Awards of Excellence Overview
Our Awards of Excellence Program
The Awards of Excellence scholarship program was established in 2002 by a collaborative partnership between three groups who shared the same vision of recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments and achievements of young adults in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge region.
This event is celebrated annually in September at a family brunch held in Cambridge with the support and participation of the tri-cities’ Mayors, Councilors, Members of Parliament, Chief of Police and the Kitchener Waterloo Record.
The program is designed to provide scholarships for qualified youth in the region who have been accepted to pursue post-secondary education at any Canadian educational institution. The recipients are chosen based on outstanding academic achievements, demonstrated leadership abilities and community volunteerism.
The idea of awarding scholarships in the K-W-C region was conceived in 2002 by three community members in Cambridge: Sylvan Burrowes, Linton Downer and Rick Elcock (members of the former Cambridge West Indian Association). These individuals approached the Congress of Black Women with the initial funding to start the scholarship program.
A voluntary organization formed in 1988 dedicated to providing programs and services that motivate black women and committed to maintaining family relationships and supporting initiatives involving youth and seniors.
In 2001, The Chloe Callender Award was established to recognize the exceptional lifetime of work of an educator and community advocate in the Kitchener-Waterloo region.
This is a non-profit organization founded in 1975 committed to promoting Caribbean culture, strengthening the quality of life of families and supporting education and training.
2025 Awards of Excellence
🌟 You’re Invited! 🌟
The Congress of Black Women of Canada – Waterloo Region Chapter and the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region proudly present the 2025 Awards of Excellence 🎉✨
This special celebration will honour our outstanding African, Caribbean, and Black scholarship recipients and feature words of inspiration from our distinguished guest, Antonio Downing, BA – Author, Speaker, Musician. 🎶📖
📅 Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
🕧 Time: 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm (Lunch served at 1:00 pm)
🎟️ Admission (by ticket only):
Adults – $65
Youth (12 & under) – $35
Children under 5 – Free
✨ Come celebrate excellence, culture, and community with us! Click the button below or scan the QR code to purchase tickets.