Saturday 29 March 2025
Black Ottawa Scene Editor and Publisher Godwin Ifedi was one of several distinguished Canadians honoured with the King Charles III Coronation medal at an investiture ceremony presided over by MP Yasir Naqvi, at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building on Wellington Street, Ottawa. The ceremony took place on Saturday 22 February 2025.
Godwin has been a Settlement Counsellor with the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) since 2013, assisting and supporting newcomers in adapting to a new life in Canada. He is a well-known figure in Ottawa’s Black community and beyond, as a social justice advocate for vulnerable and marginalized populations. He is the immediate Past President of Black History Ottawa, a registered Canadian charitable organization dedicated to promoting the heritage and contribution of people of African descent to Canada. He is also a former President of the Nigerian-Canadian Association of Ottawa. Godwin also served for several years on the Community and Police Action Committee (COMPAC), which addressed problems between the Ottawa Police Service and the city’s diverse populations.
In 2014, he was appointed by the Government of Ontario as a member of the Council of the Ontario College of Teachers, where he served as Chair of the Editorial Board of their journal: ProfessionallySpeaking. He had also served a member of the Council of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. In addition, he had served on the Boards of Directors of the Ottawa Social Planning Council and the Tanglewood-Hillsdale Community Association. Godwin is the recipient of a Certificate of Recognition in 2001 from the Government of Canada for outstanding volunteer work, and the 2011 United Way Community Builder award. His name is inscribed on the City of Ottawa Wall of Inspiration, for excellence in volunteer work, community outreach and civic engagement.
Godwin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Ottawa. He had worked variously as Senior Occupational Therapist and Unit Manager in various health institutions in Canada and Africa. He is the Founder and Program Coordinator of the Ottawa Golden Oldies Seniors’ Club, a self-governing social and recreational organization for older adults, with a mission to assist and support its members in maintaining healthy and fulfilling lifestyles.