Change makers Brenda Miller and Ivaline Nickie were taken by surprise on Wednesday when they were named 2026 CIBC Caribbean Unsung Heroes for their quiet support to Jamaicans and their contribution to nation-building.

Over two different journeys, with a similar commitment, Miller, a retired nursing educator and administrator, copped first place, while Nickie, founder and director of the Annie Dawson Home for Children, placed second.

The 82-year-old Miller told the Jamaica Observer that news she had been nominated was welcomed with tears of joy.

“Chris, [a member of the Lions Club of St Andrew Central], told me that he had nominated me and I thought he was joking. So I forgot it until Ms [Renee] Whitehorne, [marketing manager, CIBC Caribbean Jamaica], called me and told me that I was one of the nominees for the 2026 CIBC Unsung Heroes Award, and I just started crying because I just could not believe it,” said Miller after accepting her award at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew.

Ivaline Nickie was named first runner-up in the 2026 CIBC Caribbean Unsung Heroes Awards. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

In the award citation, it was noted that Miller is an active member of the Lions Club of St Andrew Central, and volunteers at the Bethel Baptist Church, twice monthly to provide free vision screening, blood pressure and blood sugar testing, body mass index (BMI) checks, health education and counselling — often reaching into her own resources to ensure the continuity of the services.

“I retired in 2009, but sometimes I wonder if I have retired. When we are doing — at Bethel or anywhere — vision screening, one might think that it’s just vision, but because of your nursing experience and expertise, you look at the person and you ask, what’s your blood sugar like? What’s your BMI level? And most times they are unaware, so you teach them about what the numbers mean.

“Sometimes they get medication, they don’t know how to take it and they are afraid to ask, and so they are not taking it at all or not taking it properly. So you have to teach them about that as well,” said Miller.

The citation, further disclosed that Miller, who is affectionately called Lion Brenda, extends her service beyond those twice-monthly sessions, offering training to other Lions in health and vision screening — helping to multiply the impact of her own knowledge and experience.

Brenda Miller, winner of the 2026 CIBC Caribbean Unsung Awards (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

She also supports children undergoing cancer treatment at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and contributes to mental health-related work at the Bellevue Hospital.

After accepting her award, Nickie told the Observer, “God expects this from us and those we do it for are counting on us to do it. But it will encourage others who probably didn’t even think about it to say, ‘Hey, I can get involved, I can do things and give back to my community [and] to those who really need my skills and expertise’.”

Nickie explained that she began operating the children’s’ home following her retirement more than 13 years ago — dedicating herself to children who need much more than shelter.

“It’s not a place where I go home Friday evenings or Saturdays, I live there. They know where to find me and every child, whether that child is three plus or young adult — because we do have children who move on to sixth form. We have sixth form students right now and college students. Our youngest child now is three and we have up to age 22,” added Nickie as she pointed out that the initiative was a childhood dream.

The award citation noted that Nickie is tasked with preparing children for school, attending court hearings, visiting classrooms and responding to medical emergencies, regardless of the hour.

It was also revealed that Nickie fought to secure a safe and suitable environment for the children when the home needed relocation. This, while receiving limited State funding and no salary, often using her own modest resources to supplement the needs of the home.

Nickie told the Observer that the award came as a surprise as she was not anticipating recognition for the work she continues to do.

“I guess it [the award] was well received because it was unexpected. I think CIBC Caribbean is doing a wonderful job to have a programme like this to recognise people who are not looking for recognition, but it will encourage others, because I’m sure there are many others like myself doing it because it needs to be done,” she said.

The two winners shared US$7,500 and head of country for CIBC Caribbean Jamaica Annique Dawkins noted that there were many worthy nominees this year, each with a compelling story of service.

“For more than two decades, the Unsung Heroes Programme has provided an opportunity to shine a light on people whose service often happens away from the public spotlight. They are people who do not necessarily serve because they expect recognition. They serve because they see a need and they choose to respond. That spirit of service is something worth celebrating.

“It reminds us that making a difference is not always about the size of the gesture. Sometimes it is about consistency. It is about being present. It is about giving what you can, whenever you can, and understanding that even the smallest act of kindness can have a lasting impact on someone else’s life,” Dawkins said.