Editor
Good morning folks
It’s with a heavy heart that I send your greetings for the new year.. My family has been mourning the loss of my brother, Fidelis Ifedi, who passed away on 30 November 2016, after a long battle with lung cancer. Through our collective grief, I am using this medium to pay tribute to his life as a dec=voted family man and community activist. Our Top Story is dedicated to celebrating his life.
Out Interview features Cuban -born Yasmina Proveyer, supervisor with the Newcomer Information Centre at the YM-YWCA, Ottawa, who shares her life experience with our readers. Obituaries include those of Anita Harris, whose 100th birthday celebration in August was featured in our September edition. We also remember Stanley Grizzle, Canada’s first Black Citizenship Judge. Under Black Lives Matter, we bring you the tragic stories of four Black women cut down in their prime; the first case allegedly a homicide involving their own brother; in the second case, death came from an automobile accident.
AfroGlobal TV continues its path of excellence with its prestigious 2016 awards ceremony in Toronto. Kudos to former Ottawa natives Patricia Bebia and Moses Mawa, who have been spearheading this important event in Canada’s social calendar. On the volunteer scene, the Youth Services Bureau undertook a very successful “SleepOut’ fundraiser, to end homelessness in Ottawa. On the social scene, we report on a rather subdued Christmas celebration by the Igbo community in Ottawa.
Our newest entry is the Real Estate column, with a debut piece on current housing trends in the region by experienced realtor Michael Arthur. Regular columnist Dr. Helen Ofosu weighs in in her column, Building Resilient Careers on how to bounce back after losing one’s job.
Two Guest Columnist articles focus on the recent decision by Canada to feature civil rights icon Viola Desmond on the $10 bill, with September Anderson and Robin Browne offering their own insights into this major landmark in Canada’s history.
All these and more in the January edition.
Here is the result of the December 2016 poll:
Do you think that with Donald Trump as President, the relationship between the United Sates and the rest of the world would deteriorate?
Yes 100%
No 0%
Thank you to all who voted in this survey. Don’t forget to take part in the January poll:
Should people suffering from serious mental illness be forced to take their medications, to prevent them from harming themselves or others?
Remember to keep the letters to the Editor coming; your suggestions help us to continue improving the quality of this important community publication.
Stay blessed in the new year.
Godwin Ifedi
Editor
He’s Strong in YOU!
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3, NKJV)
Trials & Tribulation versus Strengths & Believe!
Brother Godwin,
We were created to live a blessed and fulfilled life. The truth is that we have to believe before we’re ever going to see something take place in the natural. We learn to look with the eyes of faith because the provision, the healing and the miracle that we usually need is already available in the supernatural realm.
Yes, one can go through fire and water, but our believes brought us to a place of abundance.
Everyone has times in life when they feel like they are going through the fire, or perhaps, feel overwhelmed with everyday life. But you my brother is the model of resilience, of strength and hope to stay in charge, to stay centered and most of all to resist discouragement.
You are a truly one of the silent HEROs
The scripture tells us that every person has been given a measure of faith. Faith can grow and increase or it can be diminished but your proof of faith is a model for non-believer and reminder for us to stay focus. You keep your faith active during every trials that 2016 throws at you and your family and today, I would like to take that opportunity to let you know that the community is with you, the community while giving you your due space was and will always be thinking of you. The community admires your strength and is telling you in 2017, Brother, Keep standing. Keep hoping; Keep believing because God will lead you into the life of victory He has for you!
Thank You for being you. Thank You for your vulnerability.
God will continue to help you win every battle because He’s Strong in YOU!
Blessings!
jocelyne
Thank you Jocelyn for your words of comfort. Your thoughts and prayers help to ease the pain of our grief.
Godwin