Black Social History Group: Emerson Douyon Multiculturalism Award 2023 to 2024 Recipients

14 years ago, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) awarded Dr. Emerson Douyon the inaugural Multiculturalism Award. Dr. Douyon, who volunteered with CSC for 17 years as an advisor, played a pivotal role in shaping ethnocultural programs and inspiring others to commit to advancing multiculturalism.
In 2012, CSC renamed the award in Dr. Douyon’s honour, and since then, the Emerson Douyon Multiculturalism Award has celebrated individuals who follow in his footsteps. Over the years, 14 deserving recipients have been recognized for their contributions to the promotion of multiculturalism and diversity within CSC, and in the community.
Successful nominees of the award make real differences in their workplaces or communities by helping support CSC’s multiculturalism goals. These individuals stand out by promoting intercultural understanding, addressing cultural exclusion and radicalization, and helping ethnocultural offenders reintegrate into society. This year’s recipients check all those boxes, making a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
For the first time in the award’s history, the Emerson Douyon Multiculturalism Award has been presented not to an individual, but to a group—the Ontario Region’s Black Social History (BSH) Group. This dedicated team has made a profound impact in their workplaces and communities while advancing CSC’s multiculturalism goals.

The Black Social History Group holding their awards at the recognition ceremony held in late-October. In the photo from left to right: District Director Sherri Rousell, outgoing/former District Director Scott Tempest, Sheriff Giwa, Vonetta McGhie, Lori-Anne Beckford, Joe Brathwaite, Donovan Blair, Karen Grant, Regional Deputy Commissioner Kevin Snedden.
While the Black Social History Group has included many members over the years and now has participants across the Ontario region, it’s important to recognize the efforts of Sheri-Lynn Fraser and Tanisha Pascal, who both played an integral role in the group’s creation and early development within CSC.
Accepting the award on their behalf, and on the behalf of the entire group, are these core members—some of whom have been involved since the beginning, while others have played key roles in advancing the group over the years:
- Lori-Anne Beckford
- Donovan Blair
- Joe Brathwaite
- Sheriff Giwa
- Karen Grant, and
- Vonetta McGhie
Since its inception, the group has led several key ethnocultural initiatives. Among their notable contributions is the development of social history factors specific to Black offenders, which launched the BSH Pilot Project. They have also delivered in-reach training for CSC staff and facilitated ethnocultural sessions as part of the Parole Officer Continuous Development program, aimed at improving parole officers’ understanding and engagement with Black social history.
The BSH Group was launched in 2016 as a way to educate parole officers about the social experiences of incarcerated and community-supervised Black men. According to group members Vonetta McGhie and Lori-Anne Beckford, the initiative began with a series of email exchanges among parole officers seeking better ways to support offenders on their caseloads.
As interest grew, the initiative evolved into a formal strategy document, which eventually became the BSH project. Following a pilot period, the project became a key resource within CSC, supporting the reintegration and restoration of Black male offenders by highlighting the importance of social context.
Group member Joe Brathwaite, a parole officer with 30 years of experience, reflected on the significance of the project:
“The Black Social History project provided an opportunity to drive corporate change from the grassroots level… It allowed CSC to be dynamic and progressive in its mission.”
He added, “The Black Social History initiative exemplifies CSC’s core values in action.”
The group’s hope is for the initiative to be formally recognized in CSC policy, ensuring consistent application and resource allocation.
Sheriff Giwa, the chair of the BSH Committee, emphasized the broader impact of their work, stating, “The group speaks to the heart of what many Black people experience. The value of understanding social history cannot be understated.”
“I’m not minimizing or rationalizing offender criminality,” he added, “but I believe that context and an understanding of one’s social history offer valuable perspective and should inform our decisions.”
The BSH Group’s dedication to multiculturalism follows in the path that Dr. Douyon set many years ago. Their work continues to promote respect, diversity and inclusivity both within CSC and in the broader community.
Congratulations to the well-deserving recipients.
For more information about the annual Emerson Douyon Multiculturalism Award:
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