Barenaked Ladies – Ed Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Tyler Stewart – Entertainment
Grammy nominated, Juno award winning alternative rock band.
Barenaked Ladies are an alternative rock band formed in Scarborough in 1988 who have taken the world by storm, selling over 15 million records including albums and singles during their storied career. Perhaps best known for their hit songs If I Had a $1,000,000, Pinch Me, One Week, Brian Wilson and The Old Apartment, they also wrote and perform the theme song for the hit TV series The Big Bang Theory. The band is famous for their improvisational performance style and live shows that feature light-hearted banter between songs and they regularly performsold out shows across North America.
Christine Bentley – Community
CTV News journalist and anchor for 30 years.
For more than three decades Christine Bentley was the trusted voice of CTV News Toronto, forging her career during a transformational time in media when women were an unproven faction within the industry. Bentley cut her teeth on municipal and provincial politics, quickly becoming a trusted figure in the community and winning the loyalty of hundreds of thousands of viewers across southern Ontario.
In 2009, when the Olympic torch made its way across the country, Christine Bentley was chosen to carry it through Scarborough.
In 2012, after 35 years with CFTO she moved on to pursue other interests, leaving a legacy of professionalism and community involvement. Christine Bentley has given her time and energy to charities such as the Rouge Valley Health System, The Children’s Wish Foundation, CTV’s Toy Mountain Campaign, the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Women’s Brain Health Initiative and Habitat for Humanity.
Dwayne Morgan – Arts and Culture
Spoken word artist, African Canadian Achievement Award, Harry Jerome Award and Canadian Urban Music Award recipient.
Dwayne Morgan is a two-time Canadian National Poetry Slam Champion. He began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. In 1994, he founded Up From The Roots entertainment while he was still a student in high school, to promote the positive artistic contributions of African Canadian and urban influenced artists. In 2019, he founded and co-produced the inaugural Toronto Spoken Soul Festival.
Morgan is the 2018 winner of the Sheri-D Wilson Golden Beret Award for Career Achievement in the Spoken Word. In 2016, Morgan was a finalist for the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 2013, Morgan was inducted in to the Scarborough Walk of Fame. Morgan has received both the African Canadian Achievement Award, and the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 2012, Morgan performed at Super Bowl 46, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Morgan is the winner of three Canadian Urban Music Awards (2001, 2003, 2005). In 2005, Morgan was recognized as Poet of Honour at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Vancouver, and in 2008 his contribution to the Arts and Canadian society were recognized on the Legacy Black History Month poster.
Morgan has published twelve books. In 2008, Morgan released a commemorative DVD entitled, Dwayne Morgan The First Fifteen.
Dwayne has performed for the former Governor General of Canada, The Honourable Michaelle Jean, the late leader of the NDP, Jack Layton, and has shared the stage with many of Canada’s top artists including Russell Peters, Kardinal Offishal, Jully Black, and Nelly Furtado, while opening for international artists Alicia Keys, and recording with Canadian artists, including Drake.
To further explore his creativity, Dwayne collaborated with Driftwood Studios to film, Three Knocks, a ten minute film based on his domestic violence poem of the same name, which premiered in Toronto’s Reel World Film Festival. Morgan is the producer and host of two TV shows, Poetically Speaking, and Write in Toronto, on the Afroglobal Television Network, and Bell Fibe TV1 respectively.
Dwayne’s work ethic has taken him across Canada, the United States, Jamaica, Turkey, Trinidad, Bermuda, Barbados, England, Scotland, Belgium, Budapest, Germany, France, Norway, Ghana, and Holland. His emphasis on quality has driven his success, and has made him a well-respected component of Toronto’s urban music community, as well as the North American, and Global, spoken word scenes.
Gerry Phillips – Community
Served in provincial legislature for 24 years. Portfolios include: Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Labour, Government Services, Energy and Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Chair of Cabinet.
Before entering provincial politics, Gerry Phillips served as a Scarborough Board of Education and Metropolitan Toronto School Board trustee for eleven years, eventually becoming chair of both organizations. Phillips also served on the Board of Governors of the Scarborough General Hospital (Chair 1984–87), was a president of the Bridlewood Community Association and coached in the Agincourt Lions Club Minor Hockey League for more than 30 years.
In 1987 Phillips was voted into the legislature to represent Scarborough-Agincourt. He served for 24 years and during that time was a minister in David Peterson and Dalton McGuinty’s governments. Often called the ‘voice of reason’ Phillips has served as Minister of Citizenship, Minister of Labour, Chair of the Management Board, Minister of Government Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Chair of Cabinet.
The very definition of public service, even while in opposition, Phillips tracked down evidence to force a public inquiry into the 1995 Ipperwash crisis. Another initiative he is particularly proud of spearheading is the installation of the Ontario Veterans Memorial on the lawn at Queen’s Park.
Gerry and his wife Kay, a nationally recognized quilt maker, have four children and five grandchildren.
Judie Oliver – Sports
Master swimmer, multiple world record holder, International Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee.
Lifelong Scarborough resident, Judie Oliver has been a Masters Swimmer since 1975. She has set one or more world records in eight age groups, winning countless Ontario, Canadian, American and World Championships. As one coach put it, “Judie doesn’t just break records, she smashes them.” During her career, Ms. Oliver has held over 27 world records. Currently, in the 80–84 age category, she holds six world records in five different events. Judie has earned more than 30 gold or silver medals from Masters World Championships.
In 2010 Judie was inducted into the Masters Swimming Canada Hall of Excellence. She has received the City of North York Mayor’s Medal, the Key to the City of North York, the Ontario Sports Awards Recognition Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, the Royal Lifesaving Society of Canada Medal and she is a member of the Scarborough Honour Roll.
Judie Oliver has dedicated her life to aquatics excellence as a competitor, instructor, mentor, coordinator, meet official and coach. A tireless volunteer, Judie officiated at the 1976 Olympiad for the Physically Disabled (the precursor to the current Para Olympic Games) as well as at the 2000 Special Olympics. During the 1985 Masters Games in Toronto, she served as head of the committee for awards. She’s earned a place on the Swim Ontario Roll of Honour for 30 years of service as a swim meet official.
Currently, the International Swimming Hall of Fame has placed Judie Oliver on the short list for induction.
Monika Schnarre – Arts and Culture
Winner of ‘Supermodel of the World’ Contest, youngest person to appear on the cover of American Vogue and in the pages of Sports Illustrated swim suit issue.
Born and raised in Scarborough, Monika Schnarre achieved international recognition at the age of 14 when she won the Ford Modeling Agency’s “Supermodel of the World” contest in 1986, becoming the youngest person to ever win that honour. By age 15 she was also the youngest person to have ever appeared on the cover of American Vogue and in the pages of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Monika spent her time working in New York, commuting home for school and studying. After graduating with honours from Woburn Collegiate High School, she enjoyed a short but remarkable modeling career and in 1989, wrote a book about her experiences entitled, Monika: Between You and Me.
At the age of 18, Monika moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, appearing in over 50 films and television programs. She studied journalism at UCLA and worked as a correspondent on a number of high profile projects including covering the red carpet during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Ever conscious of what she represented to the young people in her community, Monika moved back to Toronto and became an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program. Currently she is creating a global Monika Schnarre brand of eyewear, jewelry and skin care product lines.
Scarborough Historical Society – Community – one of the largest and most active historical societies in Ontario.
Lionel Purcell – (d. 2016) Past president,
played a significant role in its development and expansion. Awarded the Scarborough Citizen of the Year Award and the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.
Richard Schofield –
Executive member, founded Scarborough Archives, initiated creation of Scarborough historical plaques and the preservation and restoration of the Morrish Store/Residence.
As a non-profit local history resource dedicated to heritage preservation and education, the Scarborough Historical Society is one of the largest and most active historical societies in Ontario.
Lionel Purcell: In 1950 Lionel Purcell purchased a farm in north Scarborough. He married Rita in 1956 and together they managed Lionel’s Farm, breeding and showing Shetland Ponies all across Ontario and parts of the United States. By the early 1960’s the farm began to take in unwanted animals and eventually expanded to include a petting zoo. Soon school tours, children’s birthday parties and community events were incorporated into the farm’s activities.
Purcell began collecting horse drawn carriages, buggies and sleighs, some of which are used for corporate parties, retail displays, weddings, community events, television productions and films. He’s been awarded the Scarborough Citizen of the Year Award and the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He’s also served as Honorary Governor of the Lions International and Honorary Governor of the Royal Winter Fair.
While serving on the Scarborough Planning Board, Purcell was instrumental in identifying land that would eventually be used for the Scarborough Civic Centre. He is a past Director of the Agincourt Lions Club and the Vice President of the Rouge Valley Foundation Board of Directors.
As past president of the Scarborough Historical Society, Lionel Purcell playeda significant role in its development and expansion.
Richard Schofield: Educator, historian, archivist and author, Richard Schofield was raised in Wexford and his life’s work has been the preservation of Scarborough’s heritage. Until 1987, Schofield worked as a teacher for the Scarborough Board of Education and has won countless awards for community service. He has been an executive member of the Scarborough Historical Society since 1974. Schofield is the author of five publications and over 600 newspaper articles exploring Scarborough’s history.
Always on the lookout for new opportunities to educate the public, Richard founded the Scarborough Archives, initiated the creation and installation of Scarborough historical plaques, established an annual heritage showcase at Scarborough Town Centre and initiated the preservation and restoration of the Morrish Store/Residence. Schofield is also a founding member of the Scarborough Preservation Committee, Community Heritage Ontario, and the Bethel Pioneer/Memorial Cemetery Board.