In celebration of Black History Month, CRIEC is recognizing the top – Black People Making History in Calgary and its surrounding area. As newcomers in Calgary, our heritage may not be ingrained into Calgary’s history; however, we are part of history in the making, with significant contributions to the economy, environment, and the moral social fabric at the micro and macro level.
History matters because it helps us as individuals and societies to understand how our communities evolved – and what they value. As such, it is important that Black immigrants embrace Black History Month. It is also important that we (CRIEC) recognize Black immigrants for their significant contributions and impact in Calgary (and its surrounding areas) today.
Black People Making History in Arts
Wakefield Brewster
Poet & Spoken Word Artist, Educator, Producer and Literacy Advocate
In January 1999, Wakefield Brewster stepped onto his first stage as a Poet and Spoken Word Artist. Today, he is known as one of Canada’s most powerful Professional Performance Poets.
A BlackMan raised in Toronto by parents from Barbados, he has resided in Calgary since 2006, and it is in the New West where Wakefield has been able to truly flourish as a Poet and as a Person.
Throughout his career, Wakefield has been published in several Anthologies:
- T-Dot Griots, Trafford on Demand Publishing, 2004
- The Great Black North, Frontenac House, 2013
- The Calgary Project, Frontenac House, 2014
- The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology, Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2019
Since moving to Calgary, he has produced two Professional Recordings to his credit:
- Wakefield Brewster, da lyrical pitbull
Produced by Kill Whitey Records, 2007
- east2west
Produced by Spanish Fly Music, 2008
Here is a list of roles he is currently enlisted in:
- Professional Poet & Spoken Word Artist
- Professional Poetic Interpreter™
- Calgary’s 1st City Slam Poetry Champion, 2006
- Calgary’s only 3-Time Calgary Poetry Slam Champion & Team Captain; 2006, 2008, 2009
- Inaugural Poet Of Honour, People’s Poetry Festival, 2011
- Calgary Poet Laureate Official Shortlist/Finalist 2012, 2020
- Calgary Poet Laureate Unofficial Shortlist/Finalist 2014, 2016, 2018
- Inaugural Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre 2019 – 2022
- Inaugural TD ARTIST INCUBATOR at Arts Commons, Poet-In-Residence, 2021-2022
- Canadian League Of Poets Member
- Former Elephant Artist’s Relief Society Board Member
- Peter Gzowski Foundation For Literacy Calgary Poet Laureate, 2021
- Registered Massage Therapist and owner of WakeFull Wellness Registered Massage Therapy & HealingSpace
- Community Builder by engaging in Volunteering, Leadership and Mentorship for Youth and through The Arts
- Advocate for Literacy and The Humanities; Healing Arts & Alternative Medicine; Alcoholism & Addictions; Mental Wellness & Recovery
- In 2019, he was appointed as The Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre House in Calgary, Alberta.
- In 2021, Wakefield joined The League Of Canadian Poets in order to become a more integral part of Canada’s Literary scene, while representing the standards of Diversity and Representation.
- In 2023, he became the TD INCUBATOR Fellow for the 2023-2024 Season, Mentoring over 30 Up-And-Coming Calgary Artists from all disciplines.
- Also in 2023, Frontenac House Publishing House signed Wakefield on to release his very first full-length Poetry Manuscript. To be release in April 2024 during National Poetry Month: WakeWord
After all that the stage has given Wakefield, he has discovered other ways that he may repay his beloved Poetry and Arts Communities, by performing silently, backstage for them, providing productions.
He accomplishes this mission as a Connector, Creator, Curator, and Collaborator.
Wakefield finds that underneath the many hats and the many hoodies he wears, resides a most wonderful life.
Black People Making History in Business
Adedoyin Omotara
Creative Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author
Adedoyin Omotara is a Creative Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author with a compelling vision to use her platforms to invest in the dream of girls and in the strength of women.
Her passion to live a fuller and more expressive life made her leave her successful Corporate Engineering career to become an entrepreneur.
She is the founder of Adoniaabeauty, Adoniaacollective, Adoniaacollege, Adoniaarealestate and Unmask Your Beauty Community.
All her business platforms have been built to empower women at different stages of life.
You can find some of her work via the following links.
Ronnie Mupambwa
Founder and Owner of Makore Hospitality
From starting as a young DJ and event promoter in Calgary. Ronnie Mupambwa is an accomplished entrepreneur originally from Zimbabwe. He is the founder and owner of Makore Hospitality which is the umbrella company that owns & operates some of the best hospitality venues in Downtown Calgary: Mister M restaurant, Papi bar & Please don’t tell bar.
From graduating with honours in computer graphics and web design, Ronnie is an accomplished designer and creative director for his businesses. He has been awarded DJ and Marketing & Music Director of The Year, multiple times in Canada and the USA (Dallas, Texas).
Black People Making History in Human Resources
Angelah Kusero
Director – Workforce Development (Alberta) & Chief Strategist DEI
Angelah is a visionary, dedicated to the upskilling and manufacturing of the workforce of tomorrow. She is laser-focused on profound outcomes for Manpower’s workforce development clients, across multiple brands. She is agile, creative, and an architect of career development strategies that allow her clients to create and transform their future.
An advocate for closing the gender gap in the world of work, Angelah has dedicated her career to further the interests of women in the workplace, welcoming and creating pathways for immigrants, and focusing on those not properly represented in senior and decision-making leadership roles.
Angelah is a remarkable individual with a unique blend of cultural heritage and a deep appreciation for her adopted home, Canada. As a Kenya-born Canadian, she carries a profound sense of gratitude towards Canada and its citizens, which ignites her burning desire to give back and create a positive impact for others. Her journey is guided by her relentless enthusiasm and passion for empowering others to embrace their uniqueness, take charge of their education, career, and overall well-being, and thrive in a world of boundless opportunities. In her role as Chief Strategist; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Angelah is called upon to regularly present and share her point of view.
With a background in Law and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, specializing in Human relations, Angelah brings a unique blend of knowledge and expertise to drive effective workforce development and diversity initiatives.
In addition to her significant portfolio with Manpower she is an avid networker, community builder and shares her passion through extensive volunteering. Further, Angelah serves as a Community Champion, Advisory Group Member and Mentor at CRIEC. Her countless speaking events include the Women In Need Society and the Calgary Public Library. Immigrant Services Calgary and the Calgary Local Immigrant Partnership Employment Working Group have also provided a platform for Angelah to contribute to improving newcomer experiences.
Beyond Alberta, Angelah’ s commitment to guiding, empowering, and teaching the leaders of tomorrow has led her to volunteer for organizations such as Children International Summer Villages, World University Service Canada, UNICEF, Halifax Regional Police Youth Program and more.
Angelah resides in Calgary with her partner and two sons, drawing inspiration and support from her family as they collectively strive to create a more inclusive prosperous future for individuals and communities alike.
Angelah’ s story is a testament to the transformative power of dedication, compassion, and unwavering determination. Having participated in a Manpower workforce development program in her early days in Calgary, to her current role leading all Alberta programs is an inspirational reminder of the profound difference one person can make when driven by a vision of positive change.
Highlights Shared
- Current Chief Strategist of DEI at Manpower and Chair of the Alberta-wide Manpower CARES committee—an Employee Resource Group. This committee is dedicated to educating and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, promoting a sense of belonging, and supporting individuals to bring their whole selves to work.
- Passionate advocate for closing the gender gap in the world of work. Dedicated to furthering the interests of women in the workplace, welcoming and creating pathways for immigrants, and focusing on those not properly represented in senior and decision-making leadership roles.
- Awarded Inclusive Leader 2023 by Immigrant Champions of Canada.
- Member of the Employer Council at CRIEC and mentor to various women, newcomer, and youth-focused groups.
- Sought-after and trusted speaker for Workforce Development trends, Career Pathways, upskilling and reskilling, and education readiness at industry events.
- Professional mentor for Black Students in the Black Career Mentorship Program at MRU.
- Advisory Board Member for the Technological Education & Skills Network for Africa, providing strategic partnerships and community engagement insights.
Black People Making History in Oil and Gas
Dr. Chika Onwuekwe, KC, ICD.D
Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Trican Wells Service Ltd.
Dr. Chika B. Onwuekwe, KC is the Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Trican Well Service Ltd., a foremost oil and gas service company. He sits on the Boards of ENMAX Corporation, the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Alberta Chapter. He was previously the first General Counsel at PTW Energy Services Ltd. Dr. Onwuekwe articled and subsequently practiced at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada (formerly Macleod Dixon LLP) and MLT Aikins LLP (formerly MacPherson Leslie Tyerman LLP) in Calgary. He was formerly an Assistant Professor of Law and Society at the University of Calgary, an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at LBS Pan African University, Lagos, Nigeria, Experienced Senior at KPMG International (Tax, Legal & Business Regulatory Division) Lagos office and a Consultant to both Justice Canada and Health Canada. Dr. Onwuekwe is a registered Canadian Trademark Agent, a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society of Alberta, the Association of General Counsel of Alberta, and an ACC Thought Leader. He is the Chair of BlackNorth Initiative Mentorship and Sponsorship Committee, and the Chair of BlackNorth Initiative Alberta Chapter (www.blacknorth.ca). Dr. Onwuekwe holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Sandra Ryan-Robinson
Senior Manager, Business Unit Controller for Pembina Pipeline Corporation
Sandra is the Senior Manager, Business Unit Controller for Pembina Pipeline Corporation since 2019. In this role she leads the financial reporting, business planning and commercial contract administration and revenue accounting for Pembina’s largest business unit.
Prior to joining Pembina, Sandra was a Senior Manager at Deloitte where she provided complex technical accounting consulting services for 2 years.
Sandra held various leadership positions during her 22 years with TC Energy. She has served as Principal Financial Officer for TC Pipeline LP, for three years, where she led the financial, management accounting and business planning strategy and supported access to the capital market. For five years, Sandra served as Director of Accounting, which included responsibility for financial accounting and planning for the company’s Canadian and Mexico pipelines business units. Sandra held other leadership roles responsible for technical/complex accounting and conversion to IFRS, M&A due diligence, regulatory services, and treasury cash management.
She is committed to supporting her community, has served on the board of the Calgary Black Chamber for two years, was recently named board chair and has been selected to sit on the Amateur Sports Committee for Parks Foundation Calgary. Sandra has been a passionate volunteer mentor, for over 20 years including volunteering with the Haskayne School of Business, and developed, and led Pembina Women in Finance mentorship.
Sandra is an avid and permanent student of golf, her home course is Mickelson National, but enjoys trying out new courses. She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, including travelling with her husband and two adult children.
Black People Making History in Law
Edos Omorotionmwan
Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public
Edos is an accomplished legal professional with a career in law spanning over 26 years in Nigeria and Canada. He serves as the Managing Lawyer at EO Law and has had a distinguished legal career. He has been recognized for his unwavering commitment to justice, profound legal expertise, and exemplary advocacy.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Benin, Nigeria, Edos furthered his legal education by earning a Master of Law degree from the Lagos State University in Nigeria.
Edos’ extensive experience in the legal field includes valuable contributions to numerous law firms in Nigeria.
He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2016 and his career is marked by integrity, diligence, and a passion for upholding the principles of law.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Edos is dedicated to giving back to the community. He generously offers legal advisory services to a diverse clientele, exemplifying his commitment to fostering legal awareness and accessibility. He has personally mentored more than 30 lawyers and created opportunities to integrate more internationally trained lawyers successfully.
Edos’ passion for community engagement extends to his role as a volunteer at Calgary Legal Guidance, where he actively contributes to the initiatives that promote legal assistance for those in need. Additionally, he serves as a mentor with the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council, providing guidance and support to newcomers navigating the Canadian professional landscape.
As a Managing Lawyer of EO Law, Edos brings a wealth of experience, legal acumen, and a strong commitment to community service, making him a respected leader in the legal industry and a paragon of legal excellence.
Black People Making History in Science and Innovation
Dr. Charles Odame-Ankrah (Ph.D)
Principal Scientist, Global Analyzer Systems Ltd.
Dr. Charles Odame-Ankrah is an air quality research chemist by profession and has three inventions patented in the last two years by the United States Patent Office, 17 European Countries, India, Australia, and China. These inventions to his credit are changing the world through the use of better technology for air quality monitoring as we fight Climate change. He is a keynote speaker and has travelled the world to present his cutting-edge technology at many conferences. He works with Global Analyzer Systems Ltd. to help oil and gas companies with their emissions measurements, reporting and auditing.
Charles was voted community leader of the year 2022 by Diversity Magazine, receive the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Medal in January 2023. He also Received the Calgary Black Chambers Achievement Awards for STEM in 2023. Charles was featured for his immense work as one of the Top 75 Canadians of 2023 and shortlisted as a finalist in the City of Calgary Awards as Community Advocate Individual category. His work towards systems change for the black community in Calgary was recognized by the Calgary Foundation Spur Magazine 2022 Winter edition addressing the power of strength in numbers whiles using multi-faceted approach in dealing with endemic problems in the African community in Calgary.
Charles has board roles with minority communities with a goal of advocacy for diversity and inclusion. Charles is a public service volunteer with numerous workshops for at-risk youth in the community. He advocates against racial discrimination in the African communities in Calgary. He is a founding member of the African Coalition in Calgary and also Bridge to Oasis (BTO) Foundation, an organization serving black seniors across Alberta. In addition, Dr. Odame-Ankrah is a community leader focusing on “words to action”. He partnered with researchers at the University of Lethbridge to study issues affecting new immigrants, with a focus on men’s mental health and inclusion in Canada.
As a proven community leader and an advocate for mental health in minority communities in Calgary, Dr. Odame-Ankrah is passionate about sharing his experience as well as his commitment for more inclusion and empowerment of immigrants in Canada. As mentioned earlier, he serves on many non-profit boards and he is the current President of the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Calgary. He has had groundbreaking funding from the federal and provincial governments and built a community centre for Ghanaian-Canadians in Calgary for the first time ever, serving newcomers, the youth and seniors, etc. He serves as a board member of the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council as well. It is his dream to see Africans in Canada work together more collaboratively to ensure that their collective needs are met. He has done this in the past through Covid-19 Vaccine drive in the African communities and continues to work with several black serving community leaders to advance causes that impact our communities positively.
He is a unifier. When Latjor Tuel was killed by police, Charles led community leaders across the country to demand justice for Latjor through peaceful protests and engagements.
Black People Making History in Technology
D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika, P.Eng, PMP, LSSBB
Executive Director, TalentED YYC
D’Andre Wilson-Ihejirika was born and raised in The Bahamas and immigrated to Canada to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering at McGill University before subsequently working in the Oil and Gas industry and then pivoting into the EdTech space.
D’Andre is currently the Executive Director of Work Integrated Learning at Calgary Economic Development, leading the TalentEDyyc initiative. In her current role, D’Andre works with local post-secondary institutions, businesses and non-profit organizations to better align learning to work through student placements and projects. Over the course of her career, D’Andre has worked with various non-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions to develop programming and streamline processes that create equitable access to opportunities.
D’Andre is a licensed professional engineer (P.Eng) and project management professional (PMP) and acts as a mentor with Black Engineers Canada. D’Andre is also pursuing her PhD in engineering education focused on better understanding the alignment of student experience to career pathways for underrepresented groups and is leading research on Black experiences in STEM through the Canadian Black Scientists Network. D’Andre sits as the co-chair of the EDI group for the Canadian Engineering Education Association, Executive Board Member for the LearningCITY Collective, as well as President of the Board for non-profit BrainSTEM Alliance, where she oversees the design and delivery of programming for underrepresented youth in STEM.
D’Andre is also a wife and mother to three young children.