Constance E. Hamilton Award on the Status of Women
Liliana Angarita
In 2001, Liliana arrived at Pearson International Airport with her husband and young daughter. The family had been forced to leave Colombia after her husband Mario's job as a corruption investigator led to serious threats against the family's life. The threats were realized when their daughter was shot and seriously injured. With help from the International Red Cross, the United Nations and the Canadian Government, the family were able to enter Canada as protected persons. When Liliana and her family arrived in Toronto, they were given winter jackets and taken to an emergency refugee shelter. After this experience, Liliana decided to dedicate he life to helping people who faced similar circumstances.
In 2003, Liliana co-founded Casa de las Americas, to help new arrivals to Canada who had similar experiences to hers. In 2004, she co-founded the Collective Human Rights Defender Laura Acosta Corporation. In 2007, it merged with the Canadian Human Rights International Organization (CHRIO). Liliana currently works as a human rights activist for CHRIO. Officially, Liliana serves as the Community Centre Director. Whether it is providing women with domestic violence counseling or ensuring their safe arrival at an emergency shelter, Liliana works tirelessly to make a positive contribution to the community that she serves. She also oversees the allocation of furniture and clothing to women and children that attend the CHRIO Community Centre.
In her efforts to improve the social, economic, cultural and political status of women in Toronto, Liliana's days are spent advocating on their behalf and connecting them to vital services such as Ontario Works, Legal Aid Ontario and the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. Liliana is also a source of inspiration to other young women in her community. Her daughter Lillian, now aged 14, serves as the director of the CHRIO Youth Employment and Human Rights program. Since arriving in Canada, Liliana and her husband continue to educate the public on matters relating to rights and responsibilities and human rights.
In 2011, Lilliana was recognized as one of Canada's top 25 immigrants by Canadian Immigrant Magazine. She also was nominated as one of the ten most influential Hispanic Canadians by Olga Umaña and Marioni Riascos.
Access Award for Disability Issues
Ruth Ruth Stackhouse
Ruth Ruth Stackhouse is the founding director of Friendly Spike Theatre Band, a community theatre of psychiatric survivors and people with disabilities. Based in Parkdale, the company is known for its tenacious spirit and for promoting the cultural recognition of the experience of life on the margins of society.
Founded in 1989 with fellow actors Ken Innes and Miles Cohen, the company is named after two dogs, Friendly and Spike. Says Ruth Ruth: "When we started the company, we wanted it to be a welcoming place. Who better to welcome people than two playful and loving dogs?"
After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York in 1981, Ruth Ruth returned to Toronto to connect with other individuals who had stories of survival and resistance. She turned these stories into theatre, art and learning. Tackling difficult issues and showing exemplary leadership, she transformed some difficult moments in history into community theatre productions.
- 'Angels of 999' (2000), a production on patient labour at CAMH, was written, directed and acted by psychiatric survivors.
- 'Girls of Grandview' (2002) tells the story of sexual abuse endured by young women at the girl's-only facility.
- The Dega and the Delbasid' (2010), a play located in a time where the aged and the disabled were revered in a different way than they are in our current time.
- 'The Walls Are Alive with the sounds of Mad People' (2011) is a theatrical tour around the patient-built walls of the CAMH grounds at Queen and Shaw Streets. It was presented as part of Jane's Walk 2011, the MAD Pride Festival 2011, and at the unveiling of memorial plaques that tell the story of the walls.
Ruth Ruth has also contributed the 'Labouring' installation — a visual documentation of women's labour and contribution to the psychiatric institution — part of the Ryerson School of Disability Studies "Out From Under: Disability, History and Things to Remember".
In addition to community theatre, Ruth Ruth has been a fully committed activist sitting alongside paid community workers to address issues facing persons with a psychiatric history, disability and violence against women. Ruth Ruth has worked in the Parkdale community with groups such as PAVE (Parkdale Anti-Violence Working Group) and as co-chair of the MAD Pride events in Toronto from 2003 to 2010. For individuals who have struggles with experiences of institutionalization, labels of mental illness, poverty, discrimination and social isolation, she is able to use her personal journey to bring out their own stories, help them find their voice and empower them in ways that no institution is able to do.
Having received an Honours BA from Ryerson University in 2011, Ruth Ruth is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Critical Disability Studies at York University.
William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations
Leonard A. Braithwaite Q.C.
When the provincial riding of Etobicoke was created in 1963, Leonard Braithwaite was elected as its first MPP. He served from 1963 to 1975, making him the first Black person elected to a parliament anywhere in Canada.
Leonard was born in Toronto in 1923. He attended Harbord Collegiate. In 1943, he enlisted in the R.C.A.F., serving first in Canada and later with No. 6 Bomber Command in Yorkshire, England.
Following the war, Mr. Braithwaite graduated from the University of Toronto (Honours B. Comm., Commerce and Finance). He went on to Harvard University for his Masters in Business Administration. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1958, and was a Gold Key winner and president of the student body that year. In 1999, Mr. Braithwaite was the first Black person to be elected to the governing body of the Law Society of Ontario.
Braithwaite became active in local and regional government affairs, being the first Black person to be elected to the Etobicoke Board of Education (1960 - 1962), and to Etobicoke Council (1962 - 1964) and later to the Etobicoke Board of Control. He was the second Black to serve on Toronto Council (1982 - 1988). He was a founding member of Etobicoke General Hospital's Board of Governors and served on several other Boards of Governors in the G.T.A., including the Canadian National Exhibition Association (1982 - 1988).
For over 25 years, in Etobicoke, Mr. Braithwaite sponsored various girls and boys sports teams, all known as the "Braithwaite Legal Eagles", in soccer, baseball, hockey, T-ball and lacrosse.
Mr. Braithwaite qualifies as one of Toronto's leading citizens. He has distinguished himself both in his profession of law, and in his community service at three levels of government (Provincial Legislature, Metro Toronto Council and Etobicoke Council and Etobicoke Board of Education). His contributions to his community and to Canada have opened many doors for many minority young people and have fostered a better understanding between the residents of Toronto, Ontario and Canada. Mr. Braithwaite was appointed as a Member of the Order of Ontario in 2004 and as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1997.
Pride Award for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual and Two Spirited Issues
David Kelley LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Counselling, Family Service Toronto
Laurie Chesley, Manager and
Bhisham Kinha, Program Assistant
David Kelley LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Counselling Services (DKS) has been providing superb and much needed service by and for the LGBTQ community for the past 15 years through Family Service Toronto (FST), one of the city's largest and oldest social service organizations.
DKS is one of only a few such programs across Canada specifically serving the LGBTQ community. It grew out of the 1996 merger of the Toronto Counselling Centre for Lesbians and Gays and Family Service Toronto. The late David Kelley was a founding member of the former Toronto Counselling Centre for Lesbians and Gays.
Family Service Toronto works to strengthen individuals, families and communities through counselling, education, social action, advocacy and community development and to work with partners to build a vibrant community and social services sector.
DKS directly contributes to improving the quality of life for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in Toronto by providing high quality, professional counselling to over 400 clients annually with a modest staff complement. Clients seek help with a range of concerns, predominantly relationship issues, anxiety, depression, stress, and coming out - all of which are related to their experience of living with oppression and marginalization. Other professionals regularly refer clients to DKS in recognition of the value of its services. In responding to community need, DKS develops innovative programming such as the recent group for couples, called Hold Me Tight: Conversation for Connection — an eight-week workshop series for LGBTQ couples.
DKS is also a centre of training and learning. Social work students at the Masters level annually choose DKS for their placement, in order to develop solid counselling skills and to become more informed in work with LGBTQ communities. This provides key educational and training services to the university sector across Ontario. In 2009, DKS introduced a paid internship in LGBTQ counselling that is available to agencies elsewhere in Canada. This helps strengthen their ability to serve the local LGBTQ community, a further testament to the broad impact of David Kelley Services.
DKS actively involves volunteers who have an interest in strengthening their community. Qualified social workers volunteer several hours a week of their personal time to deliver counselling to clients. This makes a significant contribution to the well-being of their community, enhances professional learning and increases the program's capacity to serve clients. Since 1996, over 25 volunteers have provided counselling for a period of at least 2-3 years. Volunteers also serve on the Community Advisory Committee, providing invaluable consultation and recommendations to the program and the agency.
Aboriginal Affairs Award
Rob Lackie
Rob Lackie is Inuk and has been described as a "personal billboard" of information on the Aboriginal community in the GTA. He is a highly motivated individual who leads through advocacy and by example. Since 1989, Rob has worked with the Aboriginal Community and has also served on several boards and committees such as the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts, the Aboriginal Sport & Wellness Council of Ontario and Na-Me-Res (Native Men's Residence). His strategic ideas are broad-based and cut across political divides; his work with Aboriginal agencies in Toronto has provided positive change for the community.
Others describe Rob as "putting a face" on Aboriginal community events. Rob encourages a community spirit by being a strong proponent of cooperation. Quite often he is known to say "Let's all work together to achieve the same goals and provide the best chances and opportunities for all of our people." At Centennial College, Rob has been involved in creating an Elders Council to inform the Aboriginal Strategy for Access and Participation. The Council is setting a new direction for protocols that respect Indigenous knowledge and Aboriginal sovereignty. Current and future Aboriginal postsecondary students will benefit as they engage in their studies, while Elders inform educational decision makers.
Still others point out that Rob Lackie makes a difference. A key objective for Rob is to offer Aboriginal youth the tools, knowledge and skills needed to empower them as future leaders in their chosen careers and communities. Grounded in highly technical computer methodologies and software, plus Inuit cultural values, he contributes as a mentor and role model for civic engagement.
Rob's teamwork with schools and local agencies has established community-based programs that support students at risk in literacy and numeracy at the elementary and secondary levels. His work on parent support programs has provided Aboriginal parents with the knowledge and skills they need for effective parenting and school engagement. Activities such as "Aboriginal Voices in the Classroom" school visitation program, Aboriginal role model program and "Debwewin", a student leadership program have all lead to more positive educational aspirations.
