Leadership with Heart: Four Pillars Awards Spotlight Changemakers in Halton

By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Burlington Local-News.ca

Outstanding Leaders
The Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH) hosted their annual Spring Soirée on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the OE Banquet and Conference Centre in Oakville, where they celebrated the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Four Pillars Awards. These awards recognize community members who embody the organization’s core values of Education, Community, Culture, and Harmony. This year’s honourees include Eileen Gallagher (Education), Curtis Ennis (Community), Dennis Scott (Culture), and Sergeant Keith Nakahara (Harmony).

Introduced eighteen years ago during CCAH’s 30th anniversary celebration, the Four Pillars Awards have since honoured individuals whose work and presence have positively shaped Halton’s social and cultural landscape.

Curtis Ennis, director of education for the Halton District School Board (HDSB), received the Community Pillar Award for his contributions beyond the scope of his role — a recognition he described as deeply meaningful. “I won the Community Award from the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton. And it exemplifies those who have made a contribution to the Halton community beyond the scope of their work,” he shared.

Ennis was joined at the celebration by a group of students, organized by Superintendent Aiman Flahat, from schools including M.M. Robinson and Dr. Frank J. Hayden. “That was fantastic, to have students celebrating with me,” Ennis said. “Also, to have some staff members and the vice-chair of the board there cheering — it meant a lot.”

Reflecting on his philosophy of educational leadership, Ennis emphasized the importance of schools engaging with the broader community. “I’ve always believed that schools and school boards should not be limited to the walls of the school or the school board. We are integral to the community at large, and we need to go beyond our borders to serve,” he said.

Ennis’s community involvement is far-reaching. “I’ve contributed to fundraising for the United Way for a number of years. I’ve also done work for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser for the Oakville-based organization Home Suite Hope. I did the walk — it was a very cold night — and our team raised quite a few thousand dollars.” He also supports the Halton Learning Foundation and hosts an annual Director’s Fundraiser, now in its second year.

Beyond fundraising, Ennis actively supports organizations such as Halton Black Voices and the African Caribbean Council of Halton. His leadership, he says, is guided by a vision of kindness, connection, and community.

“One of the things I’m proud of is the 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan that the Board of Trustees passed. Included in that is a commitment to kindness, connection, and community,” he explained. “I would like every student, every staff member, every member of the Halton community to think about how we can be ambassadors for kindness, how we can connect with and serve our communities. That’s something I try to model.”

Dionne Downer, newly appointed executive director of the CCAH, spoke about the significance of the awards and the community-driven selection process.

“A selection committee comprised of our Board of Directors reviews nominations put forward from the community. The Four Pillars are represented by our core values — it’s what guides our work at CCAH,” said Downer. “These awards highlight exceptional contributions in the areas of education, culture, community, and harmony.”

Downer also noted the power of representation and civic engagement exemplified by this year’s recipients. “Seeing Director Ennis receive this award, presented by the superintendent, models civic engagement. It shows our youth what’s possible when leaders reflect and serve their communities with intention,” says Downer.

The 2025 CCAH Four Pillars Awards not only honour individual achievements but also underscore the strength of a community united by values, service, and vision. Congratulations to all the recipients for their outstanding contributions to Halton.