Greetings! I was born in Jamaica and spent a happy childhood there, until the age of 18. After high school I decided to study overseas and my journey took me to Worcester, Massachusetts and then to Waterloo, Ontario, where I earned an Engineering degree. I met my “Trini” wife, Anandi, while at university and we have been married for over 25 years and have three beautiful children.

To everyone who is from Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Barbados, Cuba, Guyana, or any of the thirty countries/dependencies in the Caribbean, we welcome you to the Region and invite you to become a member of our organization. Despite the many different languages and cultures we represent, we share a memory and a history of sea and sky and sand, tropical heat and musical beats.

We also share the common experience of emigrating to a colder climate and being a visible minority, likely for the first time. The Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region was founded in 1975 by immigrants to this region who wished to celebrate their culture and provide a supportive space for those who were working to make Canada their new home.

Over the past 45 years the CCAWR has sponsored and supported many events and programs that benefited the Caribbean community.

The CCAWR continues to evolve and grow to meet the needs of the community, but we cannot accomplish our goals without your support. I invite you to connect with us and to use your skills and talents to help us build a strong, engaged and caring community. There is strength in numbers, and we can accomplish far more together than we can as individuals.

Carlton Benjamin serves as Treasurer for the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR). Originally from Spanish Town, Saint Catherine, Jamaica, he made Kitchener his home in 1999 and has been deeply involved in the community ever since.

A Master Financial Advisor in Philanthropy, Carlton leads a financial team as Managing Partner in Kitchener, guiding clients toward secure financial futures. Dedicated to continuous growth, he is currently pursuing his CLU designation to expand his expertise.

Joining CCAWR during its 50th anniversary, Carlton is committed to strengthening financial sustainability and fostering opportunities for diverse Caribbean members. He warmly invites individuals to get involved, whether as members, volunteers, or board members to help build a stronger, more vibrant community.

Donnette became a Board Member of the CCAWR in 2013, but has been actively involved with the Association since she first came to the Region in 2011. Having immigrated to Canada in 2010 she saw this as a great opportunity to connect with Caribbean Canadians and the wider community and a means of integrating into and serving the community.

She received her education in Jamaica at the University of Technology where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering.  Donnette has over 10 years of experience working with community-based Socio-economic Infrastructure and Social Services projects, which involves the development of poor communities through small-scale community-based projects as a component of the Government of Jamaica Poverty Alleviation Strategy.  She also worked in Jamaica with the Commission responsible for overseeing the process for the awards of Government Contracts.  As a Project Manager, she sat at the Commission’s meetings and was also the representative at the Sponsoring Public Sector Procurement Agency meetings. Donnette presently is employed to a major Telecommunications Engineering Consulting Company in Waterloo, Ontario; her work involves providing structural details and drawings of telecommunications towers and appurtenances for Canadian and USA wireless providers.

Having the drive to contribute and make a difference in her community, Donnette participates through her work in Construction. This is unique, international event engaging designers, architects and engineers to use their talents to help those struggling with food insecurity. The event raises funds, food and awareness for local food banks. Donnette hosts International students through various organizations in her community where she provides an English immersion environment, friendship, support and guidance in a caring atmosphere where a wealth of cultural knowledge and experiences are exchanged. Donnette’s greatest strengths are creativity, organizational skills and dedication to task. She has a passion for service and finds satisfaction in a job well done.

Clive and his wife Natasha moved to the Waterloo region in 2018 and both joined the CCAWR shortly afterwards. Clive was born in Jamaica and moved to Canada in 2008 as a Visiting Professor at York University.

He has a PhD in applied linguistics from UWI, Mona. Since 2016 he has been a faculty member in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo where he teaches courses on linguistics, academic and technical writing, and Caribbean language and literature.

He’s also a member of the CCAWR’s scholarship committee. In the future he hopes to start a dominoes and ludi committee in the association.

Emily Roslyn Yamoah was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. She graduated from University of Waterloo with a B.A. in 1980. She worked as a teacher in Jamaica and Nigeria and later spent 27 years working with the City of Kitchener and The Region of Waterloo.

She is a past recipient of the Kitchener Award for Positive Suggestions from The City of Kitchener. Mother of four children Isaac, Patricia, Lynta & Megan, Emily is a tourism lifestyle enthusiast and has travelled extensively.

Emily has been a member of the association for the last 25 years, serving as a Board member for 20 of those years.

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Emily gives her time to multiple non-profit boards and community organizations.  During her time at the association, she has organized and supported activities that contributed to social and business development within the community, especially in economically depressed areas. She has also made significant contributions through organizing community events, annual commemoration ceremonies and memorials.

I am honoured to serve as a newly elected Board Member of the Canadian Caribbean Association. A proud Jamaican who has called Canada home for over 36 years, and brings a lifetime of lived experience, professional leadership, and cultural pride to this role.

I am a Registered Practical Nurse with a distinguished career in the Region of Waterloo, having worked at Grand River Hospital and several long-term care homes including Sunnyside, Columbia Forest, Nithview, and Forest Heights. I am a fierce advocate for compassionate care for older Ontarians and continue to champion dignity and respect in healthcare.

A National Representative for Unifor with over a decade of service, and has been a strong voice for equity, workers’ rights, and inclusive communities. I have also served as a trustee on the executive board of the Local union and remain deeply committed to social justice.

Beyond my professional life, I am a proud mother of five and “Glamma” to seven beautiful grandchildren. I am passionate about motivating and inspiring youth to uplift themselves, live with purpose, and celebrate their Caribbean heritage. My personal motto, “Lift others up—do not be a crab in a barrel,” reflects my deep belief in collective empowerment and positive change.

I look forward to contributing to the Association’s mission of promoting culture, education, community, and harmony, and am excited to work alongside fellow board members to strengthen Caribbean presence and pride across the region.

Rea Parchment (she/her)

Rea is of Caribbean descent – Jamaican and Trinidadian with deep roots in Waterloo Region, emigrating here at the age of 5. After living in Toronto, where she acquired her Double BA in Communication Studies and Sociology at York University, she moved back to the Region, the place she calls home.

In her time back in the Region, she has volunteered for several organizations, including the YMCA (Newcomer and Settlement Program), Marillac Place and the Onyx Initiative. Rea also funds a scholarship for Black-identifying students at Conestoga College in memory of her grandmother.

In addition, Rea holds a Master of Education in Cultural Studies, Critical Theory & Analysis and has her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation with an employment background in post-secondary and government. She has a knack for listening & responding to the concerns, needs, and areas for opportunity from equity-denied staff and communities to create measurable improvements that build transformative spaces. She enjoys all things policy, procedure and strategy related.  She is excited to join the CCAWR Board and work alongside the board, volunteers, and community to strengthen, empower and advocate for the Caribbean community in Waterloo Region.

Shawn Brown born in Toronto and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, to Trinidadian & Grenadian parents is a proud Caribbean Canadian who enjoys serving the community. Shawn is an energetic, disciplined, and methodical systems engineer, who is passionate about people, process and technology, with two decades of experience in designing, implementing, and supporting IT infrastructure.

His expertise spans storage, backup, virtualization, DevOps, and cloud solutions, encompassing a wide array of technologies and platforms. Shawn has a proven track record of leading critical projects, from developing strategic transformational initiatives, migrating large data sets, upgrading complex infrastructure, to implementing secure virtual desktop, server & storage area network environments. He is adept at planning, designing, and optimizing IT operations to meet business needs and ensure data accessibility and security. Shawn's broad experience and continuous learning make him a valuable asset in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of information technology.

Shawn is delighted to be a part of the CCAWR board and looks forward to applying his years of technology experience in supporting the Caribbean community.