When: Thursday, February 29th, 2024 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm ET

Where: The Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G3

Complimentary food and drinks will be served.

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Schedule of Events

6:00 -7:05pm....Appetizers and drinks will be served

7:05-8:30pm.....Recognition ceremony

8:30pm..............Ceremony concludes

Please join us at our second annual Black Health Leaders Awards Ceremony, in honour of outstanding Black leaders in public health and health systems in the Greater Toronto Area.

The intention of the Black Health Leaders Awards Ceremony is to amplify and celebrate exceptional leadership and impact, while inspiring future leaders. In addition to going above and beyond in their roles, this year’s recipients of the Outstanding Black Leadership in Public Health and Health Systems Awards have also demonstrated meaningful support of those around them including future generations of health leaders. As we gather to spotlight Black achievements and the contributions of these leaders, we also honour the legacy of Black communities and celebrate their futures.

The ceremony will begin with a spoken word performance by Amoya Ree. We will then be joined by Kofi Frempong, a visual artist who will create a visual art piece during and inspired by the ceremony.

Recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Black Leadership in Public Health and Health Systems Awards:

Corey Bernard, Director of Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism at Ontario Health

Corey Bernard is the Director of Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism at Ontario Health. Corey has many years of experience leading the development and implementation of equity-advancing strategies into health care organizations at multiple levels of the Ontario health system, including the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN), Health Quality Ontario, North York General Hospital and other community hospital settings. Corey is a strong advocate for community-based organizing and engagement, and is committed to serving community by increasing equity and justice. Some of Corey’s volunteer-member affiliations include The Anti-Racism External Advisory Group for the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH), The Black Health Equity Working Group, and The Black Experiences in Health Care Symposium Planning Committee (2017 and 2020).

Delilah Ofosu-Barko, Director, Institute for Better Health (IBH) Operations; and President, Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards

With over 16 years of experience, Delilah is passionate about the education, engagement and promotion of health research, innovation and improvement. Recognized as a national and international solution-focused leader in Research Administration and Operations Delilah builds and maintains synergistic, dynamic and highly-engaged teams of leaders. Leveraging strategic networks, Delilah is committed to enhancing the enabling supports and services for health research, innovation and improvement, including the tools, processes and approaches to effectively manage research, innovation and improvement activities at the corporate, provincial and national level.

Leading the operations of the Institute for Better Health, Delilah is enhancing the enabling services available to researchers, innovators and project leads across Trillium Health Partners. She is an active member with the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards, as the current President and Co-Director, Conference Planning; Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research and the Canadian Association of Research Administrators. Delilah lends her expertise to the Peel Institute of Research and Training (formerly the Peel Institute on Violence Prevention) as a Senior Research Advisor, Scientific Committee Member, and Governance Committee member. Previously, she served as a Research Methods Tutor and Guest Lecturer for the Mississauga Academy of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Her research interests include public accountability and responsibility in health research, innovation and improvement with a particular interest in health research, innovation and improvement governance and accountability frameworks.

Angela J Carter, Advisor, Strategic Initiatives and Lead for the Black Health & Social Services Hub, Roots Community Services; recently Executive Director, Roots Community Services.

Angela Carter’s quest is to uplift others, and she has done so for more than 40 years in her professional life as well as through volunteering with various organizations. Angela retired at the end of 2023 from the position of executive director of Roots Community Services Inc. (RootsCS), an organization that inspires, empowers and motivates individuals, primarily from the Black, African and Caribbean communities, to make positive changes in their lives and within their communities. Although retired, she is still involved with RootsCS as Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, leading the development and implementation of the proposed integrated Black Health & Social Services Hub.

Angela actively advocates for the advancement of Black and other racialized communities and works tirelessly to break down systemic racism and other barriers that continue to negatively impact members of these communities. She currently co-chairs the Anti-Black Racism & Systemic Discrimination collective in the Region of Peel, the BAC Community Health & Wellness Collective and the Mississauga Ontario Health Team’s Mental Health and Addiction Planning Table as well as represents RootsCS on a number of committees in Peel, Halton Region and Toronto that are seeking equity and equality for all.

A social and behaviour change advocate, Angela has a deep interest in how various cultures develops and evolves and believes in the active participation of communities in shaping policies that impact their wellbeing. She is passionate about reducing poverty and helping people attain a quality of life that brings joy and prosperity to them and their community. This passion has taken her to more than 20 countries, including India where she volunteered at a school in Punjab and conducted training sessions with the management board at a hospital in that state.

Angela has a strong corporate background working in the financial sector as well as in leadership positions in journalism and as general manager of the Cricket Legends of Barbados. These experiences, coupled with many years of voluntary service in the Greater Toronto Area and Barbados, have given her valuable insight into balancing the business needs with the human side of the social service sector.

Angela also volunteers with Catalyste+ through which she has worked with First Nations communities in Northern Ontario and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She is the board chair of the Ontario Nonprofit Network and of Central Park Baptist Church as well as a board director of FOCUS Accreditation. In previous years she held positions such as board chair of Telecare Distress Centre Brampton and was actively involved in the United Way of Peel Region, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the Association of Professional Fundraisers (AFP), the Brampton Board of Trade, Correctional Services Canada, and the Rotary Club of Barbados.

Over the years, Angela has received many awards for her voluntary and professional work, including the 2023 Naseem Somani Memorial Leadership Excellence Award from the Brampton Board of Trade, the 2023 Civic Award of Recognition from the City of Mississauga, the Ontario Volunteer Service Award 2022 and, most recently, she was named as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian (ABC) Women for 2024.

An avid lifelong learner, Angela has taken courses in various disciplines. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from York University, Ontario, and a Master of Professional Communication degree, with specialization in Intercultural and International Communication, from the Royal Roads University in British Columbia.

Angela is the mother of two daughters, grandmother of four and great-grandmother of two.

The evening will feature live art and spoken word performances by:

Amoya Reé (she/her) is a Jamaican-Canadian performance poet and 2018 Canadian National Champion. Her writing is rooted in her lived experiences as a Black Woman, mother, community worker & arts educator. Exploring the cultural significance of things like race, mothering and love, she often blends historical fact with present realities, making for a poetic experience that is both informational and inspirational. She began exploring performance poetry in 2008 & since then she has shared her stories in classrooms & boardrooms across Ontario. Affectionately known as Reé, she sat as captain of the 2018 Toronto Poetry Slam team who were the 2nd Canadian team to ever reach semi-finals at the National Poetry Slam in Chicago and led the team to victory, winning the Canadian National Championship in Guelph, Ontario. She has had featured performances at the coveted When Sisters Speak (2019) and at Toronto Poetry Slam (2019). The 2021 Toronto Grand Slam Champion was recently awarded the 2023 Black Pearl award, recognizing her as one of the top 100 Black Women to watch in Canada. Reé is currently working on her debut collection funded by the Ontario Arts Council and the coveted Canada Council for the Arts titled, “I Never Asked you to Love me”.

Kofi Frempong, a Toronto-raised visual artist of Ghanaian descent, invites you to experience the captivating beauty of the African diaspora through his warm and vibrant acrylic paintings. With over three decades of artistic experience, Kofi's passion lies in creating safe spaces that nurture love, learning, laughter, and endless possibilities. Since establishing his art business in 2014, he has dedicated himself to the belief that art is more than just a commodity; it is a profound expression of life and a conduit for love.

Beyond his artistic endeavors, Kofi is deeply committed to supporting young, emerging artists. He serves as a mentor and arts educator for Vibe Arts For Children And Youth, sharing his wisdom and guidance to shape the next generation of creative minds. Kofi has also collaborated with various organizations, including the TDSB TCDSB Toronto Public Library and The Children's Aid Society, to promote art as a valuable tool for mental health. Leveraging his background as a community Health Worker spanning over 16 years, Kofi merges his passion for art with community building. He uses his strong relationships to create access and opportunities for those in need. Notably, he founded Freedom Fridayz, a monthly community event that fosters collaboration, celebration, and support.

With a strong presence on social media, Kofi excels in cultivating meaningful dialogue, forging connections, and nurturing a culture of communal love. His impactful presence has earned him recognition and accolades, including being selected as a CBC Arts Canadian Artist of the Month and being featured on prominent platforms such as the Oprah Winfrey Network and Discovery Plus' Profiled: The Black Man. Kofi's artwork has graced prestigious venues such as the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) and Art Expo New York, captivating audiences with its vibrant energy and profound storytelling. His captivating pieces have also been showcased in galleries both locally and internationally. Kofi proudly serves as a brand ambassador for The Hustle Never Dies, a lifestyle brand that champions community, excellence, and style.

However, Kofi considers his greatest accomplishment to be the inspiration he instills in his two daughters, nurturing within them a deep appreciation and love for the arts. He invites you to immerse yourself in the boundless love and passion he pours into each and every piece. By joining him on his artistic journey, he hopes you will discover your own artistic voice and embrace a world suffused with love.

Experience the transformative power of Kofi Frempong's art and let it awaken your own creative spirit.