Ililli Ahmed proudly displays her award with June Girvan, Acting President Black History Ottawa
Ililli Ahmed proudly displays her award with June Girvan, Acting President Black History Ottawa                               Photo copyright Black Ottawa Scene

Saturday 27 January

Ottawa’s Colonel By Secondary School has a habit of producing a crop of outstanding Black student leaders. This year was no exception as one of their students,  Ililli Ahmed, was  easily the star of the 2018 Black History Month launch held at Ottawa’s City Hall. This amazing young woman came away with two awards: the 2018 Black History Ottawa Community Builder award for Youth leadership, and first prize in the 2018 RBC Royal Bank Black History Month essay competition.

Ililli’s citation for the Community Builder award read:

At a time when we highlight the many achievements and valuable contributions made by people of African descent, we deemed it fitting to publicly recognize your extensive volunteer work, specifically your leadership as Co-President, Black History Month Showcase; President of the Inter-sectional Feminism Club at Colonel By Secondary School; your membership of the City’s Youth Engagement Committee, as well as your other volunteer leadership initiatives.

Her Black History Month essay was titled: A Testament to Black Canadian Women: The achievements and legacy of Kathleen Livingstone.

All photos copyright  Black Ottawa Scene