Date of publication: Monday 1 September 2025
Jamaica’s 63rd Independence celebration in Ottawa
by Dave Tulloch
The Jamaica-Ottawa community celebrated the 63rd anniversary of Jamaica’s independence on August 6, 2025, with the traditional Flag-raising ceremony held at the Ottawa City Hall.
In 1962, the year Jamaica became an independent nation, it sent a diplomatic delegation to Canada to establish a High Commission Office in Ottawa. Jamaica was the first Caribbean Island to institute this level of diplomatic presence in Canada. And although the principals of this historic event have since passed on, some of the children from the McNamee family who were witnesses to the inception of this diplomatic mission are current residents of the City of Ottawa.
Each year, the Jamaican Independence Day flag-raising event is staged at the City of Ottawa and in many other cities across Canada where there is a Jamaican Diaspora. In Jamaica, Independence Day is not just a holiday for celebratory activities; it is marked by weeks of many different events culminating in the Grand Finale on August 6.
The Jamaican Ottawa Community Association, in conjunction with Jamaica’s High Commission, currently headed by Jamaica’s High Commissioner, Her Excellency Mrs. Marsha Coore Lobban, marked this year’s ceremony with reflections and exhortations to the Jamaicans in Ottawa who attended with other guests at the Ottawa City Hall. The August 6th Flag-raising ceremony was preceded by the annual Church service held this year at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, followed by the August 9th JAM Day event at the Boys and Girls Club facility at 1770 Heatherington Road.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe addressed the audience, primarily composed of the Jamaican diaspora, and other dignitaries, including Ottawa’s Police Chief Eric Stubbs, Deputy Chief Paul Burnett, and Mrs. June Girvan, President of Black History Ottawa. The mayor highlighted the positive impact that Jamaicans in Ottawa have made on Canada’s capital city, the richness of the Jamaican culture, and the contribution made by many Jamaican immigrants to Ottawa. Madam Sylvie Bedard, Director General of Global Affairs Canada, spoke about the historic ties and the continuing amicable partnership between Canada and Jamaica, as well as the resilience of this ongoing relationship between the two nations. Then, High Commissioner Coore Lobban, in her remarks, highlighted Jamaica’s impact on Canada and its Global presence despite it micro-size as a nation, spurring the Jamaican attendees to echo the common saying that supports her statements, “wi likkle but wi tallawah” translates to “we are small but strong”.
Jamaica has a population of approximately 3 million people, with an ethnic demographic of some 95%, identified as being black or mixed African descent. This is approximately three times the size of Ottawa’s population of 1.017 million, based on 2021 census data.
Although the precise number of Jamaicans in Ottawa is unclear, Ottawa’s black demographic is 8.5% of its population (2021 Census). And about 1%, 8,500 of Ottawa’s Black population identify themselves as being of Jamaican heritage. This makes the Jamaican community in Ottawa one of the largest ethnic subsegments of the city’s Black population. It is also noteworthy that Jamaicans were among the earliest groups of black immigrants to the city of Ottawa.
Jennifer Dennis, a member of the Jamaica-Ottawa Community Association (JOCA) Board of Directors, extended thanks to all who were in attendance.
To conclude the ceremony, the High Commissioner performed the ceremonial flag-raising task to signal and commemorate Jamaica’s 63rd year of being an independent nation.
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From the Jamaican High Commission in Ottawa
Thursday 7 August 2025
Dear Members of the Diaspora and Friends,
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported and participated in this year’s Independence and Emancipation Day celebrations. Your presence and enthusiasm truly made the events memorable and meaningful.
For those who were unable to attend, please find attached anniversary messages and photos from the celebrations so you can share in the joy and spirit of the occasion.
We look forward to welcoming you next year as we continue to celebrate our heritage together.
With gratitude and warm regards,
Jamaican High Commission
