March 11, 2026
Rokhaya Gueye (Rok) is the Stakeholder Relations at the Carpenters Regional Council and is the Ontario Chair of Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB). A General Carpenter with a background in Construction Engineering Technician Management, she is also a certified coach and multilingual mentor. Rok is dedicated to empowering women, youth, and newcomers in the skilled trades. She has been featured on TVOkids and Télévision Francaise de l’Ontario (TFO) and delivers presentations and workshops across Ontario to English and Francophone Catholic and Public District School Boards and community organizations.
Rokhaya is a recipient of several prestigious recognitions, including Top 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100, the Changemaker Award, and the UBC Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award of Excellence. She serves on multiple nonprofit organizations across various industries and lives by
the motto: “Challenges make life interesting; overcoming them makes it meaningful.” “Vouloir, c’est pouvoir!”
Patricia Gloudon is the mother of three, grandmother of six, great grandmother of one. She was born in the island of Trinidad and migrated to the United States in 1969, to join her mother in Baltimore. She subsequently moved to New York to study Fashion Design.
In1973 she moved to Toronto, however opportunities for fashion design were limited but she continued to fulfill her dream by designing and making clothing for friends and family.
Grooming is an essential component of making a good first impression and that seems to have contributed to an agency sending her to the Bank of Nova Scotia for an interview. She joined the Bank in 1973, working in the filing room and after six months, she moved to the Accounting Department, then the Pension Fund Department. She then moved on to become the first Black woman to be on the Money Market Trade Desk and eventually became Director, of the Commercial Retail Money Market Trading Desk.
As a young man Raphael Francis realized his passion for radio, where he could sit in one place while broadcasting sound and music around the world. He’s been in the business of telecommunications for decades and shared his knowledge as a professor at Durham College.
Mr.Francis hosts a Thursday afternoon Zoom radio show called, “Soundtraks” which features reggae, calypso and classics that bring back memories and make you want to dance.
Ted is a multifaceted professional whose career reflects dedication, versatility, and service. With 23 years in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, he served as a distinguished investigator and intelligence officer in the Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit, specializing in financial integrity. His work earned him respected designations as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Fraud Specialist (CFS).
After immigrating to Canada, Ted pursued his creative passions, completing a photography degree at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). He later transitioned into healthcare, earning his Personal Support Worker certification and serving Oshawa’s senior community as an Adult Day Program Coordinator. A lifelong advocate for wellness, Ted is also a credentialed NASM (National Association of Sports Medicine) fitness professional with multiple specialized certifications. As a licensed Level 1 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) pilot and founder of UAV Special Ops, he delivers advanced aerial intelligence and imaging services. Ted continues to apply his diverse expertise across Ontario.
Sonia is Secretary to the Board of Directors and Office Manager of e-CAMP MENTORing. She attended Henley School of Business, UK as well as Durham College, Oshawa, ON, where she obtained a certificate in French Language. She is currently pursuing an honours degree in Health Studies (BHS), Faculty of Health, York University (Keele Campus).
Sonia is a creative writer and is a York University Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) multi-year award winner for her exceptional contributions to the field of creative writing: 2023 First Year winner for her outstanding piece, “ Against All Odds”. In 2024, she was the Lorna Marsden Prize awardee for Creative Writing in French. Sonia continues to write, dabble in poetry, and encourages others to use the pen to express their thoughts and feelings.
Kayode Akomolafe is a dynamic human rights advocate and seasoned legal professional with a deep commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). With decades of experience in legal practice and social justice, he has led transformative initiatives – from advancing employment equity at the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to addressing systemic barriers through research and policy.
Currently serving as Human Rights and Equity Advisor at the Durham Catholic District School Board, Kayode drives strategic efforts to dismantle systemic racism and promote bias-aware practices across educational communities. Known for his powerful communication and bridge-building across diverse groups, he inspires inclusive change at every level. Beyond his professional work, Kayode is a passionate photographer, poet, and public speaker who values family, friendship, music and nature. At the heart of all his efforts is a steadfast dedication to empowering marginalized communities and fostering dignity and belonging.
