NPA | Leadership

1997 | Vernon Farrell

After leaving Trinidad and Tobago to attend school in the United States, Vernon Farrell emigrated to Canada in 1965. He completed his M.Ed. at the University of Toronto and was a teacher and principal at several schools in the North York Board of Education. Since 1995 he has been the principal at Brookview Middle School where he has conveyed the vision that, "All students can learn. Validation of students’ life experiences and culture enables them to see themselves in inclusive curricula as subjects rather than objects." Vernon has been instrumental in motivating others to action through the renaming and adoption of a proactive agenda for The African Heritage Educator’s Network, including founding of the network’s "Focus" newsletter and "Project '90," a Saturday tutorial program in North York which has been embraced by the African community.

In his capacity as principal, Vernon introduced a mini-school system to bring staff, students and the community together to renew enrollment at Woodbine Junior High School (1987-1990). Since his appointment at Brookview Middle School, student "benchmark" scores have gone from the lowest in the North York system to an above system's average. Brookview School focuses on: strong academic leadership, high academic expectations, monitoring of students’ work, maintaining a safe and orderly school environment and parent involvement. The accomplishments of this school have been acclaimed and highlighted in the media and educational circles. In 1996, Vernon Farrell received the Harry Jerome Award for Leadership for outstanding contributions in the Black community.

1996 | Ahmed Samater

Forced to leave his family in a Somali refugee camp, Ahmed arrived in Canada in January 1989. Although he spoke English, Ahmed faced many less obvious cultural barriers. As a community activist and educator, Ahmed has worked to bridge the cultural and practical gaps between the Somali community and the wider community.

 
He created Midaynta (Association of Somali Service Agencies) which helps to reunite Somali refugees with their families. He also developed the Somali Family Support Centre in Flemingdon Park and a housing guide booklet in Somali. To empower Somali women and children he helped create the Somaliland Women’s Organization and the Somali Family Re-unification Project. Ahmed has also created community events to involve and educate both the Somali and wider community about the Somali culture.

 
At the national level, Ahmed represented the Somali community in a precedent-setting constitutional challenge of the section of the Immigration Act which requires that refugees produce a "satisfactory identification" document, presumably from the countries they were fleeing, to be granted "landed status". This work has far reaching implications in improving conditions for refugee claimants in Canada.

 

1995 | Alok Mukherjee

Arriving in Canada from India in 1971, Alok experienced disinterest in his Indian education and teaching experience, and a prevalence of racist attitudes in the community. As a result of this experience he became a community activist working for equity and fairness in educational, government and community organizations.

Alok is a partner of Partners in Equality and a member of the Doris Marshall Institute for Education and Action. With his philosophy that positive outcomes result from the collective work of many people, Alok served as Acting Chief Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He is a member of the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services and also serves as a member of the Board of Governors of Centennial College. In each of his roles, Alok acts as a facilitator, coordinator, co-worker and voice to create greater access to the services and a more open and accountable delivery of human rights in Ontario. He is active in several community organizations including the South Asian Fellowship, the National Association of Canadians of Origins in India and South Asians Fighting Against Racism. Alok is frequently called upon to speak and write on human rights, employment equity and anti-racist education issues.

 

1994 | Ezrom Mokgakala

Held in jail in South Africa for 180 days without trial, Ezrom was brutally interrogated, tortured and imprisoned for three years for being a member of an "unlawful" organization. In 1983, Ezrom fled from South Africa. Upon arrival in Canada, as a refugee, he began working as a community worked in the Jane/Finch corridor of Toronto. Ezrom began to take a leadership role in advocating policies and programs to assist newcomers in Toronto. He is co-chair of the Toronto Refugee Affairs Council; a Director of the Refugee Rights Festival; an editor of Refugee Voices; and a member of the Coalition for a Just Refugee and Immigration Policy; The Black Secretariat; Parkdale Community Health Centre; and the Council of African Organizations in Ontario. Currently, Ezrom is program worker at CultureLink providing critical support to newcomers in Toronto.

1993 | Annamaria Menozzi

A successful small business owner from Italy, Annamaria came to Canada and was faced with many of the same settlement problems that immigrants continue to face today -- language and cultural barriers, estrangement from family and friends, lack of recognition of work experience, education and credentials. Annamaria learned first hand that such an experience can shake your confidence and identity. Her leadership role in advocating for policies and programs to assist newcomers is rooted in this experience. Through her work, she has opened hundreds of training opportunities for women. She is a co-founder of INTERCEDE and ONESTeP. She has been Executive Director of the Working Skills Centre; President of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and a Director of the Social Planning Council of Metro Toronto and West Toronto Services. She is currently a Director of the Ontario Science Centre. Today, Annamaria continues her leadership role advocating for training for women as the Women’s Representative to the Ontario Training and Adjustment Board.