TORONTO, Canada, Feb 8, CMC – The University of the West Indies (UWI) says it will honour five leaders of Canadian and Caribbean origin during its seventh annual Toronto Benefit Gala on April 2.
UWI said it will honour Dr. Vivienne Poy, the first Canadian of Asian descent appointed to the Senate of Canada, the Jamaican born Dr. Shirley Thompson, the first woman in Europe to have composed and conducted a symphony in the last 40 years, and the former Trinidad and Tobago professional golfer Stephen Ames.
In addition, UWI will also honour the group, the Barbadian Dr. Paul Steinbok who is recognized internationally as a leader in pediatric neurosurgery, the Jamaican-born businessman and philanthropist Wesley Hall and the company Food For The Poor Inc.
UWI said that Poy, who served as Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 2003 to 2006, will receive the G. Raymond Chang Award that was established to honour outstanding individuals who exemplify the leadership and ideals of G. Raymond Chang, who was recognized as an outstanding business leader, philanthropist and served as the Gala’s patron for five years.
The Luminary Award to be presented to Thompson, is given to people of Caribbean heritage who are outstanding achievers on an international scale in their respective fields or people who have brought to prominence issues, which affect the Caribbean.
She is the first woman to compose and musically direct music for a major drama series at the BBC and is a Reader in Music at the University of Westminster and a freelance composer of music for TV, films and the theatre.
Dr. Steinbok, who will receive the Vice Chancellor Award, is the Head Emeritus of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the BC Children’s Hospital and a full Professor at the University of British Columbia, in the Department of Surgery. His medical areas of interest are the surgical treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy, epilepsy surgery in children and looking after children with craniopharyngiomas, a relatively uncommon type of brain tumor.
The Barbadian academic received his medical training at the University of the West Indies and an honours degree at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Dr. Steinbok completed an internship in Toronto and a residency in neurosurgery in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in Neurosurgery in 1977. He has also provided professional assistance in neurosurgery at hospitals in the Caribbean.
Ames made his Hoerman Cup debut in 1980 at the age of 16 and turned professional in 1987. In 2004, he enjoyed his first PGA Tour victory, reached the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and was awarded the Chaconia Medal, Trinidad & Tobago’s second highest honour.
UWI said he initiated the Stephen Ames Cup, an international Ryder Cup style competition that pits CJGA Team Canada against Team Trinidad & Tobago and co-hosts an annual charity golf tournament for kids.
Hall is founder of Kingsdale Shareholder Services, the leading firm in the growing area of outsourced strategic shareholder communication. He has over 20 years of experience in corporate governance and shareholder communications.
Hall is a founding member of the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries (CSCS) and is involved in other corporate governance and investor relations organizations. He is an industry expert in proxy solicitation, depositary, corporate governance and other shareholder related initiatives and has been involved in some of the highest profile deals and proxy contests in North America. His generosity has enabled cancer care for children in the Caribbean.
Ames and Hall will also receive the Vice Chancellor Award.
UWI said that the Chancellor’s Award will be presented to Food For The Poor Inc.
“This award is given to organizations, which have contributed significantly to the Caribbean, or outstanding organizations owned by persons of Caribbean heritage,” it said noting that the organisation has done tremendous work in Jamaica, Haiti, and Guyana.
The Gala will be held under the theme “Light, Learning and Liberty” with the UWI noting that most of the 70 people who have received scholarships under the project have graduated with first class honours.