A special celebration to mark the 80th birthday of Jean Augustine will take place on Sunday, Sept. 10, with donations from the event going to the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at York University.
The event features a brunch with entertainment, music and cuisine catered by celebrity chef Selwyn Richards from The Art of Catering. There will also be surprise guests who will honour and celebrate Augustine's remarkable service to the community.
In 1993, Canadian politician Jean Augustine became the first black woman elected to the Parliament of Canada. She has served on numerous boards, including the Board of Governors of York University, the Board of Trustees for The Hospital for Sick Children and as national president of the Congress of Black Women of Canada. She is an energetic advocate of social justice, and was an elementary school principal before entering federal politics. She was the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada, chair of the National Liberal Women’s Caucus, secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, and assistant deputy speaker.
The celebration will take place at the Woodbine Banquet Hall & Convention Centre from noon to 4pm on Sept. 10. Tickets are $150 per person. In lieu of gifts, guests can make a donation to York University in support of the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora.
The Honourable Jean Augustine and Carl James
Carl James was appointed as the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora for a five-year term effective July 1, 2016. James brings a strong record of scholarship and community engagement to this key position, and as chair he will focus on addressing issues and concerns related to marginalized people within a framework of equity, inclusivity and social justice.
James is the founding director of the York Centre for Education & Community and has been a member of the Faculty of Education since 1993. He is cross-appointed to the graduate programs in the Department of Sociology, and supervises graduate students in environmental studies, interdisciplinary studies, social work, and social and political thought.