2024 Racial Justice Awards

You are invited to the 2024 Racial Justice Awards Night hosted by the Urban Alliance on Race Relations! Join us at The Estate Banquet & Event Centre for a night of celebration and recognition. Every year, we recognize 6 to 10 changemakers working to achieve racial equity in the sectors of Health, Labour, Government, Education, Arts, Media, Environment and Justice. Let's come together to honor those who have made a significant impact in the fight for racial justice.

This in-person event includes the award presentation, a buffet dinner, a networking reception, keynote speakers, special performances and more. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support and celebrate achievements within the equity community!

All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting our Diversity Youth Fellowship program, enabling racialized youth to get paid experience working in municipal governments and at various public policy making organizations across Canada.

Award Winners

Amira Elghawaby - Racial Justice in Government

Amira Elghawaby, a journalist and human rights advocate, became Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia in January 2023.

Prior to her appointment, she was a contributing columnist at the Toronto Star, offering frequent media commentary on equity and inclusion. Amira, with a background in strategic communications and campaigns, previously worked at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and held roles in Canada's labour movement and the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

Amira has been actively involved in initiatives countering hate and promoting inclusion, including as a founding board member of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. She has served two terms as a Commissioner on the Public Policy Forum’s Canadian Commission on Democratic Expression and currently sits on the National Security Transparency Advisory Group.

Amira’s 2019 TedX Ottawa talk is titled “Multiculturalism: Worth Defending.”

Ingrid Waldron - Racial Justice in Environment

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University. Her research focuses on environmental and climate justice in Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities, mental illness and dementia in Black communities, and COVID-19 in Black and South Asian communities. Ingrid is the author of the book There’s Something in the Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous and Black Communities, which was turned into a 2020 Netflix documentary of the same name and was co-produced by Waldron, actor Elliot Page, and Ian Daniel. She is the founder and Director of the Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities and Community Health Project (The ENRICH Project) and helped develop the federal private members bill a National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice (Bill C-226). Bill C-226 was approved at Senate on June 13, 2024 and becomes the first environmental justice law in Canada. Dr. Waldron’s new book entitled From the Enlightenment to Black Lives Matter: The Impact of Racial Trauma on Mental Health in Black Communities, was published on November 25, 2025. It traces experiences of racial trauma in Black communities in North America and the UK from the colonial era to the present.

Amanda Parris - Racial Justice in Media

Amanda Parris is a critically acclaimed and award winning writer, tv host and producer. Her theatre play OTHER SIDE OF THE GAME received the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama and her short play THE DEATH NEWS won the 2022 Canadian Screen Award for Best Writing, Web Program or Series and was published in the anthology 21 Black Futures.

For six seasons, she hosted the Canadian arts television series, CBC ARTS: EXHIBITIONISTS and was awarded the 2022 Canadian Screen Award for Best Host. Amanda is also the writer behind the award winning CBC Arts column BLACK LIGHT and the creator of the hit CBC Music R&B radio show MARVIN’S ROOM which she hosted for five years. Amanda is the creator and showrunner of the comedy series REVENGE OF THE BLACK BEST FRIEND. It was an official selection at the 2022 Canneseries Festival and won the 2023 Canadian Screen Award for Best Web Program or Series, Fiction. In 2024, she released the globe-trotting six part documentary series FOR THE CULTURE WITH AMANDA PARRIS on CBC Gem which she created, executive produced and hosts.

Her short film THE DEATH DOULA won the 2021 Best Short Film Award at the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival.

Amanda received the inaugural Changemaker Award from the Canadian Screen Awards for her efforts to call out systemic racism in the Canadian media community and she was awarded the ACTRA Sandi Ross Award for her work in diversity and inclusion.

Prior to her shift into film and television, Amanda worked for years in community organizing, arts and education, co-founding the alternative education organization Lost Lyrics and working at The Remix Project.

South Asian Legal Action Centre (SALCO) - Racial Justice in Justice

SALCO is a legal clinic that supports low-income South Asian people in Ontario, providing services in a number of areas of law including immigration, tenancy, employment, income supports, and more.

SALCO’s mandate is to improve access to justice for low-income South Asian communities. SALCO provides direct legal services in Ontario, public legal education across Ontario and Canada, and is involved in many community development and law reform initiatives to advance the rights of low-income South Asian communities.

Since receiving permanent funding, SALCO has become a leader on issues of access to justice within racialized communities. They work with thousands of clients a year and also advocate for reforming laws that negatively impact our communities. They are the only clinic in all of Ontario that provides legal services in multiple South Asian languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Bangla, Tamil, Kannada and Punjabi. Their advocacy includes dismantling the impact of intersecting forms of discrimination on all life outcomes for racialized communities including systemic racism and Islammophobia. SALCO also supports many people facing gender-based violence (GBV) in direct legal services and in large-scale systems change to better serve South Asian people facing GBV.

Vanessa Stoby - Racial Justice in Labour

Vanessa has been a passionate and dedicated Secondary School teacher in York Region for 14 years. In her current role within the Provincial Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation’s communication and political action department, Vanessa works tirelessly to protect and enhance public education and empower workers across Ontario and Canada.
Vanessa’s dedication to equity is evident through her four-year tenure on the Equity Advisory Group for Provincial OSSTF, where she created and delivered impactful workshops on Racial Justice, Cultivating Resilience, and Poverty and Class Bias. As the founder of the Black Youth York Region group and co-founder of the York Communities for Public Education coalition, Vanessa has been instrumental in combatting discrimination in all its forms within York Region and the Greater Toronto Area. Her work with Black Youth York Region has been recognized with an Ontario Trillium Grant.
Her contributions to equity and inclusion were honored with the Bromley Lloyd Armstrong Award in 2022, while an Executive member of the Toronto York Region Labour Council. She also was awarded with a Governor General’s Canadian Leadership award and attended the Conference in 2022.

Vanessa’s academic background includes a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning.

Camille Orridge - Racial Justice in Health

Camille Orridge is the former CEO of the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TC LHIN), one of 14 health regions that was responsible for planning and managing local health care services. In this capacity, Camille was responsible for the overall budget of $4.2 billion with 170 providers including hospitals, long-term care homes, and community agencies. Camille was also accountable for shared services for all 14 LHINs. The collection of health equity data was a significant accomplishment and while there, Camille led initiatives to implement and advance health equity data in order to use the data to inform policy and programs. Camille retired from the TC LHIN in the fall of 2015.
Earlier in her career, Camille held various positions at the Home care Program for Metropolitan Toronto and in early 2007, went from there to the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre as the CEO. A not-for-profit corporation funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Toronto Central CCAC had a budget of $190 million, a staff of 480 and served a population of close to 1.5 million residents in the city.

In both of those roles, Camille focused on developing equity data and continued her passion for an equity driven health system. This also included advancing this work outside of a paid role. Being a founding member of the Black Coalition for Aids Prevention and co-founder to Pathways to Education are just two examples of Camille’s dedication in this area.
In retirement, Camille continues to be involved in social policy advocacy groups, including the Federal Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare, working with Ontario Health to develop an equity framework and data governance structure, and a Senior Fellow at the Wellesley Institute. With many years’ experience as a creative leader,
Camille continues to mentor and promote the abilities of the next generation of leaders in the health and community care sectors. Camille has received many accolades and awards for her passionate advocacy for equity for all and through that developing strong and inclusive communities. Most recently, Camille received a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, 2022 from the University of Toronto, for being a pioneering health-care leader and promotion of a more equitable and just health system.

Hannia Cheng - Racial Justice in the Arts

Hannia Cheng is an artist and cultural worker who has a wholesome inter-arts practice based out of Chinatown Centre since 2018. At the ripples of relationships and reciprocity, art is the common ground on which they share stories, placemake, and forage for the sparkle that exists in the greater unknown of our daily lives.

Hannia has been awarded grants from the Canadian Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and more. They co-founded Unit 270, a DIY gallery and multi-purpose grassroots community hub in Chinatown Centre. Hannia has previously collaborated with Luminato Festival, Manifesto Festival, ArtworxTO, Unit 2, Long Winter, and more. They have been organizing with Friends of Chinatown Toronto since its inception in 2019. Most recently, they were re-elected to serve a second term as the co-chair of the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust.

Shannon Simpson - Racial Justice in Education

Shannon Simpson is Anishinaabe and Scottish and is a member of the Michi Saagiig of Alderville First Nation. She has been working at the University of Toronto since 2003 in a variety of positions, including over a decade at the Indigenous Student Services at First Nations House. In 2020 she joined the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and is currently the Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives of this institutional office. In her role as Senior Director, Indigenous Initiatives, Shannon works closely with the Provostial Academic Advisors of Indigenous Research and Indigenous Curriculum and faculty members in areas such as mentorship, curriculum development, and protocols for community-based research involving Indigenous peoples. She deepens the learning of the non-Indigenous U of T community by supporting the expansion of Indigenous cultural competency training to all students and employees. She also oversees the development of the annual progress report to assess the institution’s progress in meeting its commitments to reconciliation, identified by a U of T steering committee of Elders, Indigenous students, faculty members, and staff in the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report. She has played pivotal roles in the realization of the renovation of First Nations House (home to the Indigenous Student Services for Indigenous U of T students) and the Ziibiing landscape project, a place for learning, teaching, and ceremony at the centre of the St. George campus. Shannon championed the recent Indigenous tuition Initiative at U of T which covers the cost of tuition for members of nine neighbouring First Nations as well as offering domestic tuition rates to Indigenous students from provinces outside of Ontario and from the continental US.

Prior to joining U of T, Shannon spent 6 years at Anduhyaun Inc., an Indigenous organization in Toronto that offers shelter, second stage housing and crisis support to Indigenous women and children recovering from the traumas of violence and houselessness. She served on the board of Na Me Res (Native Men’s Residence) for a decade and currently sits as a volunteer community council member for Aboriginal Legal Services (17 years). She is co-chair of the Community Council at the Toronto Birth Centre, where she has volunteered for 9 years. Shannon is the proud mother of two amazing teens.

Kirk Mark - UARR Agent of Change

Kirk Mark commenced his career in the fields of social services and business and worked in agencies and corporate Canada (banking, life and health insurance industries) for over fifteen years. He applied those skillsets in the field of educational administration, thereafter, whereby, as a senior staff, he was responsible for the development of various ethnocultural committees, equity policies, curriculum initiatives and community capacity development plans to address the needs of a large multicultural and multiracial school board in the City of Toronto. As an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, he has developed and implemented strategic solutions within corporations, communities, and school boards with extensive travel to and liaison within the Caribbean, Europe, The Continent of Africa and the United States of America. His areas of expertise, while residing in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario, are: Systemic Change Management, Development of Boards of Directors, Professional Learning, Equity and Inclusive Education, Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy, Student-Athletic Development, Sports Administration, Parent and Community Capacity Development. Mr. Mark has presented his work, as an author, lecturer and educationalist, to local, national and international audiences such as: the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), Cheikh Anta Diop Conference, and The University of Toronto’s De-Colonizing the Spirit Conference, and various corporate boards and tertiary levels of education. As a community volunteer, he shares his expertise as: Immediate Past President – Canadian Caribbean Amateur Golfers Association; President - The Canadian Alliance of Black Educators; President – Toronto Basketball Association; Member of the Board of Directors - The Urban Alliance on Race Relations; and recently, as a founding and past member of the Toronto Catholic District School Board African Canadian Advisory Committee, to name a few. Some of his past Board experiences are: Founding Member -Willowdale Community Legal Clinic; Vice-Chair: Caribbean Cultural Committee (Caribana); Secretary: The West Indian Volunteer Association, Etobicoke; and President: Basketball Ontario. In addition to being listing in Who’s Who in Black Canada (2002, 2006, 2010 Editions), as well as receiving numerous accolades, a few of his awards include but not limited to: The African Canadian Achievement Award for Excellence in Education, The National Alliance of Black School Educators (Ft. Worth, Texas Chapter) Education Award, The UMOJA Award for Outstanding Community Service (Quebec), The Human Rights and Race Relations Centre Gold Medal Award (Ontario), The Hispanic Canadian Alliance of Ontario Appreciation Award (Toronto), The Toronto Basketball Association Award of Excellence, the Canadian Samaritans for Africa Award, and the 2024 City of Brampton Black History Month Award. As a result of cumulative experiences, Mr. Mark offers educational, business and sport development services through the consulting firm KIRK MARK & ASSOCIATES.

Performers

Kathleen Zaragosa

Kathleen Zaragosa is a Filipina music performer who has been captivating audiences since the early age of 4. Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Kathleen curates songs with messages that she believes must be shared with others, imbuing her acoustic renditions with a tone both gentle and powerful. Her love for music has also led her to pursue language research; offstage, Kathleen is an MA student at OISE focusing on Philippine heritage language learning in Canada.

Rithika & Maya Jeristus, Bharatanatyam dancers

Rithika Jeristus and Maya Jeristus are accomplished Bharatanatyam dancers who have been passionately pursuing this classical art form since the age of 5 under the tutelage of Kalaikovil Academy of Fine Arts. Their dance journey is deeply rooted in tradition and continues to grow as they advance in their training.

The sisters have showcased their talent in over 200 Bharatanatyam performances across Canada and the United States. They have performed for notable dignitaries, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as for esteemed political leaders and international artists. Their performances range from solo acts to duets, group pieces, and captivating dance dramas, including video productions.

Rithika and Maya actively use their art to give back to the community. They have participated in numerous fundraising charity events, contributing to organizations like the Canadian Children’s Foundation, SickKids Hospital, and global initiatives supporting underprivileged children.

In 2019, the sisters delivered a thematic repertoire titled "Annai – Mother" to raise funds for cancer care. Their exceptional performance helped collect $8,500, which was donated to the Canadian Cancer Society to support cancer research.

For their unwavering dedication to community service and their contributions through Bharatanatyam, Rithika and Maya have been recognized and honored by leaders including the Mayor of Toronto, the Mayor of Markham, and local councillors.

In July 2023, Rithika and Maya achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing their Bharatanatyam Arangetram (graduation ceremony), a testament to their years of rigorous training and devotion.

Currently, Rithika is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a BSc in Health Studies and Population Health with minors in Statistics and Biomedical Ethics. Maya, a Grade 12 student at Bill Hogarth Secondary School, is preparing to embark on her journey in law.

The sisters continue to inspire others with their dedication to Bharatanatyam, their community contributions, and their academic aspirations.

Yasmin Said, Spoken Word Artist

Yasmin Said is a Toronto-based writer, spoken word artist, competitive athlete, and advocate for equity and inclusion. With over 10 years of experience in writing and performance, Yasmin uses her platform to raise awareness about social justice, representation, and global change. As a Muslim hijab-wearing athlete, she has dedicated her career to advocating for the increase of representation Muslim women in sports, working with organizations like Hijabi Ballers along with her roles as a coach at EmpowerHer Simbas and previous Head Coach at the Muslim Association of Canada's Scarborough Basketball Program. Yasmins advocacy has been featured on major Canadian news outlets such as CBC News, CTV News, and Breakfast Television, as well as in prominent ad campaigns with Nike and the Toronto Raptors, where she engages in important conversations about racial equity in sports. Yasmin was also featured in "A Capsule for Change," campaign a collaboration between the Toronto Raptors and Hudson’s Bay, where 100% of the net proceeds were donated to promoting racial equity in Canada.

As a writer and spoken word artist, Yasmin’s work has reached tens of thousands on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With her words speaking to social justice, representation, and equity, empowering others and creating change. As a student at the University of Toronto, Yasmin has had her research on racial health disparities both at the University of Toronto and has been internationally recognized at Harvard Medical School. Yasmin’s efforts advocacy extend beyond sports and writing. Where she was a key member of the City of Toronto x National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) Community Advisory Committee that helped launch the Toronto for All: Action Against Islamophobia campaign, a city-wide initiative previously on bus shelters throughout Toronto and was invited to perform front of city councillors along with City of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.

Yasmin continues to strive to be an advocate for Muslim women, equity in sports, and the importance of representation, both on and off the field. Through her writing and performances, she remains committed to breaking barriers and creating spaces where all voices are not just heard but valued.

UARR Presentation - 50th Anniversary and Strategic Priorities

As we celebrate UARR's 50th anniversary, we are excited to share our strategic priorities for the next 10 years!

1. Employment and Economic Opportunity

Goal: Foster Inclusive Workspaces and Economic Opportunities

As we see increasing income inequality and cost of living in our country, it is important to acknowledge that racialized communities are impacted by this the most. We must directly support those experiencing income inequality while working to remove barriers that hinder racialized communities' economic advancement.

Our goal is to increase equitable access to employment by tailoring our supportive programming and resources while also advocating for policy changes that address systemic barriers in employment. Workers rights are human rights, and strong anti-discrimination legislation and supportive policies are needed to ensure employers are not taking advantage of our most vulnerable community members.

Human rights and racial justice should be central in shaping workplace environments, and we will continue to support our union partners as they represent and defend the needs of workers. Through our partnership with SHARE and the Investors for Racial Justice initiative, we are also looking at investments and capital flows that support racial justice, emphasizing the need for investors to prioritize racial equity in their portfolios.

2. Education

Goal: Promote Racial Equity in Education and Research

We will continue on our mission to ensure that all students, from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary education and apprenticeships, have the opportunity to succeed. This means addressing the deep-rooted racial disparities that exist within our educational systems, including the school-to-prison pipeline.

By promoting inclusive curriculum and anti-racist pedagogies, we can disrupt historical educational barriers and create more inclusive learning environments for students and teachers alike. We need academic institutions and research labs that work to reflect the needs and experiences of marginalized communities. More collaboration with advocacy organizations and academic institutions is needed to increase research that deepens our understanding of racism in our communities.

3. Communication

Goal: Expand Public Awareness and Reach to Amplify Our Stories

In our increasingly digital world, it is important for us to meet communities where they are at. Expanding outreach channels to best connect with people is critical to most effectively tell our communities’ stories of struggle, vistories and ongoing challenges.

We will utilize communication channels—both traditional and digital—to build solidarity, relationships, and a deeper understanding of racial justice issues. Through innovative and collaborative strategies we will aim to share more articles, research, and resources that align with the organization’s mission, while increasing the circulation and impact of content that amplifies marginalized voices. Amplifying our stories and narratives is critical to counter the very targeted attacks on anti-racism work in Canada.

4. Community Engagement and Outreach

Goal: Building Community Capacity and Convening Towards Change

To achieve equity, every individual needs to be empowered to contribute to the fight for racial justice. By building the capacity of grassroots organizations and advocates, we aim to increase knowledge, skills, and networks that will empower communities. Through community building and education, we will be helping communities build power.

We want to create more intergenerational opportunities for connection that support collective action. This includes supporting experiential learning, creating opportunities to explore our communities past while empowering our future. Investing in and fostering grassroots movements will be vital in creating lasting change that leaves no member of our community behind. We will work to ensure that marginalized communities are equipped with the resources needed to drive progress toward racial justice.

By strengthening social bonds and enhancing access to educational and skill building opportunities, we will foster a more unified, resilient community that can effectively address the systemic racism that persists in our institutions and communities.

5. Truth and Reconciliation - Relationship Building and Supporting Calls to Action

Goal: Strengthen our Solidarity and Action Towards Truth & Reconciliation

We will continue working in solidarity to strengthen support for reconciliation efforts. This includes promoting the learning of Indigenous histories, knowledge and perspectives within racialized communities. We will continue to actively support the Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, ensuring that our advocacy and programming align with the principles of justice, healing, and reconciliation.

Our goal is to support further collaboration between Indigenous and racialized communities in the fight to create a more inclusive and just society, centered on mutual respect and healing. We are dedicated to supporting initiatives that advance reconciliation, integrating Indigenous cultural practices and knowledge systems into our efforts. We will work to ensure that these critical issues remain central to the movement for racial justice.