George Brown College alumnus Chris Campbell was honoured for his community leadership at the 2024 Black/Caribbean Community Impact Awards.
A graduate of the Carpenter General Apprentice certificate program, Campbell currently serves as President of Carpenter's Union Local 27 and Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Carpenters' Regional Council. He is also a member of the George Brown College Foundation Board of Directors.
Campbell accepted the Leadership Award at the Impact Awards ceremony held at Memorial Hall in North York on October 19. The awards, organized The Caribbean Camera and the Black Indigenous Business Development Association (BIBDA), celebrate the achievements of outstanding Caribbean people.
A commitment to supporting students
In 2023, Campbell created the Chris Campbell Perseverance Award, a scholarship supporting exceptional full-time students who are Black, Indigenous and people of colour enrolled at the Angelo DelZotto School of Construction Management and the School of Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades at the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies.
The scholarship helps learners who demonstrate passion and commitment both in their field of study and their extracurricular activities.
George Brown College supports the Impact Awards
George Brown College President Dr. Gervan Fearon delivered greetings via video, thanking the Toronto Community Benefits Network, the Indigenous Benefits Association and the Caribbean Camera who worked to make the third-annual Community Impact Awards happen.
"Our support for the Impact Awards comes easily," said Dr. Fearon. "We see first-hand how supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce benefits the collective. Families prosper. Communities grow and the economies of Canada and our Caribbean partners collectively thrive."
Dr. Fearon noted that George Brown College has built strong ties with governments and business groups worldwide, including those in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia and Guyana.
George Brown College is also a member of the Canada Caribbean Institute, he noted, which further enables post-secondary institutions to share resources and information and together confront and work to resolve social, economic and environmental issues.
"These partnerships enhance our research and innovation efforts," he said. "They also enrich our students' learning experience."
George Brown College has partnered with a range of Caribbean institutions, Dr. Fearon added, "in fields as diverse as early childhood education and the manufacturing sector."
Dr. Fearon offered praise for the individuals being honoured with Impact Awards, "who overcame barriers to succeed and thrive. They hail from the arts, business and education sectors. In Toronto, in Ontario, in Canada, our prosperity, our unity and our excellence is only enhanced by their contributions."
The crucial role of the Impact Awards
The Caribbean Impact Awards play a crucial role in fostering cultural pride, encouraging social change and strengthening community engagement within the Caribbean region. They celebrate the resilience and creativity of the Caribbean people while inspiring future generations to contribute positively to their communities.
Through these awards, the Caribbean narrative is enriched, creating a platform for voices that deserve to be heard and celebrated.
