By: Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
Two longtime community leaders have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County’s top honours, recognizing decades of service, advocacy and leadership across the region.
The MCC announced that Emelda Byrne, Director of Education for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, will receive the Herb Gray Harmony Award, while retired paediatrician Dr. Mark Awuku has been named the 2026 MCC Champion Award recipient. Both will be formally honoured at the MCC Awards Gala on May 1, 2026, at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts.
“For more than two decades, the MCC Awards Gala has recognized individuals who are dedicated to helping others and making our community a more welcoming place for all,” said Fred Francis, the MCC’s executive director. “Both of these worthy recipients exemplify the values and dedication to community that these awards represent.”
The Herb Gray Harmony Award, presented by WFCU Credit Union, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to building an inclusive and welcoming community. Byrne, who has spent more than 35 years in Catholic education, is being recognized for her leadership in advancing equity, dignity and student success throughout the WECDSB.
Byrne joined the board in 1987 and has served as a teacher, vice-principal, principal and senior administrator. In 2021, she became the first woman to serve as Director of Education in the board’s history. She currently leads the WECDSB’s Equity Action Plan, which includes culturally responsive teaching, Indigenous learning initiatives and system-wide professional development as part of the board’s broader anti-racism strategy.
Her community involvement extends well beyond the school system. Byrne has worked closely with the MCC, helping launch its Education Program in 2022, and has partnered with organizations including the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, United Way and Windsor Police Service on initiatives supporting mental health, bullying prevention, youth engagement and diversity awareness.
The MCC Champion Award, presented by Cogeco, recognizes first-generation Canadians whose leadership has made a lasting impact on Windsor–Essex. This year’s honouree, Dr. Mark Awuku, is a respected paediatrician whose career spanned more than 30 years of service to children and families.
Born in Ghana, Awuku earned his medical degree from the University of Ghana before completing postgraduate training in paediatrics and paediatric critical care at the University of Toronto. He later established his medical practice in Windsor, where he served as Chief of Paediatrics at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and as a professor at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s Windsor campus.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Ontario Medical Association Presidential Award, the Spirit of Medicine Award from Windsor Regional Hospital and the title of Ontario Paediatrician of the Year in 2017. The University of Windsor also awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws for his impact on medicine, education and community service.
Even in retirement, Awuku remains active in mentorship and community initiatives, reflecting what the MCC describes as the “true spirit” of the Champion Award.
The gala will also feature the Kathleen Thomas Inspire Award, presented by St. Clair College, which recognizes a newcomer whose resilience and determination embody the promise of opportunity in Canada. The 2026 recipient will be announced live during the event.
The MCC is inviting residents to attend the celebration on May 1 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $175, with sponsorship opportunities available. More information is available at www.themcc.com or by contacting the MCC office at 519‑255‑1127, ext. 127.
