Toronto's 31-year long love affair with the memory of Bob Marley

Toronto marks Bob Marley’s 77th Birthday this Sunday

Eight-community leader to receive Bob Marley Day Humanitarian Awards

 

Information Bulletin  This is the 31st time that the city has honoured the late great Jamaican musician.  In previous years there have been public events held to mark the Reggae star’s birthday, this year it will be recorded at A Different Booklist Cultural Centre - The People's Residence.

 

The Award Ceremony – sponsored by Roots Canada - airs Bob Marley Day’s YouTube Channel on Sunday, February 6th at 3:00pm.

 
After the Proclamation issued by Mayor John Tory is read, we will honour this year’s recipients of the Bob Marley Humanitarian Award. 

 

Receiving awards this year will be:
 
1.Ian Allen (OBVC Board member and Director of Strategic Communications and Initiatives, Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat)
2.Steve Anderson (Deputy Mayor for the Town of Shelburne and a Regional Councillor for the County of Dufferin)
3.Deborah Cox (Award winning entertainer)
4.Gervan Fearon (President George Brown College)
5.Tiffany Ford (Entrepreneur, Former School Board Trustee and Community Advocate)
6.Siphesihle November (Principal Dancer National Ballet of Canada) 
7.Valarie Steele (Community Activist)

8.Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard (Canadian Senator from Nova Scotia)

 

The Bob Marley Day team is tweeting out the photos and bios of this year’s recipients, one at a time over the next three days. Our first tweet is below.

 

Bob Marley Day Toronto

@BobMarleyDayTO

Congratulations to Ian Allen on being named one of the 2022 Bob Marley Day award recipients. Ian is a @blackvoteCanada Board member and Director of Strategic Communications and Initiatives for the Ontario Treasury Board Secretariat #onelove

For information, interviews and photographs

Contact the Bob Marley Day committee

Bobmarleydayto@gmail.com

Wedneday is Bob Marley Day in Toronto

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THE DIVERSITY BUSINESS NETWORK and THE TORONTO BOB MARLEY COMMITTEE

Toronto Humanitarians to be honoured at Bob Marley Day ceremony - City Hall

TORONTO: On Wednesday morning it will be One Love in the Toronto City Council chambers as the council proclaims February 6^th, Bob Marley Day in Toronto. There will be live music in City Hall following the proclamation and the Bob Marley Committee will make Bob Marley humanitarian award presentations to eight well-known Torontonians

“This marks the 22nd year that the  City of Toronto has official declared Bob Marley Day (which began with former Mayor Art Eggleton),” said Courtney Betty, Chairperson of the Bob Marley Day Committee. “  Bob Marley said One Love.  So, each year we take time to honour the best of the best, people - acting in the diversity spirit of Bob Marley’s One Love,- who have worked hard to make our City a better place for all.  As the diverse population continues its tremendous growth, it becomes even more critical that the doors of opportunities are open to all. “

The Bob Marley Award Ceremony will be held in Committee Room 1 at City Hall (100 Queen Street) beginning at 10am. There will be a reception from 11am to noon, with live music by Barrett Brackin and the Band. Spoken word poetry will be performed by Al St. Louis.

Scheduled to receive the Bob Marley Award this year are:

Ben Hum - President and Co-founder of the NAAAP Toronto ((North American Association of Asian Professionals); Director of Business Development, Investwise Team, Dundee Wealth

Manuel Rodriguez - CEO and Founder of Unikron (leading video production company)

Marlon Reid - Vice President of Treasury Credit, Investment Banking, TD Securities

Pamela Appelt - Retired Judge of Court of Canadian Citizenship

Pradeep Sood- CEO of Starling Corporation; Founder of XactScribe  (Canadian based provider of Medical, Legal and Business transcription services)

Rowan Barrett - Executive Vice President of Senior Men’s Team at Basketball Canada

Scott Crowley - Regional Managing Partner of Advisory Services at MNP, LLP

Aubrey Drake Graham - Recording Artist, Universal Motown; Founder of OVO Records

Bob Marley is a global icon, a musical prophet, whose words and vision forever changed the world. His image and music evoke a rich legacy and emotional connection that transcends generation, ethnicity, gender, and geography. In today's high paced, tech-driven world, Bob Marley's message of unity, freedom, peace, empowerment and love have never been more relevant.

The public is welcome to attend the event. Media and guests are asked to register with the Bob Marley Committee, by email (Kara@diversitybusinessnetwork.com), phone 647-391-5272 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bobmarleydaytoronto

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For further information and to register:

Kara Lambie

Bob Marley Day Event Manager

Diversity Business Network

Toronto

Kara@diversitybusinessnetwork.com

647-391-5272

www.facebook.com/bobmarleydaytoronto

www.torontobobmarleyday.com (COMING SOON)

Issued by:

Stephen Weir

Stephen Weir & Associate

Toronto, ON

416-489-5868

416-801-3101 cell

www.stephenweir.com

It Is Not Very Often That Mayor Ford Gets Praised By Social Media

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (left), Councillor Doug Ford (middle) and Councillor Joe Mihevic at Carnival Parade 2011

ROB FORD PRAISED FOR RECOGNIZING BOB MARLEY IN TORONTO

It is not very often that people on social media sites like Facebook have something nice to say about Toronto mayor Rob Ford .... till yesterday. Courtney Betty founder of the Bob Marley Awards and Diversity Business Network sent a note around praising the mayor for making yesterday Bob Marley Day!
"This marks the 21st year the Mayor of Toronto has officially declared Bob Marley Day" wrote Courtney Betty. "In the proclamation the Mayor stated’ I Mayor Rob Ford, on behalf of Toronto City Council do hereby proclaim February 6, 2012 as “Bob Marley Day” and join with residents to salute a great musician and humanitarian.
According to Courtney Betty, founder of Bob Marley day; Toronto has come a long way in developing our Diversity. I am proud that Bob Marley Day has been able to serve as a connecting bridge bringing people together and helping us understand Bob Marley’s message of One Love, One Race, the human race”. Since its beginning policing and recognition of Police Officers has always been a focus of Bob Marley Day. Former Deputy Chief Keith Forde and present Chief of Police Peter Solely are both past Bob Marley Day award recipients. 

Courney Betty being photographed by Sway Magazine

Mr Betty continued by saying, "The advancements in diversity of Metro Police are a beacon for all other organizations to follow. We must also now build on our successes and develop similar strategies to ensure that the economic aspects of diversity are also developed. In this regard the Diversity Business Conference on March 23rd 2012, presented by Royal Bank of Canada provides a path for us to see how Toronto can be an economic beacon by fulfilling the City’s motto “Diversity Our Strength”.
www.diversitybusinessnetwork.com.