President of the Ontario Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Dr. Mansfield Edwards, was the recipient of an Afroglobal Television award for excellence on October 21, 2017, at the International Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Edwards was one of 16 individuals across the various categories to receive an award, his in the category of Visionary. This award is given to an individual that is able to initiate or inspire others towards achieving a sustainable vision. The individual exemplifies great passion, leadership and commitment to the advancement of society.
The award, which is given by an organization outside of the Adventist sphere and spans all of Canada, is a testament to Edwards sensitivity to the responsibility of the church to the community.
Speaking to the significance of the recognition, Edwards said, “It’s always humbling because there are scores of unsung heroes out there making their contribution but not being noticed.”
Among the other distinguished recipients being recognized for excellence in their respective category by Afroglobal Television were the Honourable Tony Ince, Minister of Public Service Commission, Nova Scotia, and Michael Thompson, Toronto City Councilor.
A Track Record of Service to Community
Edwards, who has served the York Regional Police as voluntary chaplain since 2005, has received numerous other awards for his service to the community over the years including the Mayor’s Award in Markham, Ontario, in 2006 and 2010.
He has a passion for communications as well as community service, tracing back to his years in pastoral ministry in Jamaica. Combining these interests, he founded Discover the Power, a television ministry program aired on Vision TV, Hope TV, Afroglobal Television and worldwide via satellite, acting out Jesus’ mandate to “go ye into all the world.”
Over the course of his diverse career, Edwards also served as Chaplain for the Association of Black Law Enforcers (ABLE), co-chair of the Montreal Black Ministers Executive Council and committee member and chaplain of the Canadian Federation of Inter-Cultural Friendship.
In his continued work as a chaplain for York Regional Police, as well as other community engagements, Edwards posited that “the world is our parish. It’s the mission field to which we have been assigned. We exist for the purpose of the world, not just for the purpose of ourselves and our own needs.”
His wife of 33 years, Sharon, was there to celebrate with him. Family is everything to Dr. Edwards, who says, “part of my responsibility to serve the community is the fact that I have to model that to my two sons.”
Afroglobal Television is a 24-hour global super channel that informs, empowers, uplifts and entertains, with exceptional programming focused on Africa and the Diaspora.
Since 2004, the awards program has identified and recognized hard work and excellence, which produce role models, especially for youth in their Crossover Mentorship Program. Award categories include Leadership, Enterprise, Science and Technology, Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Award, Professional Achievement, Visionary, Heritage, Global Impact, Marcus Garvey Memorial Award, Rising Star, Media, Entertainment, Renaissance, Development, Lifetime Achievement and The Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award.
Distinguished Previous Recipients
Past recipients include Olympic Gold Medalist, Daniel Igali; Nobel Prize Winner, Professor Wole Soyinka; movie and television star, Isaiah Washington; Nuclear Scientist, Dr. Sylvester Osamusali; YWCA International President, Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro; Hollywood Actress, Vivica A. Fox; William H. Osborne, President & CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada; Legendary Singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, among other highly accomplished individuals and organizations.
