Anti-carding activists honoured by Coun. Green at John Holland Awards

The John Holland Awardsrecognized two members of the city's anti-carding movement with a new award Saturday.

Celebrating Hamilton's cultural heritage, with afocus on the contributions of African Canadians,the awards event handed outawards in 10 categories.

The new award,introduced by Coun. Matthew Greenat the gala, is calledTheEvelyn Myrie Award for Political Action and isnamed after the event's co-chair.

MyriesaidGreen came up with the award and surprised her with his selection for the awardSaturday night.

The award will go to "those who are dedicated to advancing the causes of social justice, anti-racism, ending gender inequality and anti-discrimination," Green said. He thought the 20th anniversary of the John Holland Awards would be a good time to honour Myrie's contributions over the past two decades.

"Who praises the praiser?" he said.

Green presented the award toKayonne Christy and Kermeisha Williams, two anti-carding activists associated with the Black, Brown, Red Lives Matter March that took place in December 2014. The two women are the founding members of the McMaster Womanist club, which hosts events and conversations on topics includingrace, gender andLGBTQ issues.

"Under their leadership they create positive space for women of colour both on campus and in the community," Green said.

"Their leadership as strong black women, their ability to bring people together, mobilize on social justice issues and their commitment to standing firm against inequality and oppression is in the perfect spirit of the awards' namesake Evelyn Myrie," he said.

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Myrie said she's "proud" of the women.

"I understand that they're two committed young women, with whom I feel privileged to associate my name," said Myrie.

Myrieadded that the two women are emulating the very steps she took on her path,"speaking out about social injustices and becoming change agents," two of her most important passions.

In addition to Christy and Williams,Myriedescribed the rest of the evening as "phenomenal." She said her e-mailinboxis full of notes of congratulations and praise fromHamiltonians.

"(The night) made them feel like their community is embracing them," she said.

Below is a full list of the rest of the awards recipients from Saturday night.

• Nelson Mandela Youth Award Chanelle Thomas
• Raymond G. Lewis Award Halle Bovill
• Youth Achievement Award Philippa Blake
• Spectator Award Rahma Ahmed-Abdi
• Hamilton Community News Award for Youth Achievement Jamila Abrams
• Lincoln Alexander Youth Award Alexandria Montague
• Business Award Ruth Rodney
• Arts/Professional Achievement Award Adrienne Shadd
• Community Service Award Edward Lartey