In life we have milestones and times to celebrate the steps that have brought us to any present moment. Mawunyo Komla Honore Gbedze recently marked such a moment on the occasion of his 50th year of life and experiences and his most recent achievements in Canada.
The future path was not clear for Honore, as his friends and colleagues call him, from the time he first began to dream of a place far away and his desire to be all he could be. What was certain was the foundation that would carry him. These included the words of his elders and the examples and sage advice of his great grandfather, a man that all in the region came to for guidance. That place of origin was Agou, Abayeme, Togo, where under the African sun he played, learned and soon grew old enough to help his mother in the local market. Once he began training as a chef it led him to other locations and conditions including Ghana. There while honing his culinary skills, Honore’s cultural horizons broadened. Through his service in the hospitality industry he engaged with North Americans, Germans and Scandinavians.
Reflection on Early Days in Canada
On December 16, 2000 he arrived in Canada, that distant land of his dreams. Not knowing much about the country, alone and far from home and with no English, only Togolese and French, Honore began an entirely new chapter of his life.
“It’s all about the people you meet along the way,” Honore says of his settling in, and his advice to other newcomers. The first impressions he made on people and their willingness to lend a hand in the way they could, helped. They listened and suggested paths to take. At times they helped with all the paperwork that inevitably engulfs every new arrival, hoping to make Canada their home
The first guidance he got was to find a job. Try to work at it – in one place, for as long as it took, until he got settled.
The steps ahead of him in addition to basic survival required that he get familiar with the new culture. He worked to sustain himself ethically, in spirit, and in the practicalities of daily life. Not easy.
Part of the orientation time included hours of volunteer work with the seniors and for the church activities and the clergy of a church community that took him in those early months. He cooked and maintained the grounds. He spent time with seniors, with travelers, with newcomers like himself. People who came for the comfort and company that helped him also.
Personal Growth Enabled Professional Outreach
While working at that one, steady job as a chef, and not an easy role, he advanced himself with what is available to anyone anywhere at any stage. He read. He continued his education, striving for something better. He prepared himself for a better financial future and lay the foundation to develop what he hoped to be able to offer his children if he were to be blessed in this way.
Honore enriched his daily devotion to prayers and to self-education with personal retreats in hillsides to read and to reflect. He chose practical and positive books. He was attentive to his communities and saw the needs, especially for information for new arrivals from Sudan, Congo and other places.
He knew he wanted to encourage young people dealing with societal ways, immigrants who came alone and left all that was familiar to them as well as families adapting to a new situation. All were now in a new community, he wanted to help others to integrate and thrive and to shine, not just survive.
Still in the midst of adjustment struggles he managed to buy The Afro News. The publication began as the soul satisfying work of Michelle Lee Williams, who typed up and distributed social, sports and local news of interest to the Afro and Caribbean community on 8 x11 paper pages.
Honore carried on the original intent to instill pride and a sense of belonging in the black community. His focus was to build up the strength of the individuals that were his audience and the group identity and to expand the reach and scope of the paper. His vision was to bridge the space of understanding and interest between all the Afro groups with each other and with the general community.
The Afro News rebranded as TAN and carried local, Canadian and international news. It profiled activists and artists. It featured articles in French, and advice for families in all aspects of life from communication to commerce and education. He featured local businesses and agencies who interacted with ‘his’ growing community.
Community Connection and Contribution
Moving beyond reporting on his community, Honore’s stewardship of The Afro News invested in the community’ strengths and future. That meant reaching the kids and their parents and schools and the workplace.
Parallel with the Afro News was the radio show he hosted and produced on Public Radio in the form of LA PALABRE on 96.1fm. Through these vehicles he was able to raise awareness with politicians, social influencers and intellectuals to highlight issues and to work towards solutions.
A sampling of the interviewees include: John Nuraney, Libby Davies, Hedy Fry, Raj Chouhan, Peter Julian, Harry Bloy, Shane Simpson, John Horgan, Senator Yonah Martin, Mobina Jaffer, John Oliver, Dr Clement Apack, Quist Adede, Ministers, Jason Kenney, Harjit Sajjan, Ahmed Hussen, and many more.
“Every effort I’m making every day is to create a better opportunity for others to improve their own lives and to build a better community,” says Honore.
Honore Gbedze has run The Afro New with no government funding. He founded the not for profit Sage Foundation to support youth education and leadership, the VIADUC Foundation, Baobab Foundation and the Africa People Foundation. All are involved with community building and support here in Canada and in Africa.
He has been an ardent volunteer at the civic level in addition to his profile with caring politicians who knew of him provincially and federally. Differences, small and significant were made through various opportunities one of which is closest to his hear. For 6 years he served on the multi-culture committee in Coquitlam, sharing his input relating to the city, multi-cultural perspective and helping to keep the many backgrounds new citizens come with. A role he loves and it made a difference.
Accolades and Awards
Recognition followed and included:
- YMCA PEACE MAKERS AWARDS 2010
- PROVINCIAL NESIKA BUSINESS AWARDS B.C 2011, (MULTICULTURAL AWARD B.C.)
- QUEEN ELIZABETH II DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL 2012
“No immigrant arrives to deceive the system and to work around the culture and its demands. But, they are vulnerable to being taken advantage of by employers and certainly, they can be lost in the system”, says Honore. There is so much detail that it confuses and exhausts a newcomer. Nuances of customs, language and skills that must be mastered to simply find a place to learn and to earn.
Proudest Moments
Victories in the everyday most certainly count, yet there are those special moments that can really turn a situation into a societal success. For Honore, these included:
Roundtable meeting with then Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the US Ambassador and Consular staff. And since then both provincial and federal ministers
“Things that had to be done”, said Honore as he helped bring about an important piece of legislation under BC’s Employment Standards Act. It “establishes a legal framework for regulating tips and tip pooling and protecting workers’ rights with respect to tips and gratuities,” according to the province.
It began right where many movements are born – in the kitchen, but not the one in his home. At his place of work where Honore experienced and also saw deep injustice. Recent arrivals and diverse immigrant groups were in vulnerable positions in entry level jobs. Many didn’t know their rights or were afraid to rock the boat.
The legislation changed in 2019 after his consistent efforts and supply of evidence to the authorities who could make it happen for workers. It began with his letters to Christy Clark’s administration and continued with pleas for support to the current Premier, John Horgan.
Not only were tips not to be touched by management, in as many cases as would comply staff were reimbursed for what was withheld for the past 5 years. The legislation also included various other types of protections for workers and their families including on the job safety.
Personal Struggle not Eliminated by Service to Others
Still, his own situation didn’t get any better, not in the context of his employment. A workplace injury was mired in red tape and both a poor response by management and a built in bias in the system. He found that he had to represent himself with WCAT, the tribunal. He stood his ground and won, yet it has still not been concluded and closed adequately five years later. Never short for battles, he somehow managed to fight for what is right and to work within the system.
He drew as has been noted, on the strengths and sage advice of his ancestral legacy. He stays humble and often reflects on his Great Grandfather’s words to him as he looks to his own future and those of other refugees and new arrivals.
“Honore, you will get everything but it will come to you later in life.” Perhaps due to his own experience, the great grandfather warned that “if you rush to get what you want, you will die quickly and early. No one will benefit from what you began. If you find success later in life, you will leave a legacy and others who come after you can enjoy the fruits of your labour.”
Honore Gbedze Chairman CEO Privilege Group Holdings Photo by Sombilon Studios.1jpg
Lessons Learned and Shared with Others
Have patience for what might come next. He was often in the right place but it was his openness and personality that prepared him for the next opportunity… this is what he means by maturity of age… it is not just about making the money, it is about learning how to make it happen.
Relationships matter, greatly. “People may not know who you are and what you stand for, not everyone wants to devote time to the most basic building block – the building of a relationship. They might want to take something but not build what is so necessary – a relationship”
What lessons did he learn from creating his business?
“You must bring your heart to it, but you must also take the steps. Pay the bills, even as it is sometimes painful, and even as you prepare for your tomorrow and build your business and face the challenges to overcome and to grow your own enterprise – all in the interests of making a difference in life.
Be cautious with the company you keep, be it in work or social settings. Don’t take short cuts when it comes to your seeking connections to colleagues or community in life as it is about the quality of your relationships”. Honore raised himself from age 15 on and he was encouraged to keep decency and decorum and this guided him then and to this day.
“Strive to enjoy life, not look back. Enjoy every moment.” Honore survived COVID, injury and periods of being very alone for long periods of time. “Especially when you first arrive, self-guide and if you are working, give to your work sincerely, but also keep a reserve for yourself so you have energy and resources to help, and to protect yourself and have security for yourself.”
Recently, expressing gratitude to those who have been witness to his progress over the years and to the small but significant gathering that celebrated his 50th birthday and milestone of maturity with him, he concluded with these words:
“Knowing there was no one to turn to when problems arrived, I set myself a fundamental principle. As my elders told me, to always carefully consider my behaviors and decisions. In any situation, I decided and acted – not to impress anyone but to be a good role model to myself and my son.”
By: Helena Kaufman
The journey continues.
