Voting is now open for Chatham-Kent’s first ever Black Excellence Awards.
Nominees are listed in alphabetical order.
Female of the year contenders include Lasean M.G. Hardy, MD; Tammy Lucas; and Deirdre McCorkindale.
Nominees for male of the year include Blake Handsor, Selwyn Jordan and Teajai Travis.
Jaxen Baker, Layla Bardyla, Camryn Dudley and Caleb Roberts are nominated for youth of the year.
Names submitted for agriculturalist of the year include Kaiya Farms, Archibald “Archie” Prince (nominated posthumously), Jeff Scott and Delores Shadd, also nominated posthumously.
Entrepreneur of the year/Black-owned business nominees include The Health House, Shawna Regan; Pour Decisions Wine Co,. Lisa Fraser; Jeral Lumley of the Social Ladybug; and Kevry and Connie Piggott of Yardie Vibez Jamaican Kitchen.
The nominees for citizen of the year include David Middleton, Floyd Porter and Mike “Bear’ Rhan.
Local citizens can cast their votes on the Black Excellence Awards & Gala Facebook page and there is a limit of one vote per email address. Voting can also be done in person at the Buxton National Historical Site & Museum between 1p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Voting closes Feb. 1 and the winners will be announced and awarded at the Black Excellence Awards gala event to be held at Retro Suites in the Derby Room Feb. 10.
