Local News

Dr. Carole Chauncey and Dr. Akua Benjamin

By RON FANFAIR

Just days after Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly offered an apology to former Africville residents and their descendants for the demolition of their community nearly five decades ago, bigots set a seven-foot cross on fire with a noose attached to it on the lawn of an inter-racial couple in rural Nova Scotia, about an hour's drive from Halifax.

These events occurred during Black History Month in February that celebrates the accomplishments of Black people.

Mary Anne Chambers

By RON FANFAIR

She has served with distinction in every facet of public life. It's not surprising therefore that former Ontario Minister Mary Anne Chambers is being honoured with a YWCA Woman of Distinction award for community service.

"This is quite an honour," said Chambers who will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Toronto in June. "The YWCA does some wonderful work, specifically with women and young people. So to be recognized by them means a lot."

Patrick Robinson

Law will remain an area of underachievement in Jamaica once it's in the imperial embrace of the British Privy Council, says International Criminal Tribunal president Patrick Robinson.

Like most of the British Commonwealth, the Privy Council has been the final court of appeal in Jamaica and most Caribbean countries since 1833. The Caribbean has its own final appellate court - the Caribbean Court of Justice - which only adjudicates cases from Guyana and Barbados.

Samuel Getachew

By RON FANFAIR

Almost everything that Samuel Getachew's Zambia-based mother, Aster Admassie, puts her hand on seemingly turns to gold.

It's for that reason that the 33-year-old Ethiopian immigrant filed his nomination documents on her birthday last February 18 to run in this October's municipal elections.

He's challenging Paul Ainslie in Ward 43 (Scarborough East).

"She's very lucky and I hope some of that runs off on me," says Getachew, who in 2006 unsuccessfully attempted to become an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee.