration

BY: SHAUNA-KAY CASSELL

The Honorable Mr. Justice Donald Mcleod received the Inaugural Martin Luther King Award on Saturday, January 12^th, 2019 at the 20^th Anniversary Martin Luther King Celebration held at Apple Creek Community Church, in Markham, Ontario. Over a thousand attendees gathered for the free celebration. The program was inclusive of the Inaugural award celebration, and MLK Oakwood scholarship presentation organized by Pauline Christian, Executive Producer of the 20-year-old-event, around  the theme, “Unity Matters, Collectivity Empowers.”

The celebration commenced with a procession. The Pathfinder Club, Police Officers, and dignitaries, walked through the church taking their seats in the front rows. Ms. Rhonelle Patrick, of Praising Hands, sung the Canadian and Black- American National Anthem, which enraptured the room. Next, there was a video clip of the Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Free At Last” Speech. Right after, the Masters of Ceremonies, Michael Pinball Clemons and Karlyn Percil-Mercieca took the stage, ever so fashionably and contemporary, welcoming everyone. They moved right into the program, calling up dignitary after dignitary. The stream of government representatives and community leaders were as follows: Members of Parliament, Celina Caesar-Chevannes and Ahmed Hussen, Member of Provincial Parliament, Mitzie Hunter, and Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti Scarpitti. Also present were: Chief Mark Saunders, Toronto Region Police and Deputy Chief Robertson Rouse, York Region Police. There were community dignitaries, including Chris Campbell, Carpenters Union, and Nadine Spencer, President of Black Business Professional Association.

Greetings came from all levels of government that evening. Celina Caesar-Chevannes, Liberal MP for Whitby honored Ms.Christian in the form of an award. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, also brought greetings from the Honorable Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, as well as to announce the Government of Canada’s funding initiatives. “$9 million is being invested over three years to fund projects that respond to key concerns of black Canadian youth…in order to affect their full and equitable participation in our society,” the Minister explained. “Another $13 million will be geared towards New-Comer Women, and $6.5 million will go towards research development, leading to evidence based policies.”

Chief Mark Saunders, Toronto Region Police graced the stage with his meek presence. “You never know what greatness comes from,” says the Toronto Police Chief. “We have to support one another and inspire one another. When equality becomes an action word, we are getting somewhere,” maintained Saunders. The inspirational messages rolled off the tongues of our Canadian leaders, and rested on the heads of all those in the pews. 

After a performance from the New Genesis Gospel Chorale, and the keynote guest speaker, Dr. Leslie Pollard, D. Min., Ph.D.; MC Pinball Clemons, introduced the man-of-the-hour, The Honorable Justice Donald McLeod, as his friend. “Things are less about me, and more about us,” began McLeod, who had just been handed the glass-like Inaugural Award. “We have to get there together.” McLeod talked about his community of supporters that was always there for him. His mother and sister; and when he married, his supporters became his wife and son. “There were always three,” McLeod pointed out. The Honorable Justice expressed that he grew up in the church, and knows all too well the importance of prayer. “We get through struggles when we pray. There is strength in our numbers.” McLeod, who admitted that his speech was more informal, talked about a conversation he had with his son earlier that evening, which made us all feel connected. That evening felt like unity and collectivity actually ignited a magical experience of power within the room. We were, connected.

The presence of so many black Canadian leaders; Judges, Police Officers, MPs, MPP, Union members, and business association representatives was living evidence that MLK’s dream had come true in 2019. It was evident that these leaders were all standing. “I’ve learnt from the time I was young, that I must stand,” reminded the Honorable Judge in his speech. The celebration certainly cultivated a force within all of us. As we came together as a community to celebrate McLeod’s triumphs, unity had made us stronger. The MLK celebration serves as a reminder that, MLK’s dream is being realized in each of us, each and every day. In unity, and as a collective body, we can take leaps to achieve the impossible for our community.