Tuesday 1 April 2025
At a ceremony held at the La Maison de la francophonie d’Ottawa, Ottawa Distinguished Women honoured two outstanding Black women in the national capital. Elder June Girvan received a Lifetime Contribution award while social justice advocate Ketcia Peters was honoured with a Community Pillars award.
June Girvan
June Girvan, O. Ont. is a leading social justice activist, philanthropist and gratitude practitioner in Ottawa. Her community building work began in service to her children. She has served as a mother, educator, and supervisory officer with the Ontario Ministry of Education. Of African, European, and Jewish descent in Jamaica, she hones her humanity in relation with the humanity of all children of the maple leaf, children of all human colours of the sun. She founded the J’Nikira Dinqinesh Education Centre – Every Child is Sacred, named for her children. She serves as president of Black History Ottawa, under the theme of Our Canadian Story: Legacy Worth Preserving and having the UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2014) adopted throughout the municipality, to advance Ottawa. She co-founded Ubuntu Collective Ottawa to engage community in our shared history, humanity and legacies, and the mathematics of ubuntu.
Ketcia Peters
Ketcia Peters is a Global Organizational Change Consultant, visionary leader, and entrepreneur committed to advancing equity, justice, and opportunities for marginalized communities. As a United Nations delegate, she shapes global discussions on racial and gender equity while driving transformative change through KP Group Inc. and North-South Development Roots and Culture Canada. With expertise in change management, trauma-informed coaching, and advocacy, she has influenced government policies, corporate strategies, and grassroots initiatives. Recognized as one of Canada’s 100 Accomplished Black Women, Ketcia continues to champion diversity, inclusion, and economic empowerment. As a Catalyst with Coralus, she is pioneering new models of economic empowerment for women-led businesses.
Ketcia currently serves as a Chair for GroYourBiz, a global peer advisory board dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized women-owned enterprises. In this role, she facilitates strategic discussions, fosters business growth, and empowers women entrepreneurs by providing them with a trusted network, mentorship, and access to valuable resources.
A true force for change, she is redefining leadership, sustainable development, and community impact—one bold initiative at a time”
