ABOUT THE CCAWR

The Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region is a non-profit organization serving Waterloo Region’s Caribbean community. Organized in 1975, we are committed to strengthening and enhancing the quality of life of families and individuals by providing culturally sensitive programs, support, resources, education and training.

The CCAWR aims to promote the social, cultural and economic interests of, and advocate for, the Caribbean community in the Region of Waterloo.

 

Our Events

Persons of Distinction 2017

PERSONS OF DISTINCTION

The CCAWR initiated the Persons of Distinction ceremony to honour individuals who have contributed to the region and the community in a meaningful way. It is our way of saying “thank you”. The event will be held on April 29, 2017.

 

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month is recognized in February every year through events hosted by various community organizations. It is an opportunity to celebrate and remember the people and events in the history of the African diaspora who have contributed to the development of the Canadian society. Look out for upcoming events in your area.

 

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FAMILY BRUNCH

The CCAWR Family Brunch is the main fundraiser for the organization. It is an annual event hosted by the CCAWR in an effort to raise money for the Scholarship Fund. The event offers great entertainment, food, features a guest speaker, and of course a time to meet up with some old friends. This year’s Family Brunch 2017 will be held on June 11, 2017.

 

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AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

The Awards of Excellence presentation ceremony is usually held in September, at which time all awardees are presented with their scholarships. The Scholarship Fund started in 2002 and provides tuition awards to Caribbean Canadian students in the community as they move ahead to university or college. The award has steadily grown from $500 to $1, 000.00, and the CCAWR will be undertaking new initiatives that increase the award, especially as the cost of tuition is on the rise and out of reach for some.

 

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Words of Inspiration

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

- Harriet Tubman

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

- Barack Obama

“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

- Maya Angelou

 

In Focus

Image of 10 students receiving scholarships in 2020

September 4, 2020

Record Number of CCAWR Scholarships Awarded for 2020

Letter from the CCAWR Scholarship Committee https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/09/16/scholarships-recognize-achievements-of-black-students.html   The Canadian Caribbean Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR) scholarship program has been around for the past 17 years. Its mission is to promote academic excellence and foster leadership while providing some financial assistance to young people of Caribbean heritage within the Waterloo Region. The hope is to […]

Diversity spelled using Scrabble tiles

September 4, 2020

Helping to Create the Future, One Day at a Time

Hello Community, The end of summer is almost here, and what a summer it has been! I wish to bring you the latest news from the CCAWR, to show that we are working to keep you informed and are advocating for the things that matter to our community. Since the KW Solidarity March on June […]

June 15, 2020

The CCAWR Looks To The Future

Hello Community! It’s been a whirlwind four weeks: the anti-racism solidarity march, calls to defund the police and new project proposals. The CCAWR has been front-and-centre for the issues and events impacting our Region and constituents. Thanks to everyone who made their voices heard and lent their support – much appreciated! As the CCAWR prepares to meet […]

Diversity in Society

June 2, 2020

Support for Anti-Racism Initiatives and Protests

Dear Community, It is with great sadness and concern that we have watched and listened to the tragic events that have taken place in America in recent weeks: the death of an unarmed black man at the hands of the Minnesota police, the efforts of a woman in New York to “sic” the police on an African-American man who politely […]

May 24, 2020

CCAWR Scholarships for 2020

2020 has been a challenging year with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CCAWR will still be offering its annual scholarships ($1500.00 or more) to young people of Caribbean heritage that are living in the Waterloo Region. If you are graduating or graduated from high school, attending university/college, or pursuing other post-secondary education, you could be […]

May 12, 2020

Looking Back 365 Days

Hello Community! Last month I shared with you resources for surviving and thriving during the pandemic. Here’s hoping and praying that you are coping well with the changes to your routines and plans. The good news is that, for the most part, our community has been successful in reducing the spread of the disease. “This […]

Canada Day Celebration 1991

September 18, 2016

Looking Back 45 Years!

Did you know that the CCAWR celebrated its 45th anniversary in March of this year? Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed our celebrations at the planned Awards of Excellence in April. Not to worry – we’ll organize a lime soon. Thanks to the archival efforts of the late Rev. Vincent Smith, and Stacy MacLennan of the […]

June 26, 2016

Ingrid’s Award

Ingrid Berkeley-Brown and Sonia Thomas were the only two black women in their class at police college. For 30 years they’ve risen through the ranks and maintained a unique friendship. Please visit this link from thestar.com to see the full article.

News You Can Use

  1. $221 Million in Loans for Black Entrepreneurs

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-black-entrepreneurs-1.5717297

  2. Scholarships Recognize Achievements of Black Students – Waterloo Record Article!

    https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/09/16/scholarships-recognize-achievements-of-black-students.html

  3. Sweat-a-Thon for Racial Justice + BIPOC Yoga for Trauma Recovery

    https://queenstreetyoga.com/classes/type:workshops/id:387

  4. Black Professionals in Tech Network – BFUTR Virtual Summit 2020

    https://www.bptn.ca/summit2020

 

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