Commission Head Wins Prestigious Award

The head of Nova Scotia's Human Rights Commission is the winner of a prestigious award from the Black Business and Professional Association.

Mayann Francis is the winner of a Harry Jerome Award recognizing excellence in management and leadership in a professional role.

Ms. Francis, executive director of the commission, is the latest Nova Scotian recognized by the association. Previous Harry Jerome recipients from Nova Scotia have included educator and author Carol Aylward, Senator Donald H. Oliver, human rights worker and educator Senator Calvin Ruck and former MLA and cabinet minister Wayne Adams.

The Black Business and Professional Association and IBM Canada Ltd. will present the 18th Annual Harry Jerome Awards on April 15 at the John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The Harry Jerome Awards, presented annually in four youth and three adult categories, honour excellence and achievement among African Canadians in the memory of world-class track and field athlete Harry Jerome.

The Black Business and Professional Association, based in Toronto, is a non-profit, charitable organization founded to work for understanding and equity on behalf of the community.