The 21st Annual Rev. John C. Holland Awards.

The Rev. John C. Holland Awards of Excellence is coming of age, with a new team full of enthusiasm as we embark on our 21st Year!!!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of friends, family, educational institutions, colleagues, businesses and acquaintances who have helped make the first 20 he event over the years. We hope that we can count on your continued support, while we call on others to partner with us through sponsorship, most specifically for the youth scholarship. “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste”.

Join us on Saturday, February 25th, 2017, inside the beautiful Grand Central Ballroom at LIUNA Station, when we will culminate Black History Month with a celebration of Black Excellence. Doors open at 5:30p.m.

The following are gala event ticket prices
General Admission: $55.00
Children (12-17): $40.00
Family Pak: $170.00
VIP Ticket: $100.00
VIP Table of 8: $800.00

The Rev. John C. Holland Awards were established in 1996 as a part of Hamilton Sesquicentennial celebrations. An initiative of the Hamilton Black History Committee, these awards serve to recognize the significant contributions of African Canadians to our entire community.

Who was John Christie Holland?

Reverend John Christie Holland was born in Hamilton in 1882 to parents who escaped slavery from southern United States and made their home in Hamilton. For 33 years he worked as a railway porter (one of the few jobs opened to Black men during that time). Despite racial discrimination and bigotry, Reverend Holland worked his way up through the ranks to become head Porter and later to the position of private car attendant with the TH&B Railway. In 1924, he became an ordained Minister and served as Pastor of Hamilton’s Stewart Memorial Church. The church has been designated an historic site by the Ontario government because of it’s solid history and connection to the Underground Railroad. Reverend Holland was well loved by Hamiltonians from all walks of life and in 1953 he was honored as Citizen of the Year, the first African Canadian to be given that recognition. In 2003, he was inducted (posthumously) into Hamilton’s prestigious Gallery of Distinction. The Rev. John C. Holland Awards were established in 1996 as a part of Hamilton Sesquicentennial celebrations. An initiative of the Hamilton Black History Committee, these awards serve to recognize the significant contributions of African Canadians to our entire community.

Our Planning Committee is led by Marlene Thomas-Osbourne, Founder & Chair, along with incoming Co-Chair Kathryn Crooks. We have amazing advisors: Doreen Johnson, Eleanor Rodney, along with our other Committee Members: Terri Bedminister, Reuben Abib, Kimberley Bayne, Heather Greaves, Jeff Holland, Sajah Stiller, Chanelle Thomas , and Shawn Washington-Purser.

Our media sponsors are:
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Community News
900 CHML
Cable 14
CHCH TV

The Awards

These awards were established to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community, with a particular focus on the contributions of African Canadians to the social, economic, and cultural life of our entire city. Since its inception in 1996, these awards have received broad support from the community. Each year hundreds of Hamiltonians join with the Black History Committee to acknowledge and celebrate excellence. These awards have become one of the premier events in our community and a valued symbol of achievement.

For more detailed information, please visit www.johnhollandawards. com