The Afro-Caribbean Cotillion is an annual  School of Afro-Caribbean Dance initiative, held this year on Saturday April 6th, 2013 in the Imperial Empress Ballroom of The Centurion Conference and Event Center. The Afro-Caribbean Cotillion event is a formal ball at which young women of African or Caribbean descent between the ages of 15 and 22 are presented to the greater community after training and guidance by volunteer Mentors who are specialists in the areas of e.g. social graces & etiquette, life skills and youth empowerment and so much more. The cotillion experience has helped countless young women gain the poise and knowledge needed for all kinds of social events, job and college interviews, national and international travel and ultimately, success in their adult life.  Afro-Caribbean Cotillion Protégés had been in preparation since January and had worked to gain added confidence and enhanced respect for themselves as they learned to dance, become articulate and at ease in social situations with the support of our various volunteer community mentors and as a result become well prepared and respected young adults in their own communities.  Among the distinguished guests were Senator and Mrs. Don Meredith, community activist and mentor Sarah Onyango, Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant Debbie Miller and Jamaica Ottawa Community Association President Joanne Robinson. With the theme: Sharing the wisdom to plan, the courage to execute and the beauty to adorn”, the event featured: proteges presentation, Cotillion dance by proteges and cavaliers and a three course dinner. Speakers included Senator Don Meredith, Ms. Gina Hargitay (Miss Jamaica World 2013; Miss  World  Caribbean  2013), and Cotillion director Suzan Lavertu.

Photos by Debbie Miller