JC old boys host dinner, dance to support school

ON SATURDAY, March 10, the Jamaica College Old Boys Association (JCOBA) of Canada hosted their 30th annual dinner and dance.

The gala was held at the Pearson Convention Center in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, where patrons came out in their numbers to support JC.

More than 400 attended the elegantly appointed hall for what proved to be an excellent evening of fun and entertainment.

Judge Norman Hemming, of the Florida Chapter of the JCOBA, guided the proceedings. With the humour and stealth not usually associated with a judge, he separated the guests from their cash with well-timed and generously supported favourites like the balloon bursts, raffles and auctions.

The enthusiastic crowd was treated to a sumptuous buffet of Jamaican and Canadian cuisine. They were fixated on the reflections of the visiting principal, Wayne Robinson, and JCOBACA President Louis Robinson.

Both men spoke of the role the association has played in continuing the rich tradition of excellence at JC. Robinson thanked the association for its support.

The brief but captivating reports gave way to the entertainment of the evening. The Port Credit-based ska reggae band Arsenal took the patrons on a musical journey, transforming the room into a choir with hit after hit.

The transition between the live band and the Sunshine disco was seamless, and patrons danced into the wee hours of the morning. The only complaint of the evening was levelled at daylight saving time, which stood at the ready to steal an hour. The JCOBACA has been quietly supporting various projects at the school for the past 30 years.

In the past, proceeds from the event have supported the library, science and computer labs and sport teams. In 2017, the JCOBACA supplied JC with 350 graduation gowns and accessories.

This donation transformed the graduation, ensuring that cost would not be a barrier to graduation for otherwise eligible students.