MANDELA AWARDS HONOUR CAMPBELL AND SHARPTON
On the same stage where Nelson Mandela became an honorary citizen of Canada some 15 years ago, a group of awards named after the iconic human rights leader were presented to fashion model Naomi Campbell, African-American civil-rights activist Al Sharpton and other individuals who have achieved success through empowerment.
The 2016 Black History Month’s Mandela Legacy Awards dinner drew a crowd of about 200 to the Canadian Museum of History on Saturday, where Mandela’s grandson, Zondwa Mandela, handed the first award of the evening to Campbell, a close friend of the Mandela family, for breaking down racial barriers in the fashion industry.
Campbell has refused “to see her skin as an obstacle to becoming one of the world’s most achieved supermodels,” said Mandela, who highlighted her fearlessness, strength and perseverance (putting aside for a moment that Campbell is also one of the most beautiful women ever to strut this Earth). “Tonight, we don’t just celebrate a supermodel, we celebrate a super woman,” Mandela said.
In accepting her award, Campbell told her audience: “I’m committed to changing perceptions in our industry so that diversity is normal rather than the exception to the rule.”
The gala, which included live drumming, singing and amazing acrobatic dance, recognized both black community leaders and their allies.
Present were such honourees as Canadian television host Tyrone Edwards and such local broadcasters as Sabine Daniel and Barbara Laurenstin, along with 18-year-old Mitch Kurylowicz, the driving force behind Project Jenga, and Peggy Taillon, founder and president of HERA Mission.
ONE LAST ST. PADDY’S DAY PARTY
The main concern at the Irish Embassy was that it had sent out 1,000 invitations to its annual St. Patrick’s Day Reception but only 2,000 people turned out.
Or so went the joke made by Irish Ambassador Ray Bassett as he and his wife, Patricia, welcomed a packed house of guests to their official residence in Rockcliffe on Friday. It was the last time Bassett, who took up his post here in September 2010, was to host the quintessential Irish holiday in his role of foreign diplomat.
The couple has become known for opening up their beautifully renovated and spacious home as a venue for charitable causes, allowing a wide range of local groups to collectively raise more than $2 million over the years.
He’s gone “above and beyond,” Irish-born businessman Pat Kelly, co-owner of the Heart and Crown group of pubs and of Bradley-Kelly Construction, told Around Town. “We’ve had a lot of good ambassadors and good people but we’ve never had anyone like this.”
The ambassador had many folks to thank, as well as good Ottawa friends to remember, like the late Charlie Logue, Dave Guilfoyle and Cecilia Kavanagh. He took a moment to praise his wife, whom he credited for being “at the forefront of opening up this place for charity events.”
The ambassador returns to the Emerald Isle in August. What he will miss most about Canada is its people.
“Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends,” said Bassett, quoting famous Irish poet W.B. Yeats.