A full evening has been scheduled for the Black History Month celebration on Feb. 11 at the Caruso Club.
It begins at 6 p.m. With the playing of the Canadian national anthem, on steel pan to give it an Afro-Caribbean flavour.
Guest speakers will then take the stage including Charles Nyabeze, president of the Afro-Heritage Association of Sudbury, followed by Azuayi Alaku, of Laurentian University's African and Caribbean Students Association.
Deputy Mayor Al Sizer will bring greeting on behalf of the City of Greater Sudbury, followed by police chief Paul Pedersen, then Pierre Zundel, provost and vice-president Academia, Laurentian University, and Rev. Tim Perry.
Dinner gets underway at 7:30 p.m. featuring guest of honour, Debbie Barnard, vice-president of Process Improvement, Quality and Patient Safety at Health Sciences North.
Barnard graduated from the Bahamas School of Nursing in 1982. Her career has taken her across North America, to place such as Atlanta, Edmonton and Greater Sudbury.
“We wanted Debbie to be our guest speaker this year because she is a person of influence in our community, but also has a unique story to tell as someone who came to Canada from another country,” said Nyabese in a press release.
Barnard came to Sudbury in 2011 to lead HSN’s efforts involving quality and patient safety. Before arriving in Sudbury, Barnard led patient-safety efforts at institutions in Edmonton and Atlanta, as well as serving as a project manager at the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.
Despite living in North America for the better part of two decades, Barnard has maintained close ties to the Bahamas. She has organized visits to Canada for Bahamian health care officials.
Since arriving in Sudbury, Barnard has also given her time to various causes, including as a member of the Board of Directors for St John Ambulance, previous member of the Board for the Sudbury Theatre Company, and as a volunteer for Cinéfest and the Jazz Sudbury Festival.
“Each time I cross the Sudbury Bridge of Nations, I’m reminded of the rich heritage of the city that I now call home," says Barnard. “As a part of these activities, it’s a time for us to remember as we inspire our future by honouring all of our heritages.”
The evening's entertainment gets underway at 8 p.m. With live singing, a radical dance, spoken word and spirit of world drumming.
DJ Lou Walker takes over at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $35 for adults and $20 for students and children. Tables that seat eight people can be purchased for $280. Tickets must be purchased in advance of the event.
To purchase tickets, phone Nyabeze at 705-562-6264, Dr. Oluremi Ogundinmu at 705-523-5211, or Malcom Goulborne at 705-897-6685.
