TUCC's Heart and Vision Awards and Their Enduring Impact on Social Justice
The Heart and Vision Awards stand as a testament to TUCC’s significant role in acknowledging outstanding contributions to social justice. Spanning from 2009 to 2021, these awards have honoured 26 individuals for their remarkable impact.
The culmination of this legacy was marked by the final Heart & Vision concert held online on October 18th, 2021. The event celebrated awardees Ekua Asabea Blair and Lawrence Hill with performances by Jackie Richardson, Billy Newton-Davis, and Julie Michels. The evening also featured a special appearance by Poet Laureate George Elliot Clarke. For those who missed it, the concert recording is available for viewing.
Proceeds from the event went towards supporting Black youth leaders at United Church camps through the Winston and Merle Roach Camp Leadership Fund, as well as the initiatives of the Massey Center through the Nancy Peters Massey Centre Fund. Other beneficiaries of the concert proceeds include camping ministries, CRC/40 Oak Street, and TUCC’s Community Relief Fund.
The Heart & Vision Awards have left an indelible mark, not only by recognizing individuals but also by contributing to the betterment of various organizations. TUCC’s commitment to social justice extends beyond the awards ceremony, with ongoing initiatives in collaboration with partners such as:
- 40 Oaks, CRC,
- Fred Victor Center,
- Massey Centre,
- Hillcrest Lodge,
- Residences at St. Andrew’s Georgetown for Seniors Affordable Housing,
- Gibimishkaadimin,
- Finding Peter Bryce by Gumboot Productions,
- And the Great Lakes Water Walk
For a deeper dive into the Heart & Vision Awards, you can explore the award recipient profiles below as well as the acceptance speeches from 2021 and previous years on TUCC’s YouTube channel.
2021
Ekua Asabea Blair is the CEO of the Massey Centre for Women, a client-centered organization that resources pregnant and parenting adolescents. Her leadership offers support to young women and their children in challenging circumstances and challenges systemic racism in Canada.
Lawrence Hill is a brilliant and prolific author who has received numerous awards for his literary and media work. His publications cast a critical eye on Canada’s history and ask us to reflect on the roots of systemic anti-Black racism in our country.
2020
Dr. Hazel E. Hume Bigby has spent her lifetime serving congregations in Ontario and Quebec and has offered her leadership to numerous ethnic ministry units and multicultural committees, as well as to Montreal Union United Church’s anti-apartheid activism in the 1980s and ‘90s.
Reverend Dr. Anthony Bailey has served the United Church in Canada and internationally. He has exemplified selfless service to community through his anti-racism teaching, including with Ontario Police Chiefs, federal and municipal civil servants, and audiences throughout the church.
2019
The Honorable Margaret McCain founded the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation to promote publicly funded and universally accessible early childhood education. Her Early Years Studies showed that high quality early childhood education provides crucial development benefits and gives ALL children the opportunity to thrive.
2018
Senator Murray Sinclair (1951-2024) was Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He led the process which provided those affected by the legacy of residential schools with an opportunity to share their stories. The TRC’s “calls to action” offer a path to further reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous Peoples.
Dr. Eileen Antone was the Director of Aboriginal Studies and the Centre for Aboriginal Initiatives at the University of Toronto, where she also served as a faculty member. Her field of specialization has been Aboriginal knowledge and traditional ways of being and she is a member of the Elder’s Circle for University of Toronto Indigenous Initiatives.
Rev. Dr. Grafton Antone (1942-2023), a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nation, taught an Oneida language class at the University of Toronto and served as Elder in residence at First Nations House. As a United Church minister, he served three years as Speaker of the All Native Circle Conference and also founded the Toronto Urban Native Ministry.
2017
Dr. Cindy Blackstock, a member of the Gitksan First Nation, is Executive Director of First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and a Professor at McGill’s School of Social Work. Her work in child protection and Indigenous children’s rights promotes culturally based equity for First Nations children and families.
The Very Reverend Stan McKay, a member of the Fisher River Cree Nation, is a spiritual leader, teacher, and activist. He was the first Aboriginal moderator of the United Church of Canada and successfully advocated for the Church’s apology, issued in 1986, for its role in the cultural oppression of First Nations peoples.
2016
Dr. Roberta L. Jamieson is the first First Nation woman to earn a law degree in Canada. She is President of Indspire, Canada’s premiere Indigenous-led charity, whose programs and resources, including financial awards for Indigenous students, aim to close the gap in Indigenous education. She was also the first woman to serve as the Province of Ontario’s Ombudsman.
Dr. Marie Wilson is a journalist and media professional, and was one of the Commissioners who led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, examining the impacts of more than a century of Canada’s residential school system. During her media career, she was a champion for Indigenous voices and programming.
2015
Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire is a retired lieutenant-general and Senator, and an advocate for human rights, genocide prevention, and war-affected children. As Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, he demonstrated an exceptional commitment to protecting those who sought refuge with the UN forces.
Dr. Mary Jo Leddy is a theologian, human rights & peace campaigner, refugee advocate, and author. She is the founder and Director of Romero House, a Toronto-based home for refugees committed to a spirit of respect and mutual assistance.
2014
Shirley Douglas (1932-2020) was a powerful stage and screen presence and social activist. Shirley was active in the American civil rights and anti-war movements, and was a strong advocate for public health care in Canada. She was a spokesperson for the Toronto Health Coalition and Canadian Health Coalition and helped form the artist-supported group Friends of Medicare.
Jackie Richardson is one of Canada’s foremost singers of gospel, blues, and jazz and a sought-after theatrical performer. Jackie has given tirelessly of her time and talent to a wide variety of social justice and community causes including our very own Heart & Vision Awards Concert and the Regent Park School of Music.
2013
Margaret Atwood is a compelling and insightful writer whose work grapples with complex social questions. Her writing challenges us to reconsider our relationship to the environment and recognize the necessity of caring for the world around us.
The Hon. William G. Davis (1929-2021), former Ontario Premier, worked to ensure that public services benefited every citizen in the province. He also played an important role in leading the cross-border response to the crisis of acid rain.
2012
Maude Barlow has been a leader in campaigns to protect world water resources from undue commercial exploitation and to declare access to water a human right. As a Special Advisor on Water to the President of the UN General Assembly, Maude raised the issue of the protection of water resources to the world stage.
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes has built a safe congregational home for Toronto’s LGBTQIA+ community at Metropolitan Community Church and has been a brave activist on behalf of LGBTQIA+ rights in Canada. His tireless work for human rights as helped build healthy and safe communities for everyone.
2011
Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023) has inspired generations. His music tells a story of our shared humanity and of our connection to the natural world. Gordon’s music evokes empathy, a heightened awareness of those who are excluded or ignored, and an appreciation for the natural world, offering inspiration for social change.
The Very Reverend Dr. Lois Wilson (1927-2024) was a youth activist, Church leader, Canadian Senator and more. In each of her careers she spoke out on the critical social justice issues of the day, struggling to end human rights violations and working diligently to build bridges within and between faith communities and the broader society.
2010
Dr. Cathy Crowe has been a Street Nurse in downtown Toronto for over 35 years. She follows the pulse of health issues affecting homeless people and has fostered numerous coalitions and advocacy initiatives over the years. In 1998, Cathy co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC), an organization that has declared homelessness a national disaster.
The Honourable David MacDonald has been clergy, social activist, parliamentarian, and diplomat. He has contributed his leadership to issues as diverse as famine relief in Africa and the injustice inherent in Canada’s Residential School system. As a cabinet minister, he was the first Chairperson of Parliament’s Environmental Committee.
2009
Norman Jewison (1926-2024), 46 time Academy Award nominee (and 12 time winner), is known for his craft as a director but also the content of the stories he told. Mr. Jewison himself stated that “it is the movies that address civil rights and social justice that are dearest to me.” His films inspire us to ask questions and champion social justice.
Reverend Gordon Winch (1927-2023) was a United Church minister who took his work into the bars, listening to the stories of the disenfranchised people he met. Recognizing the fundamental need for people in distress to talk to someone led Rev. Winch to found a number of services dedicated to suicide prevention and addiction support including Toronto’s first Distress Centre.