Woman who writes history
Because of the importance of celebrating Black women, the SIFN team created the VIOLA DESMOND award. This award is in honor of Mrs. Viola Desmond’s fight for the civil rights of Black communities in Canada. Not only is she the first woman, but the first Black woman appearing alone on a $10 vertical note.
Each year, this award will highlight the contribution of a Black woman who led the way with her work, her convictions and her perseverance. A woman who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of women at a time when she was not always allowed to take her place.
2023 Award Winner : Mrs. Marjorie Villefranche
Mrs. Marjorie Villefranche, Montréal (Québec)
Ms. Villefranche is the general director of Maison d'Haïti, a feminist activist, who has dedicated for more than 40 years to the education and defense of immigrant women and asylum seekers. The fight against racism, discrimination and all form of exclusion are part of his daily life.
Six years ago, she was nominated as a member of the Commission on Human and Youth Rights, by the National Assembly of Quebec. Then she was honored with several awards including, Honorary Citizen of the city of Montreal in 2021, Great Builder of the city in 2017. Personality of the week, La Presse, Radio-Canada in 2012, Marjorie Villefranche is currently one of the most influential voices in her field.
2022 Award Winner : Mrs. Taylor Lindsay-Noel
Taylor Lindsay-Noel is a 28-year-old entrepreneur from Toronto. She is owner of Cup of Té Luxury Loose Leaf Teas which was just featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things List 2020!
14 years ago she was a Canadian national gymnast but in 2008 under the coercion of her coach she had a devastating accident that instantly paralyzed her from the neck down for life. Since then Taylor has persevered through adversity and has received a BA in Radio and Television Arts from Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson University).
She is currently balancing being a motivational speaker, disability advocate, council member of the Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity. She recently was also announced as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Black Business and Professional Association Harry Jerome Awards, Canada’s most prestigious award celebrating black excellence.
2021 Award Winner : Mrs. Honourable Jean Augustine
Jean Augustine immigrated to Canada in 1960. Before embarking on a career in politics, she worked as a nanny, teacher, principal, and later chair of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority while raising two girls. In 1993, she became the first Black Woman elected to Parliament, then Cabinet Minister and Deputy Speaker – successfully championing the Black History Month and Famous Five Motions such as “That this House take note of the important contribution of Black Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, the diversity of the Black community in Canada and its importance to the history of this country.”
In March 2007, the Ontario government appointed her the province’s first Fairness Commissioner. The Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC) ensures that qualified foreign-trained professionals (e.g., in medicine, teaching) can get the required licences to practise in the province. Now retired, along with service via her Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment; she is working hard to raise much-needed funds to fully endow the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at York University to help drive social justice policy for generations to come.
2019 Award Winner : Mrs. Celina Caesar-Chavannes
Celina Caesar-Chavannes is an independent member of Ontario’s Whitby constituency. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, an MBA in Health Management and an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management. Before embarking on a career in politics, she was an entrepreneur, consultant and an international speaker.
Through the many leadership positions, she has held within councils and organizations, Mrs. Caesar-Chavannes has addressed important issues facing the Black community to Canadian Parliament such as the micro-aggressions and racism that Blacks experience, especially Black Women in Canada. Mrs. Caesar-Chavannes also dared to speak openly about mental health issues in Black communities, a subject which is still a taboo.
2018 Award Winner : Dr. Yvette Bonny
Mrs. Bonny is a pediatrician and hematologist from the first generation of Haitians who arrived in Quebec in the 1960s. She was the first Black resident at Sainte-Justine Hospital, and, in 1980 was the first to perform a bone marrow transplant on a child in Quebec.
