Editor
Good morning folks
February is Black History Month and Black Ottawa Scene joins our African Canadian brothers and sisters in celebrating this pivotal event in our annual social calendar. In the spirit of this annual world wide celebration, we feature the launch at Ottawa City Hall of the 2018. But the Top Story belongs to an incredible young student at Colonel By Secondary, who won double honours at the event. Ililli Ahmed is her name and she scooped the Black History Ottawa Community Builder Youth Leadership award. Not stopping there, she was also the winner of the annual nation-wide RBC Black History Month essay competition. Way to go Ililli, we know we’ll be hearing more of you in the next few months and years! In this edition, we also also feature our Youth Editor, Kika Otiono, as she reports on the recently concluded University of Ottawa youth health conference with an interview with the organisers. Not to be left behind, Somali Youth also chip in with their annual “Awakening” seminar, a medium for addressing and seeking solutions to issues affecting their younger generation. On the news front, we also feature the DreamKeepers award award to two of Ottawa’s renowned community leaders, Joanne Robinson and Ken Campbell, during the annual Martin Luther King Jr celebration at City Hall.
In the Guest Columns, iconic journalist and former diplomat Ewart Walters gives readers an insight into how well Canada has progressed with his piece: “Beyond Multiculturalism- Putting the Black agenda on the national radar”, while regular contributor MacAndrew Clarke takes readers on a journey towards the upcoming provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec.
All these and more in the February edition of Black Ottawa Scene.
Here is the result of the January 2018 poll:
Is it OK to discuss politics at the dinner table while you have guests?
Yes 57%
No 43%
Thank you to all who voted. and don’t forget to vote in the February 2018 poll:
Has justice has been served with the forced resignation of Ontario Opposition leader Patrick Brown and Black Senator Don Meredith, following allegations of sexual misconduct, without a court hearing?
Hope you all have a great Black History Month!
Godwin Ifedi
Editor