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About Us

Barbados Canada Association

A not-for-profit organization  that supports charitable causes
with a focus on youth and health

A non-partisan association of Barbadians and friends of Barbados in Canada, Barbados Canada Association is a vehicle by which beneficial relationships between Barbados and Canada can be forged for charitable purposes.

Our Mission is to provide

Annual scholarships to youth of Barbadian heritage attending recognized universities and/or colleges in Canada

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Financial assistance to organizations that provide healthcare programs or services
for the benefit of Barbadians in Canada and Barbados
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Disaster Relief to groups and/or individuals in need of urgent assistance

2022/2023 Board of Directors

Mark Hoyte – Chair & President

Mark has spent many years in the insurance industry and is now a Senior Underwriting Insurance Specialist with one of Canada’s largest insurance companies. One of Mark’s passions is working with the youth in Canada and to this end he co-founded the Barbados Ambassadors Canada group and is the current Vice President of the Organization. He is an avid soccer player. He has coached soccer for over 20 years, first with the North Scarborough Soccer Club and is currently with the Unionville-Miliken Soccer Club. He has been involved for many years in bringing soccer teams from Barbados to Toronto for tournaments which also served to aid in the exposure of Barbadian players to coaches and scouts in Toronto and also took soccer teams to Barbados to promote and showcase the island. Mark has a close affinity to children with special needs, and to this end has worked tirelessly through the Barbados Ambassador’s group to successfully raise funds for the Ann Hill School (a Special Needs School in Barbados).

 

Reeva Goodman – Vice-President

Reeva has many years of experience in personal and commercial banking services. In her most recent role as Branch Manager at the RCB eXperience, she leads a team of advisors who not only impact client experience but act as RBC’s newest brand ambassadors. Although born and raised in Canada, she grew up in household rich with Bajan culture. Reeva’s immense love for Barbados and passion for giving back to her community, are evident in her past and current involvement in the Barbados Ball Canada Aid and Annual Independence Events. Most notable are her creative writing and acting talents as part of Standpipe Production. She also takes part in giving back to the community by mentoring students and youth. Reeva takes great pride in her Bajan history and culture and has made it her mission to inform others of all that Barbados and its people have to offer.

Cassandra Culpepper – Treasurer

Cassandra is a mother of three beautiful children (2 girls and 1 boy). Her greatest enjoyment is gained from volunteering, especially giving back to society, namely children as well as the less fortunate.  She is a member of various volunteer organizations such as Kiwanis Club of Toronto Caribbean (Director and Chair of the Service Leadership Program), Foundation Old Scholars Canada Association (President), Disaster Emergency Management, sub-committee of BCA (recording secretary), and BCA Planning Committee (recording secretary) as well as Deputy Warden of Holy Trinity Church (Thornhill). As a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Barbados South, she held various positions, namely President Elect, Vice-President, Director, Fundraising Chair and Kiwanis Advisor (youth mentor).

 

Tonya Campbell – Secretary

Tonya is also an Executive Committee member of BridgeTO, a non-profit community organization in Toronto. By profession, she is an Epidemiologist with the Ontario Public Health Sector. Her work encompasses a number of different opioid-related projects, including evaluating the impacts of policies and programs on utilization and health outcomes among people who use opioids. In her spare time, she likes travelling, reading mysteries and thrillers.

 

David Vaughn – Director-at-Large

David is also the President of the Barbados Canadian & Friends (Hamilton) Association which serves the diaspora in the Greater Hamilton Area. He is also a member of the Barbados Canada Foundaton and is also a proud supporter of the various Toronto organisations in the diaspora. He manages Lococos Fine Foods in Brantford, Ontario where he thrives on delivering outstanding customer service in a busy supermarket setting.  His hobbies include cooking, basketball, and cricket.

Wendy A. Joseph – Director-at-Large

Wendy was Born in Barbados, but grew up in Toronto from the age of 10. Her parents are of St. Lucian heritage, so you can say she is Bajan/St. Lucian/Canadian, a great mix of cultures. Wendy have been volunteering for nonprofit organizations, from the age of 15. She has a vast experience sitting on non-profit Boards of Directors. She has sat on Toronto Metropolitan University Student Board of Directors as the Vice-President of Marketing, the Toronto Chapter-International Association of Administrative Professional (IAAP) Board, as the Vice-President. The Barbados Ball Canada Aid as a Director-at-Large and Vice-President of Communications, P.R., and Marketing. Mostly recently, she sat on The Australian Wine Society – Toronto Board, as the Social Media Chair.  Currently, Wendy is volunteering for the IAAP, as the Eastern Canada Regional Director. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University in Business, Wendy has used her education and skills to help her community and mentor business students reach their potential. She looks forward to helping the Barbados Canada Association reach their goals and commitment to its members.

Albert Scheper – Director-at-Large

Albert Scheper is a Barbadian and qualified Information & Communications Technology professional who completed studies in the UK at West London College.
Early posts included working as a Computer Consultant for international firm KPMG Peat Marwick in Barbados and ICT Manager at the St. Lucia governments Computer Centre.
One of his many senior ICT posts was as Group ICT Director with a well known regional Caribbean all inclusive hotel group. This introduced and begun a journey of making technology and marketing work to transform the way businesses operate and conduct financial transactions, using the internet and online technology. Since those days he has gone on to act as Senior Consultant to many business projects in diverse areas from hotel project development to commercial farming and also operated his own successful luxury villa rental business. Among his current responsibilities include Director of a long established Barbadian shipping group of companies. His Canada/Barbados links include three Canadian children.

Charlene Lucas – Director-at-Large

Charlene is an Associate Underwriter within the insurance industry. She is passionate about volunteering especially with the youth and the elderly as she believes these two groups are the
cornerstones of any well-functioning society. Charlene spent many summers assisting at (Paredos) Daycare Center and at several elderly homes in Barbados. She strives to leave a
positive impact wherever she goes.

Joel Alleyne – Past President

Joel has worked with management across the Americas and Europe in non-profit organizations, school boards, professional service, health care, insurance, pharmaceutical, finance and government over the last thirty years. His work has included work with Senior Executives on Business and Organizational Strategy as well as Strategic Information and Technology Planning. He has worked with non-profit organizations specifically in the areas of Strategic and Organizational Planning, Information Management, and Knowledge Management. He is Chairman and principal shareholder for Crucible International Inc. – a Barbados based International Business Corporation. He has been an active supporter of the Barbados Ball in Canada over many years. He has also been a supporter of programs and events from Invest Barbados in the US, UK and Canada. As an employer in Barbados and Canada, Joel has a strong interest in the Diaspora.

 

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Barbados Canada Association (BCA) is a not-for-profit organization that supports charitable causes in the interest of Barbadians in Canada and Barbados, with a focus on youth and health.

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