The Black Business and Professional Association 

 announces the 2008 BBPA Harry Jerome Award Winners

The 26th Annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards:
“We Believe in You, We Believe in Us”

Toronto, ON - March 25th, 2008 – The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) proudly unveiled the 2008 winners for the 26th Annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards during a press preview and reception today, held at the prestigious Perdiot Resto Lounge in Toronto, to launch the Award Gala’s 26th year.

“These recipients represent the true meaning of brilliance and distinction in the African Canadian community,” says BBPA
Harry Jerome Awards Chair,Karlyn Percil, “they symbolize excellence and the quality of the fabric that the black business and professional community is.” After receiving a record-breaking number of nominations for 2008, the BBPA is honoured to introduce this distinguished and remarkable group of outstanding individuals.

The BBPA Harry Jerome Awards is recognized as the premier national award gala in the African Canadian Community and a coveted symbol of achievement. The winners will receive awards in thirteen categories: Academics, Arts, Athletics, Community Service, Entertainment, Health Sciences, Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, Media, the President’s award, Professional Excellence, Technology & Innovation and the Trailblazer Award.

The BBPA is proud to honour and celebrate the following award winners:

- Academics Award – Vera Manu
- Arts Award – Cheryl Foggo
- Athletics Award – Anne Olukemi Ogundele
- Community Service Award – Roger Rowe
- Entertainment Award – Anthony Sherwood
- Health Sciences Award – Dr. Stephen Blizzard
- Leadership Award – Charles Oforia Attah
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Willie O’Ree
- Media Award – Marci Ien
- President’s Award – Chris Spence
- Professional Excellence Award – Njoki Wane
- Technology & Innovation Award – Warren Salmon
- Trailblazer Award – Dr. Alex MacGregor

Event Information
The 26th Annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road, Toronto.

Tickets for the Harry Jerome Awards are $150. To place an order, please call (416)504-4097 or purchase online at
www.bbpa.org.

About the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards
Established in the memory of Harry Jerome, an outstanding African Canadian Olympic athlete, scholar and social advocate, the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards is an annual celebration of African Canadian achievement that pays tribute to outstanding and
inspirational African Canadians who are truly role models of excellence.
Now in its 26th year the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards has recognized the achievements of almost 300 outstanding African Canadians to date. Notable winners include former lieutenant governor of Ontario Lincoln Alexander, Senator Donald Oliver,
entrepreneurs Denham Jolly and the late Beverley Mascoll, human rights advocate and former M.P.P the late Dr. Rosemary Brown, renowned jazz pianist Oscar Peterson and Olympic gold medalist Mark McCoy. Organized by the Black Business and Professional Association, the 26th Annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards are sponsored by presenting sponsor RBC Financial Group, BMO Financial Group, CGA of Ontario, CIBC, Ford Canada Ltd., McDonald’s Restaurants, Scotiabank Financial Group, State Farm Insurance Company, SWAY, TD Bank Financial Group, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, CBC and Planet Africa.
Mainstream media coverage:
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/350890 
http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2008/03/26/5105721-sun.html

OTTAWA AREA WINNERS
Health Sciences Award - Dr. Stephen Blizzard

Dr. Stephen Blizzard has an extremely impressive of list of professional achievements. Specializing in aviation medicine and
primary eye care, his career has taken him all over the world. Dr. Blizzard has lived and worked in Trinidad and Canada. The
bulk of his career has been with the Canadian military as a surgeon, a flight instructor, leader, and an innovator, rising
through the ranks.

In 1978, Major Blizzard was a member of the medical team on the very first airlift of Vietnamese refugees to Canada. Dr.
Blizzard has served as a Canadian representative on several NATO committees, and as a member of the Aerospace Delegation to
the Soviet Union, Citizen Ambassador Program.

From 1982 to 1983, Dr. Blizzard served as Deputy Commander of the National Defence Medical Centre Detachment at National
Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He has authored many scientific papers and has delivered a number of lectures around the
world.

His leadership roles include: past president of the Canadian Association of Aeromedical Transportation Systems, past
president of the Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine and past president of the International Academy of Aviation and Space
Medicine.

Dr. Blizzard has received many awards for his contributions to aerospace medicine and air medical transport including the Dr.
Wilbur Franks Award, the Dr. Forrest and Pamela Bird Award, (presented by the Civil Aviation Medical Association), a Canadian
Forces Decoration, a UN Peacekeeping Medal, and a Canadian Peacekeeping Medal.

While he was a senior consultant with the Department of Civil Aviation and Medicine in the Department of Health and Welfare,
he made decisions on the fitness of pilots to fly. Dr. Blizzard retired from the Department of Civil Aviation Medicine in
1995 and has since then become a consultant for the industry. He lives with his wife in Nepean, Ontario. They have three
children and six grandchildren.

Leadership Award - Charles Ofori-Attah

Charles Ofori-Attah is a leader and an advocate for children's health and he has excelled despite the personal obstacles he
has faced. Diagnosed with sickle cell anemia as a baby, the Ottawa resident went through years of painful treatments and
spent a great amount of time at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). His illness was so bad it had an impact on
his childhood and education. During one school year he spent more than 200 days at CHEO. Ofori-Attah was home schooled for grades 7,8,9 and part of grade 10. He also has osteoporosis.

His body may be exhausted and consumed with pain but his mind and spirit are engaged and passionate. Ofori-Attah maintained
an active interest in his studies and the world around him beyond the confines of his hospital room. He developed not just
his academic skills but also his leadership skills, and took an active role in the CHEO Youth Forum. As a member of the Forum he helped raise funds for the hospital, visited and socialized with patients, advised hospital board members, and implemented new initiatives.

He won the Spirit of the Capital Youth Award for Personal Courage in 2004. In 2005 Ofori-Attah was nominated as the CHEO Champion Child; he travelled around the world participating in many conferences and advocating for children's health care. Other volunteer activities include work with Canadian Blood Services.

Despite spending so much time in the hospital, Ofori-Attah completed his high school diploma in the standard four years and
was the class valedictorian. He is now a spokesperson at the board of director's level: a voice for children at CHEO.
A first year student at Carleton University in Ottawa Ofori-Attah is in the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management
program specializing in human rights. He is one of 100 students worldwide in the prestigious Kroeger College of Public
Affairs program.