Editor
Good morning folks
May is time to celebrate Mothers’ Day and we honour well-known community activist, Shoon Omar, as our Top Story, with a stirring tribute from his son Omar Mohammed. And to all you wonderful women who raise and nurture our children, we say, Thank you and Happy Mothers’ Day. More celebrations with yet another award for Ottawa’s favourite police officer, Isobel Granger, this time with the prestigious Harry Jerome award for public advocacy. Way to go Isobel! Other featured awards include Ottawa-raised author Alexis Horace whose parents still reside in the national capital, with the Windham-Campbell Prize. University of Ottawa law professor Chidi Oguamanam gets his share of the accolades with his research fellowship which he received recently, along with colleague, Professor de Beer. Hockey star P.K. Subban is also in the limelight with the award of the Governor General’s Meritorious Service decoration
Our Interview features a conversation with the Community and Police Action Committee Co-Chair, Ketcia Peters, who talks about tackling the race issues that have dogged the Ottawa Police this past year. Speaking of the Ottawa Police, we hear from embattled Chief Charles Bordeleau, as he responds to on-going charges of racism and racial profiling among his members. Feature writer and psychologist Helen Ofosu gives tips on how to get back to work after losing a loved one, while realtor Micheal Arthur provides readers with strategies for planning their home renovations. Our Youth In Action team is back this month with articles by Illili Ahmed and Melanna Awaju, while our Religion columnist, Bishop Jacob Afolabi, guides readers on how faith can overcome obstacles..
Ottawa’s black community gets much needed advice on dealing with mental health, from Caribbean Union President Cesar Moussa. In Entertainment, we bring you news about how Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood, is taking the entertainment world by storm. Also continuing with our diverse community profiles, we feature the Guyana Ottawa Community Association.
Our Obituary features the passing of world-renowned agriculturist, Professor Bede Okigbo, former Deputy Director of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture.
Here is the result of our April 2017 survey:
How do you feel about Ottawa Police officers wearing wrist bands in support of the officer charged with manslaughter in the death of Abdi Abdirahman?
It is disrespectful and insensitive to the Abdi Abdirahman family 83%
I am OK with it: 17%
Thank you to all who voted. Don’t forget to vote in the May edition survey:
Do you have life insurance?
All these and more in the May 2017 edition of Black Ottawa Scene.
Enjoy!
Godwin Ifedi
Editor