Photo courtesy: Ottawa Citizen
Ewart Walters – citation
With a lifetime passion for justice, strong journalistic skills, and a talent for writing, Ewart Walters edited and published “The Spectrum,” Ottawa’s Black-community monthly newspaper, for 29 years ending 2013 while working full-time as a Federal public servant. As a defender and promoter of the rights of Visible Minorities in Canada mainly through his newspaper, it was an enduring contribution to the City of Ottawa.
Described as “a committed individual with an effervescent personality that allows him to speak truth to power” Ewart is a champion of community support through media and cultural diversity. He has been involved in a range of activities and organisations designed to bring unity and progress to the city he calls home. His contributions to Ottawa’s Black community began in 1964 as a co-founder of the West Indian Association of Ottawa, and expanded as one of the creators of Black History Ottawa; Harambee Canada, which replaced the National Black Coalition of Canada; the National Council of Jamaican-Canadians; and the National Council of Visible Minorities.
A triple-gold medallist prize-winner of Seprod Awards for Excellence in Journalism, Mr. Walters graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in 1968 and received his Master’s degree in 1979. In 1965-66 he served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Carleton, becoming the first Black editor of this weekly student newspaper. He hosted public affairs programs for Ottawa Cablevision and CKCU-FM 93.1 Mr. Walters has published five books, most recently completing a history of Jamaica’s journey from colonialism to Independence, We Come From Jamaica: The National Movement 1937-1962. He also served as a diplomat in New York and this city for six years.
Mr. Walters retired from the Public Service in 2010 to focus on his writing. He has received many awards including the Order of Distinction, Commander Class, from the Government of Jamaica; the Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Keepers Award, and several other local, provincial and national level honours.
