Barbados Ball Award recipient for 2016 is Senator Anne Cools!

The 13th Annual Barbados Ball Celebrates Barbados’ 50th Anniversary of Independence and Honours Senator Anne Cools Toronto, April 18, 2016 – Barbados Ball Canada Aid (BBCA) is proud to announce that this year’s Barbados Ball Award recipient is Senator Anne Cools.The 13th Annual Barbados Ball will be held on Saturday, June 25th, 2016, at Pearson Convention Center, 2638 Steeles Avenue East, Brampton beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Senator Cools, who was born in Barbados and immigrated to Canada in 1956, stands out as a pioneer in the Senate and in curbing domestic and family violence. She became the first Black person appointed to the senate of Canada and the first Black female Senator in North America. Senator Cools has always worked for families and children and in 1974 founded one of Canada’s first women’s shelters. In 1998 Senator Cools was instrumental in the creation of the Special Senate-House of Commons Joint Committee on child custody and access after divorce. The Joint Committee Report held that after divorce, children should have continuing relationships with both parents.

The Barbados Ball is the main fundraising event of Barbados Ball Canada Aid (BBCA) a not-for-profit organization founded in 2004. The Ball raises funds to provide scholarships for youth attending college and university, and to support healthcare programs in Canada and Barbados, including the SickKids Foundation - Caribbean Initiative and other charitable causes. Themed “Pride and Industry, Celebrating 50 Years of Nationhood” in recognition of Barbados’ celebration of its 50th Anniversary of Independence this year, the 13th annual Barbados Ball will treat guests to an evening of fine dining compliments of Barbadian international Chef Paul Yellin.

Featured entertainers from Barbados are international soca artists Edwin Yearwood and ‘Red Plastic Bag’, backed by Toronto’s own big band Susan G and Neu Jenarashun. Other entertainers are: DJ Jonathan Shaw, WiMotion, Pan Fantasy and The Caribbean Chorale of Toronto. The host will be Adrian Harewood, co-host of CBC News Ottawa.

Commenting on this year’s Barbados Ball, BBCA President Joel Alleyne said: “Fifty years ago Barbados gained its independence from England. No longer a colony but as a full member of the international community, Barbados took its place amongst other nations on the world stage. This year we look back on this journey and celebrate the accomplishments of this island nation. We will also honour Senator Cools for social services, she is a Barbadian Model of Excellence. Join us at the Barbados Ball on June 25th to support our charitable causes, celebrate Barbados and fifty years of pride and industry."

Attended by some 600 guests annually, the Barbados Ball is supported by Presenting Sponsor: RBC Royalbank, Gold Sponsor: Scotiabank, and Silver Sponsors: Diproinduca Canada Ltd and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
For more information, contact Mary Rouse at 416-831-5193 or at mrouse@rogers.com.