Glenn Gomes to be honored and Dr. Keren Brathwaite will be featured speaker
Contact Staff
When members and frie
nds of the Antigua & Barbuda Association of Montreal gather at Buffet Il Gabbiano in LaSalle on Saturday, November 17, to celebrate the annual Independence Banquet and Dance, the spotlight will be on this year’s special honoree, businessman Glenn Gomes, who has been a staunch supporter of many of the association’s initiatives.
His company, Exportation Multi Tires, was at the forefront of last year’s disaster relief effort to assist the homeland, when Barbuda was completely devastated by Hurricane Irma in the summer of 2017.
With his assistance, Montrealers rallied and were able to send three 20-foot containers of supplies as well as thousands of dollars to assist in the rebuilding efforts.
Gomes, who was born in Antigua but spent much of his life here in Montreal, built his new-and-used tire company from scratch into a multi-million dollar business that provides employment for several people, and has been a source of assistance to causes in our community, especially youth and sports.
According to Ms. Erene Anthony, one of the driving forces behind the association and an organizer of the upcoming event, “Glen has always been a presence around the association, as far back as when his mother, Ms. Joan Gomes was the president. After that he continued to be involved and was exceptional in his support of the relief efforts.”
Sharing the spotlight on the evening of November 17 is the featured speaker, Dr. Keren Brathwaite, an illustrious award- winning academic out of the University of Toronto who was one of the founding members of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Toronto.
Dr. Brathwaite, who completed her undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies, earned her graduate degrees at U of T and worked extensively on the advancement of equity and access to university education in Ontario.
In 2006, she was inducted as an Officer of the Most Distinguished Order of Merit of Antigua and Barbuda.
This year, organizers have made a special effort to ensure that guests at the annual celebration will be fully entertained with guaranteed performances by Claire Jean Charles, one of Montreal’s most captivating singers as well as saxophonist extraordinaire Julian McIntosh.
They will also make presentations to winners of the Ada Moore Bursaries and to the Alzheimer Association of Montreal.
The event gets underway at 6:00 PM and Pat Dillon-Moore will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Church Service
Antiguans and Barbudans in Montreal will recognize the 37th anniversary of Antigua & Barbuda Independence with a church service on Sunday, November 4, at 4:30 PM at the St. Phillip’s Anglican Church, 3400 Connaught (corner Sherbrooke in Montreal West). Officiating minister will be Father James Pratt. Reception follows.
Info. 450-672 3286 and 514-489 2864.
