When Ingrid Berkeley-Brown began her career in law enforcement 30 years ago, she wanted to be the best that she could could be and leave above the rank of constable.
Today the Guyana-native has risen far above that rank On January 29, she made history when she was promoted to Superintendent in Peel County, Ontario, making her the highest-ranking Black female police officer in Canada.
Berkeley-Brown was one of only two Black female recruits in a class of about 300 at the Ontario Police College in 1986, and the only Black female officer in Peel County after graduation. Her career choice is not surprising since she followed in the footsteps of her father, Cardwell Pellew, (deceased) who was a member of the Guyana Police Force.
One of 11 children, Berkeley-Brown migrated from Guyana in 1974 and completed high school at Sir Sandford Fleming in Toronto, before volunteering as a probation and parole officer. While helping young people find community service placements, she met retired Toronto cop Sid Young who suggested she consider a policing career. Five years after applying to several police services in the Greater Toronto Area and the Ontario Provincial Police, Peel made the call. Over the years, she has worked in the child abuse & sexual assault, media relations, diversity, crime prevention and uniformed patrol & investigative units.
In March 2013, Berkeley-Brown became the only Black female Police Inspectors in Peel County. Now 3 years later, she is one of only three female Superintendents in Peel County, and the highest-ranking Black female police officer in Canada..
“This is a very significant milestone,” Berkeley-Brown said. “There are 11 children and I am the only one in policing,” “I have worked hard to get to where I am and I certainly think I deserve this promotion. It’s a proud moment for me and my family.”
Berkeley-Brown hopes her milestone promotion will inspire Blacks and other minority women to pursue a career in policing and aspire to be senior officers. She also believes that..
“The key is to do everything you can to make yourself the best candidate for a position and that includes hard work, pursuing higher education and community involvement.”
Superintendent Ingrid Berkeley-Brown being presented with her new badge on 1/129/16
Remarried since 1989 to St. Lucian-born constable Joseph Berkeley who works in Peel’s Forensic Identification Services, Berkeley-Brown holds a Master’s in Leadership from the University of Guelph.
The mother of two and recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal and the United Achievers Club of Brampton Community Award is also the past president and current secretary of the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region and an avid soccer player and marathon runner.
In her new role, Berkeley-Brown is the officer in charge of 21 Division overseeing 300 members.
Cloyette Harris-Stoute is the founder of the Guyanese Girls Rock Lifestyle Platform. She is also the President of Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation, Inc. a 501(3)c non-profit organization and the Owner of Guyanese Girls Rock Apparels Brand.
Submitted by daughter, Darcy George Yvette Irving was born and raised at Saxacalli Mission on the Essequibo River. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science from Lake Head University in Toronto Canada as well as a Masters of Medical Science degree majoring in Pathology from Charles Stuart University in Australia. Yvette wanted to be of service in her homeland and later returned to Guyana where she held the position of Director…
Guyanese, Debra Amata, received the top score out of 836 students who sat for the SEA examination in Tobago this year. She scored 238.298 points and told the media her success was due to her spirituality, parents and teachers. Debra moved to Tobago in 2014 with her parents, who are both medical doctors at the Scarborough General Hospital in Tobago. Her mother, Dr Vivienne Amata, said her daughter was a well-rounded student and she was very proud of her…
Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 10, 2015 in the 29th AD, encompassing the neighborhoods of Laurelton, Rosedale, St. Albans, Addisleigh Park, Hollis, Springfield Gardens and Jamaica. The daughter of Guyanese immigrants, Assemblywoman Hyndman emigrated to the U.S. from London, England as a young child. She spent her formative years growing up in Hollis & South Ozone Park attending public schools, PS 34, IS 109, JHS 226 & John…
Fifteen year old Table Tennis Star, Chelsea Edghill, was introduced to the sport at the tender age of 9, and she has served up quite an impressive career record. The Bishop’s High School student first got her start at the Teach Them Young training Summer Camp and later at Mae’s where she regularly competed for the school. In 2006, Edghill made her first regional appearance at the inaugural tournament of the annual Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table…
“I Want to Live Again” is about a woman’s struggle to make it in America after immigrating from Guyana in South America. It deals with issues which she had to overcome to survive in Brooklyn,New York. The stories are all true but names have been changed to protect the identities of relatives and close friends. The events take place in urban settings and they are not typical of all immigrants. The book shows that anyone…
Owner and principal designer of Shasha Designs (shashadesigns.com), Keisha Edwards, says she has always had a designer’s mind. Born in Georgetown, Guyana, she recalls, as a child, sketching outfits and asking her mother, a seamstress, to bring her creations to life. In fact, coming from a line of seamstresses and tailors has given her an almost hereditary talent. She taught herself to sew, and the art of design, she says, came from God. “The seed…
Maya Tiwari (born April 16, 1952 in Liverpool Village, Guyana) is a humanitarian, world peace leader and author. Also called “Mother Maya,” she is an international teacher of Ayurveda, a health activist and the founder of the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda and Mother Om Mission. Biography Maya Tiwari was born in Guyana, the daughter of Brahmin priest Pandit Bhagawan Ramprasad Tiwari, whose family originated from Lucknow, India. Thereafter, she became a fashion designer…
The much anticipated Marvel Studios’ Black Panther movie is just 2 weeks away from hitting theatres on February 16th, and we’re so proud see one of our very own light up the big screen. Last night stars turned out for the Black Panther world premiere at L.A.’s Dolby Theatre and Letitia Wright was a red carpet favorite. The 24 year old actress, who was born in Guyana and raised in London, plays the role of Shuri the technologically proficient…
Grace Nichols is a Guyanese poet. She was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1950, the fifth of seven children. She was raised in the village of Highdam and attended the school where her father worked as headmaster and her mother taught piano lessons. At age eight she moved with her family to Georgetown, and at age sixteen she left high school with the hope of becoming a teacher. Earning a degree in communications at the University…
Sachia Vickery was born to Guyanese Parents and lives and train in Florida. She also trained with USTA and Mouratoglou Academy in France. Sashia comes from a family full of athletes.Her father was professional soccer player and her mother, Paula Liverpool, ran track in high school. Her brother plays football at South Carolina State (defensive back). Sachia Vickery qualifies for Wimbledon Singles main draw Sachia long-term goal is to win a Grand Slam and be the best…
In celebration of National Nurses Week, we honor all of the amazing women in the field. Ameela Singh is the Owner/Nurse Practitioner at Carpe Diem Concierge Medicine; a concierge/house-call medical service for adults in Maryland that she launched in early 2017. “I’m excited because this practice allows you to have a deep relationship with your medical provider, which is a golden opportunity today. Knowledge is power, and knowledge about your health sustains life.” ~ Ameela…
Congratulations to Guyanese-born Scholar, Kelly Hyles, on her recent graduation from the prestigious High School for Math, Science and Engineering in Queens, New York. The 18 year old Valedictorian will be attending Harvard University this Fall on a full scholarship, following her very impressive acceptance to a total of 21 colleges, including all 8 top Ivy Leagues schools in the US. Back in April, 2016, Kelly was also the recipient of the very first Guyanese Girls Rock Award,…
Born in Guyana, Sharmilla Persaud, with a little unwilling help from her mother, discovered her love of fashion at an early age. Finding the perfect artistic playground in her mother’s colorful saris and jewelry, a young Sharmilla went to work cutting and combining them into her own creations. At five, she moved with her family to New York, and now credits the streets of Manhattan for lending an urban edge to her aesthetic as a…
Meet Domini Alleyne, 2014 Miss Barbados Senior Fitness Queen. The 30 year old fitness model, who reings from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Den Amstel West Coast Demerara in Guyana, migrated to Barbados at age 13. She later returned to Guyana and in 2011 worked briefly for the local HJTV television channel and was also a fashion model. However, chronic overeating following a failed marriage propelled Domini to embark on her fitness journey. Here’s Domini…
Thank you Cloyette Harris-Stoute YOU ROCK!!!
#blackhistory
Congratulations Ingrid! You rock!
Congratulations my dear , i am proud of you , and it’s an honour that we were childhood friends . God blessings P