Few would dispute that the 14th Annual UWI Toronto Benefit Awards held Saturday, April 29 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel will be hailed as one of the year’s most memorable events. What was so special about this year’s staging? It was the first capacity-filled event since the novel coronavirus shuttered borders and dictated how many individuals one could legally press flesh with.

Indeed, within weeks of the advisory of the event the room was sold-out. There’s a certain je ne sais pas associated with an initiative that not only celebrates excellence but, too, lifts others. There’s no better example than the UWI Toronto Benefit Awards where the committee’s single focus is that of raising funds for Caribbean students attending The University of the West Indies (The UWI), top-ranked among the world’s best universities. This year’s theme was “Beyond Our Imagination”, and the spectacular night was a dazzling array of celebration and goodwill that went well beyond the organisers’ imagination.

Championed by the late business titan Ray Chang and continued by his widow Donette Chinloy, son Andrew and daughter Brigette, and Dr Wesley “Wes” J Hall, as honorary patron, the event is proudly supported by Scotiabank for the 14th consecutive year. The UWI Toronto Benefit Awards has raised over $3 million and awarded 800 scholarships.

Lead Chair: Scotiabank. Lead Sponsors: Sprott Inc, Kingsdale and The G Raymond Chang Foundation. The hot-ticket affair attracts the who’s who of the Canadian and global social register and pays homage to those who have not only risen to the top of their respective fields but given back not for acknowledgement ­— eschew such thoughts — but ostensibly because it’s the right thing to do.

The awards Saturday evening were as follows:

• G Raymond Chang Award: Dr Dodridge Miller – Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Sagicor Financial Company Ltd.

• Chancellor’s Award: Black North Initiative (BNI) – A social justice initiative designed to remove anti-black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of black Canadians.

• Vice Chancellor’s Award: Kevin Hibbert – Chief Financial Officer, Senior Managing Partner & Co-Head of Enterprise Shared Services Group, Sprott Inc.

•Vice Chancellor’s Award: Ray Williams – Vice Chairman & Managing Director – Financial Markets at National Bank Financial

The Luminary Award: Hollywood actress Sheryl Lee Ralph

The event also celebrated the 75th anniversary of The University of the West Indies.

Several hundred thousand dollars were raised through ticket sales, attendee donations, a silent auction and a live auction. Led by auctioneer Frances Fripp and her hype men. It was an exciting night of bidding on exclusive items that included a pair of autographed boxing gloves and a one-hour training session with Olympian and Heavyweight Champion of the World Lennox Lewis and a pair of business-class tickets to anywhere in the world courtesy of Air Canada.

Other highlights of the evening included the first volunteer awards presented to the evening’s host, CBC anchor Dwight Drummond, the event’s longtime auctioneer Gordon Cressy, and UWI Toronto Benefit Awards committee member Beverly Hunter, as well as a speech from scholarship recipient Sabraina Perry, who expressed her and the other scholarship recipients’ gratitude for the financial support.

“Sabraina and success stories like hers are the reason we do this event year after year,” explained Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, director of the university’s Institutional Advancement Division. “Our committee of volunteers, the patrons and our lead sponsor Scotiabank are committed to our mission of giving Caribbean students the advantage of a great education and not letting finances be a hindrance.”

Anya Schnoor, Scotiabank’s Executive Vice-President, Caribbean, Central America & Uruguay – International Banking, surprised the audience in her remarks by further pledging Scotiabank’s commitment to extend and increase its annual sponsorship of the UWI Toronto Benefit Awards to C$100,000.

Another surprise came from Luminary Award recipient Dr Sheryl Lee Ralph, OJ, who announced in her recorded acceptance speech that she would be awarding scholarships to UWI students in the name of herself and her family.

Multi-award-winning jazz/blues/gospel singer Jackie Richardson and Juno Award winner R&B singer Sean Jones wowed the audience with their soul-stirring performances and KOSA, a young rising star, stole the show with her beautiful rendition of Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All. Thunder Dome Sounds featuring Eddie, Quincy and Tre-Michael Bullen kept the night grooving with their contemporary jazz sound, flavoured with Caribbean rhythms. While pan legend Patrick “Panman Pat” McNeilly and his Steelpan Ensemble got the night started by leading attendees into the beautifully decorated ballroom to the hypnotic beat of calypso.

Following the awards dinner ceremony, attendees headed upstairs to the Air Canada Lyme featuring DJ Blackcat to celebrate the university’s Diamond Jubilee — 75th anniversary — under the theme “Rooted-Ready-Rising”. It is a global celebration of its history and legacy within the Caribbean region.

“For 14 years we have gathered like-minded individuals amongst the corporate and other sectors, for a cause thousands of miles away. I am pleased with this year’s event as more and more corporate Canada comes on board. This fund-raiser continues to showcase the best of the Caribbean community in Canada and the world — especially the diversity that brings us together for one common cause — to uplift and support these students,” said Dr Donette Chin-Loy Chang, UWI Toronto Benefit Awards co-patron.

About The UWI

The UWI has been, and continues to be, a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region. In 75 years, The University of the West Indies has given birth to hundreds of brilliant leaders across dozens of sectors, worldwide. Many have gone on to enrich Caribbean diasporas, including Canada which has benefited greatly.

Ranked among the top universities in the world, by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. In 2020, it earned ‘Triple 1st’ rankings — topping the Caribbean; and top in the tables for Latin America and the Caribbean, and global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI is also featured among the top universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.