THE MONTHLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 5 - NOVEMBER 4, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 11 Neil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer TORONTO: A SEASONED Canadian tourism industry professional has won the Edith Baxter Memorial Award which was launched in 2021 and biennially recognises outstanding individuals who leverage their influence to promote the positive advancement of Jamaica’s tourist industry and/ or Jamaican culture within Canada. DIANA WINTERS, who has worked in the tourism industry for close to 30 years and gives back to communities in both Canada and Jamaica, was among five finalists shortlisted and was named the grand prize winner at the Edith Baxter Memorial Award luncheon organised by the Jamaica Tourist Board at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Jamaica’s minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, director of tourism Donovan White, and minister of state in the ministry of foreign affairs and foreign trade, Alando Terrelonge, also responsible for diaspora affairs – who was in Toronto to present the keynote address at the Regional Jamaica Diaspora Conference (Canada) the next day – were in attendance. “She has been an unwavering advocate for Destination Jamaica throughout her career as a travel adviser and in her roles with tour operators and hoteliers. During her time at Palace Resorts, Diana discovered her philanthropical side while working with the company’s Fundación Palace Resorts programme. Branching out on her own, Winters has undertaken numerous independent charitable initiatives to encourage support for the people of Jamaica,” read a biographical note about her. It said Winters has organised philanthropic trips for Canadian travel agents to build homes and schools on the island, raised funds for local medical clinics, and launched a donation drive during the pandemic to collect tablets, laptops and other education supplies. Winters was awarded a luxury all-inclusive vacation for two to Jamaica courtesy of award partners Sandals Resorts and Air Canada Vacations at the luncheon held at the Toronto Board of Trade near the city’s waterfront. “We are all doing great things one person at a time,” said Winters who was honoured that she was the recipient of an award named after Edith Baxter. OUTSTANDING EFFORTS The commemorative award programme was established in partnership with the Baxter family in memory of Canadian travel industry publishing icon Edith Baxter. In keeping with the competition’s namesake, the five finalists were selected based on their strong character and outstanding efforts toward promoting and advocating for Destination Jamaica. As co-founder of Baxter Media and editor-in-chief of Canada’s most influential travel trade publication, Canadian Travel Press, Edith Baxter was a powerful voice within the Canadian travel industry for more than five decades. A passionate advocate for Destination Jamaica, she was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Government of Jamaica in 2009 in recognition of her contributions to the tourism industry. Born Edith Newman in Usti nad Labem, in the former Czechoslovakia, on December 30, 1927, Edith spent her youth in England before coming to Canada at the end of WWII with her husband, William, her parents, and sister. She passed away on November 3, 2020, at home, surrounded by her family. White described Baxter as a savvy businesswoman who loved Jamaica and Bartlett said he recommended in 2009 that she be given the Order of Distinction. The other finalists were Jamaican-Canadians storyteller and speaker Sandra Whiting, saxophonist and humanitarian Dave McLaughlin and media professional Simone Smith, and GuyaneseCanadian veteran journalist and photographer, Ron Fanfair. The finalists were shortlisted by a panel of four judges: Angella Bennett, regional director, Jamaica Tourist Board, Canada; Wendy McClung, executive vice president, Baxter Media; Lincoln G. Downer, now former consul general of Jamaica at Toronto; and Kelly Schmitt, president and cofounder, Spoiled Agent. TOURISM RESILIENCE AWARDS Minister Bartlett, host of the event, spoke of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre that collaborating with Dr Gervan Fearon, president of George Brown College, he established at the college in Toronto. He is also having discussions with McMaster University in Hamilton and Carleton University in Ottawa and has set up similar centres in eight countries. The theme of resilience was also discussed the following day at the diaspora conference where the minister engaged in a Fireside Chat titled “The Future of Tourism, Sustainability and the Challenge of Climate Change” with Dr Orville Grey and Dr Hugh Simmonds at Ebenezer Holiness Church of God. The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre is a transformative tool which seeks to safeguard and improve the tourism product in Jamaica and countries around the world as well to ensure the sustainability of tourism globally. The names of five individuals and two organisations were announced by Bennett at the memorial award luncheon as recipients of the tourism resilience awards. Arlene Amitirigala, a Jamaican writer, speaker – Dr Pamela Appelt, Howard L. Shearer, Dr Mary Anne Chambers, Adaoma Patterson, Mary Bishop, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, and Air Canada Vacations – we and podcaster, was the emcee for the event. Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer CARDIOLOGIST DR Bryan A. Smith has been appointed a Presidential Fellow for 2023- 2024 in the United States. DR SMITH, who is of Jamaican descent, follows in the footsteps of Dr Garth Walker, who was named a White House Fellow in 2021-2022, and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former secretary of state, the late General Colin Powell. In a social media post, Smith said he was honoured to be named a White House Fellow. “I am thrilled to be named a 20232024 White House Fellow. So grateful to be among so many courageous, thoughtful, and compassionate leaders, and I am honoured to be included with this inspiring group,” he posted. Founded in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson, the White House Fellows program is one of America’s most prestigious programmes for leadership and public service. White House Fellowships offer exceptional emerging leaders first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. Dr Smith told The Gleaner that he credited his Jamaican upbringing for the progress he has made in life. His mother, Beverley Beckford, who was born in Kingston, is a past student of Alpha Academy and The University of the West Indies, while his father, Paul Smith, is brother to musician Ernie Smith and was born in St Ann. The third of four children, Dr Smith’s oldest sister, Charmaine Wright, is also a medical doctor. His other sisters are Kristen Smith, an attorney, and Rebecca Fensemaker. Fensemaker participated in the 2006 GraceKennedy Birthright fellowship. Dr Smith said that, although he was not born in Jamaica, he visits the country every opportunity he gets. He noted that he was last on the island with his wife in May of this year. “I credit my Jamaica heritage for being the person I am,” he said. Dr Smith said he got into medicine because of his love for science, as well as his desire to be of service to others, especially those in underserved communities. “Over the past 10 years, I have treated hundreds of patients for heart problems, the cause of death in the United States, especially among African-Americans. I want to have an impact, especially on the national level,” he said. SPECIALTY He noted that, as a heart failure cardiologist, he specialises in treating heart transplant patients and managing their care. Dr Smith will be posted to the Social Security Administration for the duration of his fellowship. Dr Smith, who lives in Mundelein, Illinois, operates from the University of Chicago and is a health equity expert whose work focuses on health disparities in cardiovascular disease. He serves on the Chicago board of the American Heart Association, where he is co-chair of its Health Equity Advisory Committee, and, as a spokesperson, he provides trusted medical information through television, radio, and print media. He founded the University of Chicago Heart and Vascular Center Mentorship Program for minority high-school students interested in medicine, and he is an associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency, focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) efforts. He has authored numerous publications, and his research addresses racial disparities in the management of heart failure. He received an MD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BA in biology from Harvard University. Describing Walker, the 2021-22 White House Fellow, as a mentor, Dr Smith said they are great friends. “I am honoured to follow in his and General Powell’s footsteps by being named a White House Fellow,” he said. He credited his Jamaican heritage for his leadership qualities and his devotion to service to others. “Inequalities are ingrained in our society but we have the tools to do better,” he said. editorial@gleanerjm.com Diana Winters wins Edith Baxter Memorial Award From left: Wendy McClung, executive vice president, Baxter Media; Diana Winters, winner of the Edith Baxter Memorial Award; and Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, Jamaica. CONTRIBUTED Dr Bryan Smith a credit to Jamaican heritage Cardiologist named among 2023-2024 White House Fellows Dr Bryan A Smith, cardiologist of Jamaican parentage who has been named a 2023-2024 White House Fellow. CONTRIBUTED
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