MONTREAL – As the world celebrates International Woman’s Day Saturday, Montreal is honouring one of the most generous women in its Caribbean community.
Gemma Raeburn-Baynes is being recognized with the Black Community Service Award for her 50 years of community service.
“I started to reflect on the things I’ve done for 50 years and I’m saying ‘Oh my God, how did I do this? This is crazy!'” she told Global News.
Crazy, but true.
Gemma moved to Montreal from Grenada when she was 13 years old and immediately started volunteering at her local church in Park Extension.
“I taught the choir, I gathered all the kids from the schools and formed a little children’s choir and we would sing for mass.”
And the list goes on.
“I did the Miss Black Quebec Pageant, the Montreal Carnival Pageant. I trained women to be self-motivated and instil pride in themselves,” she explains.
Gemma is also the brains behind two colourful Caribbean spring events in Montreal: Carifiesta, an annual carnival now in its 38th year; and A Taste of the Caribbean, the largest indoor food and cultural festival in Canada.
It’s no wonder her friends and family know her as “The Energizer Bunny”– she just keeps going and going.
For tickets to attend Saturday’s event, contact the Black Community Resource Centre at 514-342-2247.
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