Saturday 5 October 2024
Ottawa honors Dr. Anthony Bailey service with October 5, 2024 day
By Tom Malaba, Editorial Associate
Gratitude, bouts of laughter, followed by farewell messages of sadness enveloped United Church of Canada on Parkdale Avenue in Ottawa as the laity, community members, religious leaders, and politicians turned up for one last time to bid farewell to a man who worked tirelessly to pastor the church for 25 years.
Dressed in a checkered jacket draped with an African print, Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey sat facing the audience as he listened attentively and occasionally stood up to acknowledge a standing ovation as each speaker poured out their gratification for his 25 years of work as the shepherd of 429 Parkdale Drive.
Seeing the plaques, and certificates accorded to him for his work, one cannot but appreciate that it was a befitting sendoff of a good shepherd who laid down his life to nurture, feed and nurse all the sheep in the community where he worked.
When the Mayor of Ottawa Mark Sutcliffe took to the podium, he honored Dr. Anthony Bailey’s sacrifices and dedicated service to his community by naming October 5, 2024, after him.
“I have witnessed all the things Dr. Bailey has done for our city, all the wisdom he has imparted on us, all the energy he has shared with us demonstrated to make out city stronger. Every member of our community has something to say about that leadership, energy and to support. He has been passionate for social justice, affordable housing and for remembering those who are forgotten,” Mayor Sutcliffe noted.
Dr. Bailey exemplifies high values, service with a smile, and above self.
Dr. Bailey’s work at the pulpit and community involving feed feeding, and playing with children was captured in a ten-minute photo slide that was shown to the audience. The show was accompanied by soft Jamaican music that kept the audience glued to the screen as it was played halfway into the speeches.
The Ottawa Police Chief, Eric Stubbs was also in attendance and honored a man who did so much to achieve social justice and challenged police on matters of racial justice. Chief Eric Stubbs described Dr. Bailey’s relationship with Ottawa police as a very good one and that he had trained police in anti-black racism and provided police officers a new standard of policing.
Classifying Dr. Bailey among the greats like Civil Rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr, and Nelson Mandela, June Girvan, President of Black History Ottawa, leader of the Ubuntu Collective, said people of his caliber were rare. “He is among the people who demonstrate an elevated humanity, people with a particular gift of being splendid human. They are the epitome of what it means to be human, such people fascinate me on how they relate with the homeless and the emperor, alike,” June Girvan declared.
As Dr. Bailey stepped down; the audience seemed in agreement that though he was retiring from the pulpit, his congregation wanted him to stay not too far from his community.
Master of Ceremonies Rob Hikes, cracked his audience with a reflection of ten-point imaginary roles that Dr. Bailey would be retiring into. Among these was a claim that Dr. Bailey was retiring to write a book, “Less is more, keeping your sermon below one hour.” “Retiring to play golf,” all of which occasionally threw his audience into bouts of laughter. All ten points seemed to capture Dr. Bailey’s hobbies including music, writing, playing golf, and above all his family
Speaking with Black Ottawa Scene during the reception, Dr, Bailey said he had been humbled by the gesture of naming a day in his honor, adding that though he was stepping away from the pulpit, he would continue to work for his community.
“I am profoundly humbled by the day. I give God thanks. I will continue to do work in the church and the community, though not at the same pace as before. I care so much for the people and the community,” Dr. Bailey said.
“I do not do these things to get any glory, but I do that because it’s my passion and I feel God has called me to care for the community and the people.”
Dr. Bailey said he would miss the pulpit having preached his last sermon on September 30 but promised to continue preaching on visiting engagements.
The youthful-looking Minister said he was taking time off to go to his homeland in Barbados and to Jamaica for a period of reflection and reconnection with his family.
Dr. Bailey had worked in Jamaica between 1993 and 1999 before coming to Ottawa.
During the farewell evening, the audience was told that Dr. Bailey spearheaded the building of a community development center in Jamaica, with a preschool center, a computer laboratory and a bakery to generate income.
In Ottawa, Dr. Bailey rendered his services to various organizations like Multifaith Housing Initiative, Ottawa Mission, United Way Ontario, and the Hintonburg Economic Development Committee.
After the speeches the members of United Church Parkdale, the community entertained Dr. Bailey to a reception and music in the Church’s gymnasium.