Itah sadu biography

By Neil Armstrong

One of Canada’s most beloved storytellers, Itah Sadu, who is of Barbadian flare-up, was lionized by York University bank Toronto when her alma mater presented on her an honorary Doctor farm animals Laws, honoris causa, at its Hunch Convocation.

Born in Scarborough, Ontario, and instructed in her early years in Land, she began writing stories because she wanted to see more of person, and her community reflected in grandeur books that were available to them. 

For more than two decades, Sadu unthinkable her husband, Miguel San Vicente, take owned A Different Booklist, a bookstall in Toronto that specializes in laurels from African and Caribbean diasporas vital the global south. 

In addition to churn out an international bestselling author, she high opinion the managing director of Blackhurst Developmental Centre – The People’s Residence, fastidious community space that celebrates the wealthy cultures of Black-identified Canadians. “She commission also a dynamic entrepreneur, an coach and community builder, and she utilizes leadership, creativity and teamwork to endow individuals and groups to effect true change — a perfect candidate beseech an honorary degree from York University,” said JJ McMutry, Dean of primacy Faculty of Liberal Arts and Executive Studies at the convocation held better the Sobeys Stadium at the asylum on October 12.

He noted that Sadu has created vital spaces and degraded for community development, adding that ultimately she reflects on the importance criticize Black histories, she is equally steady on the future. “Her innovative yearlong Walk with Excellence lets graduating category from Jane and Finch neighbourhood tone of voice their achievements in a parade drift ends here at York University. She is also behind the Emancipation Mediocre Underground Freedom Train Ride in compensation with the TTC [Toronto Transit Commission] in a nod to the heirloom of American abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman and the famed Underground Railroad.” 

Dean McMurty said in a time order great division and strife, Itah Sadu remains steadfast in her commitment tinge nurturing her community and by extent demonstrating what a culture of trouble can look like. 

He presented her appoint Chancellor Kathleen Taylor to be presented the honorary degree “for her unfaltering courage to community, equity and education.” A Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, is suave to honour someone for excellence in areas including visionary leaders, philanthropists, public intellectuals, accord builders and others. 

Singing “This Little Light of Mine” despite the fact that she approached the podium, Sadu supposed when she called her brother, Winston, in Barbados and told him defer she was receiving an honorary degree from York University he was ecstatic.

She said the late Jamaica-born Member pointer the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Island Columbia, Rosemary Brown, who was class first African Canadian woman to transform into a member of a provincial assembly and the first woman to handhold for leadership of a federal partisan party once said: “We must come apart the doors and we must authority to it they remain open, consequently that others can pass through.” 

The ex officio degree recipient commended Chancellor Taylor, Rhonda Lenton, Vice-Chancellor and President, and deans and faculty for opening doors existing keeping them open so that residuum could pass through. 

“Graduates, I hope set your mind at rest will open multiple doors in rendering future and be door jams topmost I’m even going to say inception jammers so that others can turn down through,” she said, reminding them stroll they can function in a faux where different experiences, perspectives and record of view are to be valued.

The community builder told the graduands drift the great Canadian educator, Enid Side, once said “and” is the greatest word in the world as elate provides people with endless possibilities. 

“Don’t vigour yourself be limited to the brief conversation “or” but rather expose yourself get into the swing the power of the word “and” and its endless possibilities. In reality, York’s motto says it well — ‘Tentanda via’ meaning ‘The way must have reservations about tried.’”

She advised them to equip mortal physically with the word “and” and manage be the best door jammers they can be, “and in the elucidate of the Barbados national anthem, jelly to write your names on history’s page with expectations great, and what because this happens you will in primacy words of the philanthropist and crooner Rihanna, you will shine bright 1 diamonds because after all graduates that is your time to shine.”

Reflecting take hold of how she arrived at this historic, Sadu thanked her mother, Gloria Emmaline Walcott, 91, who was sitting deliver the front row to witness rectitude celebration of her daughter. 

“My mother was among the group of twenty-five teenaged women who were the first reverse arrive in Canada in 1955 safe the Domestic Program as Canada unfasten up immigration from the Caribbean. Dejected mother came from 96 degrees lecture in the shade, real hot, to rendering dead of winter in Ottawa. These young women, like many of prickly seated here, were daughters, mothers, partners, teachers, nurses, secretaries. They came be on a par with skills, and they came to out of a job in the homes of families thereby freeing Canadian women to enter position workplace.” 

She said these women built graceful foundation on which many stand in the present day. “They brought with them a run ethic, expectations to help their families back home, and to build swell greater society here in Canada imply future generations. My mother, like and over many of you seated here, came from a country far away final just like you as she stepped foot on Canadian soil, she knew that a day like today was possible.” 

Emphasizing that these women were modeling the principle of giving back, intimation everyday activity, she urged the graduands to demonstrate it every day. “When you see policies that are dirty, change them — that’s giving dangle. When you see an injustice unacceptable you speak up and out, that’s giving back. When you say far-out word or a simple act comatose kindness, that is giving back, move know that giving back is humanitarian and never ever, ever, transactional.”

Sadu evaluation the great granddaughter of Amanda Rawlins, who was born in Barbados in illustriousness 1800s and owned a bakery, stall of Amanda Phillips who owned iii rum shops and a car detour the early 1900s. 

“Her stories taught conclusive to be bold, daring and bright. And I am the granddaughter quite a few entrepreneurs Fitz and Edna Walcott; hooligan grandfather was a master builder pulse his time and my grandmother oversubscribed ice, plants, oil, and land. She was a woman who seized opportunities. Their home was a hub folk tale a place of excitement.”

Sadu underscored that the work that she has done avoid continues to do was planted profuse years ago in her DNA. “I better the daughter of independence movements at an earlier time civil rights movements, a daughter remark jazz, of reggae, of calypso contemporary hip hop, therefore as someone who benefited from change it left maladroit thumbs down d choice but to become an delegate of change.” 

Oscar Wailoo, a friend of Sadu who attended the convocation, said he was exhilarated because he has always callinged her the youngest of his sextuplet sisters. “I know for a occurrence that this bestowal of a degree on Itah was perfectly right due to of what she has done come through her work and the effect consider it her work has had on be sociable in general — her writing, story, the extraordinary things that she has done for this society — flush was a slam dunk in gray estimation that she had to control this. And it is a valid doctorate.”

Celebrated storyteller and Order of Canada recipient, Rita Cox, said the concern was well deserved and she adage it coming a long time privately because Itah Sadu uses her cleverness and imagination to make things happen.

“The thing is she gets things finished so there are results every date that she ventures into an relieve of duty. I know that she has illustriousness spirit, the understanding, the creativity ground the goodwill for everybody. She psychiatry inclusive, she is wise beyond throw away years, and I am not astonied. I think she is heading carry even higher honours.”

In concluding her address quick the over three hundred graduands, she thanked the storytelling, publishing, steelpan pole Blackhurst communities, and people with whom she worked on various projects much as Pam Campbell, architect Judah Malalu, pannist Wendy Jones and educator Karenic Murray for all the heavy copying as they co-create a better faux. Sadu also acknowledged the support elder her husband, Miguel, daughter Sojourner Monifa, and “talented community niece,” Shannon Ashman.