The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, CC, O.Ont., CD, QC, was born in 1922 to West Indian immigrants. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Educated at McMaster University and Osgoode Hall, in 1965 he was appointed a Queen’s Counsel and was a partner in a Hamilton law firm from 1963–79. Elected as a Member of Parliament in 1968, he served in the House of Commons until 1985. He was also Federal Minister of Labour in 1979. In 1985 he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Mr. Alexander was the first member of a minority group to serve as a Lieutenant Governor in Canada, a post he held until 1991. Youth and education were hallmarks of his mandate. To commemorate his term as Lieutenant Governor, the Province of Ontario established the Lincoln M. Alexander Award in 1993.
Since 1993, the Lincoln M. Alexander Award has recognized young people who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in eliminating racial discrimination. In 2003, the number of awards was permanently increased from two to three awards annually: two student awards and one community award. The award value was also increased so that each of three young people receive an award of $5,000, as well as a framed scroll.
Past recipients of the STUDENT AWARD include: a high school student who led anti–racism youth training groups through the local board of education; an 18–year–old who was one of 10 students selected fromacross Canada to participate in the production of Nobody’s Born a Racist, a national youth guide and video; and, a 16–year–old who was an innovator in race relations training and wrote an award-winning essay on the Holocaust.
Previous recipients of the COMMUNITY AWARD are between the ages of 16 and 25 and include: a young educator who worked actively for 10 years to increase public awareness about racial discrimination and to teach children, teens and adults how to change behaviour patterns; a 22–year–old who launched a clothing line with messages about “unlearning” racial discrimination; and a teenager who made significant contributions to his community’s race relations advisory committee.
Student Award Any secondary school student attendingan accredited provincial secondary school and planning to enter a post–secondary institution as a full–time student who is nominated by his/her school is eligible for the award.
Community Award Any resident of Ontario, between the ages of 16 and 25, nominated by a community organization or agency that works extensively in the area of race relations is eligible for the award.
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony held in Queen’s Park in early fall. The three award recipients and their nominators will be notified by telephone in advance of the awards ceremony.
Completed nomination packages must be received no later than May 31. Late submissions will be forwarded for the following year.
A nominee must have made a significant contribution towards eliminating racial prejudice or discrimination. The contribution should be sustained and innovative, demonstrating leadership and the promise of long–term improvement, greater public awareness or viable change.
A selection committee with representatives from the educational sector and community organizations will consider the nominations and select the award recipients.
Please do not include academic records, as scholastic performance is not taken into consideration. Also, volunteer activities in other areas are not taken into consideration. For information about Ontario’s volunteer recognition programs, please call the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat at 416 314–7526.
1. A completed nomination form. 2. Detailed description of the nominee and his/her achievements. 3. Letters of reference from at least two persons who can attest to the value and impact of the achievements of the nominee. 4. Additional material: Include any other material in support of this nomination (i.e., additional letters of reference, publications, media stories, artwork, essays, etc.). Please limit this material for review by the Selection Committee to items that will provide new information and insight into who the nominee is and the nature of his/her contributions towards eliminating racial prejudice or discrimination.
Please list all material enclosed to support this nomination. Please submit materials in 8.5" x 11" format. Please do not send originals of important or official documents as they will not be returned.
Lincoln M. Alexander Award Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration 400 University Avenue, 4th Floor Toronto ON M7A 2R9
Additional information and nomination forms may be obtained by contacting the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat at the address listed on this page. We can also be reached at: Telephone: 416 314–7526 Fax: 416 314–7743 Or visit our website at http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca.
(Please print clearly and complete in full)
Ms. Miss Mrs. Mr.
(The candidate must be a secondary school student attending an accredited provincial secondary school and planning to enter a post–secondary institution as a full–time student.)
Ms. Miss Mrs. Mr. Other
(The candidate must be a resident of Ontario, between the ages of 16 and 25 and nominated by a community organization or agency that works extensively in the area of race relations.)
Organization
Contact for the organization: Ms. Miss Mrs. Mr. Other
Completed nomination form Letter of nomination with appropriate signature Letters of reference (at least 2) Documentation and materials outlining the achievement of the nominee (optional)
DEADLINE: May 31
Personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture Act, R.S.O. 1990. cM.18, s.4 and will be used to determine eligibility and notify recipients of the Lincoln M. Alexander Award. For further information, please contact the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat, 400 University Avenue, 4th Floor, Toronto ON M7A 2R9, Tel. 416 314–7526.
61–541 (11/07) © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2007