TORONTO, June 19, 2003 -- A portrait of seven year-old child abuse and murder victim Randal Dooley was unveiled today at York University and the first recipients of the inaugural Randal Dooley Memorial Entrance Bursary were announced at a gathering of community leaders, private sector partners and university representatives.
The painting was donated to the York University Foundation by Toronto artist Sara Sniderhan, whose work honours the brief life of the 7 year-old child abuse victim, who died in 1998. The unveiling coincided with the announcement of the recipients of York University's inaugural Randal Dooley Memorial Bursary award and a performance by a former schoolmate of Randal Dooley.
The award was established through the York University Foundation in 2002 by members of the Jane-Finch community, the Jamaican Canadian Association and the Markham-African Caribbean Association. The first recipients, high school students, Tammy Nguyen and Suzanne Naraine, who were on hand for the event, were recognized for their work in the Jane-Finch community.
"Sara Sniderhan’s extraordinary portrait and the Randal Dooley award have a very special meaning for us here at York," said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna Marsden. "We are deeply grateful to community leaders, corporate partners and York’s neighbours in the Jane-Finch area for their devotion to preventing violence against children. This event is a message of hope that all of our children will have a fair chance in life."
A $16,000 donation was presented to the York University Foundation by community leaders and corporate sponsor Western Union in November 2002. Donors hope the fund will raise awareness about child abuse and the welfare of children in the community, while contributing to children’s development through education.
The fund supports an annual bursary for three students from the Jane-Finch community entering York’s Faculty of Arts. Also attending the event were York Faculty of Arts Dean Robert Drummond, York University Foundation Vice-President Jacline Nyman, and Susie Gotha, organizer of the annual T.O.’s Roots & Culture Festival, held to raise funds for the awards.
This year’s Festival will be held on July 1st at the Finch West Plaza (Weston Road and Finch Avenue). Festival organizers, in association with the City of Toronto, the Department of Canadian Heritage and Medallion Properties, hope to raise $20,000 to support the Randal Dooley award. The event will feature artists from the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia and Latin America.
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For further information, please contact:
| Nancy J. White | |
| Director, Media Relations | |
| York University | |
| 416-736-5603 | |
| whiten@yorku.ca | |
YU/066/03
