Ken Campbell and Joanne Robinson honoured at Martin Luther King Jnr Day celebrations
Monday 15 January
About 100 Ottawa residents braved the bitterly cold minus 33 degree temperatures to honour two of our most prominent community leaders, during the annual Martin Luther King Jnr Day celebrations at City Hall on Laurie Avenue. Ken Campbell, long-time President of Jaku Konbit and Joanne Robinson, Events Coordinator, Black History Ottawa, were the recipients of the 2018 Dreamkeepers Community Leadership awards. Joanne, who was unavoidably absent, was well represented by June Girvan, Acting President of Black History Ottawa, who accepted the award on her behalf. World War 11 hero Lloyd States was posthumously honoured with the Jean Augustine DreamKeepers Life Achievement award, received on his behalf by his daughter, Margaret States. Mayor Jim Watson was there to present the City of Ottawa Proclamation of 15 January 2018 as Martin Luther King Jnr Day. Other dignitaries in attendance were the Federal Minister of the Environment, Catherine McKenna and MPP’s John Fraser and Lisa MacLeod, as were a number of City of Ottawa Councillors. Veteran news publisher and community advocate Ewart Walters gave a rousing keynote speech in which he chronicled the gains and ongoing challenges made in Canada’s multiculturalism policies.
All photos copyright Black Ottawa Scene