Drake honoured at Bob Marley Day ceremony in Toronto
Posted February 6, 2013 12:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Superstar rapper Drake was one of eight Torontonians honoured at the annual Bob Marley Day ceremony at city hall on Wednesday.
“Each year we take time to honour the best of the best: people — acting in the diversity spirit of Bob Marley’s One Love — who have worked hard to make our city a better place for all,” said Bob Marley Day Committee chair and founder Courtney Betty.
“As the diverse population continues its tremendous growth, it becomes even more critical that the doors of opportunities are open to all.”
City-builders — including retired Canadian citizenship judge Pamela Appelt and Canada Basketball assistant GM Rowan Barrett — were on hand to accept their awards, though Drake was not.
First proclaimed in 1992 under former mayor Art Eggleton, Bob Marley Day celebrates the city’s diversity on the late reggae singer’s birthday.
“Part of my goal was to see how I could help build some bridges between the police and the [black] community” Betty said.
“[Marley’s] messages of universal peace, of unity, of one love — I thought, ‘What a great thing if our city was to recognize Bob Marley Day and for this to become a vehicle building on our motto which is Diversity our Strength.’”
The event featured live music by Barret Brackin and the Band and a performance by spoken word artist Al St. Louis.
