About

President – Kamta “Roy” Singh

Kamta “Roy” Singh isn’t only the President of Caribbean Canada Heart Health Education, he is also one of the founding members. He is the CEO of Singh Enterprises Incorporation and KRS Singh Inc owner of four Tim Horton’s franchisee.

As president I am looking forward to continue working with each of you to make a difference in the Caribbean. I have a great team of volunteers with a proven records that speak for themselves. He has a long history of volunteering with sporting , cultural and community organizations. He is the past president of The Guyana Association of Manitoba for 8 years and presently executive members. He is also the past executive member of WIICCOM, Indo Canadian Arts & Cultural Center, Rama Krishna temple and Passage of Canada. He had been invited to speak for passage of Canada, at University of Winnipeg and Manitoba of his success as an entrepreneur. In 2005 the University of Manitoba made a video of him called “Manitoba is my Home”.

Currently the President of Lions Cricket and Sports Club and The Manitoba Hindu Seniors organization. He plays and coaches cricket for over 27 years. He played and represent Manitoba in both western and Provincial cricket tournaments. He volunteers with Tim Bits Sports and sponsors many young people attending the Tim Horton’s children camp every year. He is responsible to build two cricket ground and two cricket nets in Winnipeg and the first Artificial cricket pitch and practice nets in Manitoba.

Vice President – Dr. Sandra Sukhan

Dr. Sandra Sukhan has served as the Honorary Consul for Guyana to Manitoba since 2013. She immigrated from Guyana to Canada in 1970, making Winnipeg her home since that time. She holds a PhD in Environmental Studies where her interest is in the social environment. She also has a Magesteriate in Environmental Studies, a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Education, a Diploma in Sustainability Education, a Vocational Teaching Certificate, and a Certificate in Adult Education.

She is a teacher-educator, leading a team of curriculum consultants responsible for quality assurance in academic programs at Manitoba’s largest college. She is also a licenced hairstylist with more than 40 years’ experience as a journeyperson. She is a published author in the areas of social justice.

Dr. Sukhan has actively volunteered for more than 40 years, both locally and internationally. She has travelled extensively to over fifty countries both for pleasure and for business. She is one of the founding members of the Caribbean Canada Heart Health Education Committee where she hopes to advance education in the areas of heart health and healthy living in general. She loves to walk and hike and has completed several half marathons as part of her practice of healthy living.

Dr. Sukhan is married and has three daughters and four grandchildren.

Secretary General – Dr. Paramjit S. Tapia

Dr. Paramjit Tappia is currently a Clinical Research Scientist in the Asper Clinical Research Institute, St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has published over 100 full-length papers in scientific journals and books in the area of cardiovascular sciences, which have been cited more than 2,700 times with an h-index of 32. He is the co-editor of 2 books in the field of cardiovascular health and serves on the Editorial Board of 3 international journals. Dr. Tappia is one of the founding members of the Winnipeg based Caribbean Canada Heart Health Education, a recently initiated program for the promotion of cardiovascular health in the Caribbean. Dr. Tappia has received Excellence in Teaching Awards, been invited to speak at local, national and international scientific conferences and served on the scientific advisory boards as well as on organizing committees for several local and international meetings.

Secretary Education – Dr. June Marion James, O.M., BSc., BSc(Med), FRCPC, FAAAAI., Hon Dip(RRC)

June Marion, born in Trinidad, came to Canada to pursue University degree in Science. She was first woman of color admitted to Manitoba Medical school. June is a certified specialist in both Paediatrics and Clinical Allergy and Immunology; was an Assistant Professor at the Un. of Manitoba, department of Medicine, and a Consultant in Allergy and Asthma. In addition to Professional practice at the Winnipeg Clinic she was Chair of Ethics and Research (still on the Committee), later Chair of the Executive Committee and for one year added responsibilities as acting Chief Executive Officer, while running a very large Allergy and Asthma practice. She did Research in Asthma, has a number of publications to her credit and founded the First Family Asthma program in Canada. She received the Cross of Lorraine from the Manitoba Lung Association and later won Woman of the Year award for this initiative.

She served as a Councillor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, and later elected President, was a member of the Provincial Pharmacare Committee, and Manitoba Health Appeal Board. For excellence in her specialty was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Asthma Allergy and Immunology (FAAAAI). In 2000 she was honored as Manitoba Physician of the Year for contributions to Medicine and the Community.

Following in her father’s footsteps, she was very involved in community during her professional life.

Firstly, in Immigration and settlement with Citizenship Council of Manitoba, then President; also Board of Trustees of United Way, Vice President Community Legal Education Association; within the YMYWCA, served on Social Action Committee, the Board; The Board of Governor’s St. John’s Ravenscourt; The Winnipeg Foundation where she was chair of the Grants Committee; and with Physicians Committee Fund raising Campaign for the Canadian Human Rights Museum.

She was Chairperson of many organisations including the Manitoba Museum, CAA Manitoba, Advisory Committee for Federal Judicial appointments in Manitoba, Harambee Housing Cooperative, with her Executive developed a $5.5M- 54 unit affordable housing complex, which has a multinational clientele.

June is a founding member, later President, of the Congress of Black Women of Manitoba (COBW ), where women were encouraged to further their own and children`s education, 1960-1970 many women from Caribbean despite Grade 12 standing could only be admitted to Canada under the Domestics program, (a 24/7 work schedule), she presented a brief to Manitoba legislature “Employment Standards for Domestics” which passed unanimously.

Within the recent past gave her personal finances to establish the COBW Scholarship Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation to ensure secured future funding for young women.

Now fully retired, she is active in Anglican Community at her parish church, St. Bartholomew, and St. John`s College (Un. of Man). June serves as Secretary Treasurer to the Women’s Inter-church Council of Canada.

Appreciation awards come from the Congress of Black Women, and Black History month Committee, she is a recipient of Medals for Queen’s Golden Jubilee, Canada Confederation 125, featured in Lesley Hughes publication `Why I chose Canada’; cited in the International Black Studies Primer by Dr. Keith Sandiford, The Black Experience in Manitoba by Darryl Stevenson, Who`s Who in International Women, Who`s Who in Black Canada.

June was selected for the 50th Anniversary publication (2012) of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago celebrating renowned nationals in Canada, received Volunteer Centre of Manitoba Award for outstanding leadership; granted Honorary degree from Red River College and was named to the Order of Manitoba, the Province`s highest achievement award.

Public Relations – Orlando Simpson (Interim) Msc

Special Advisor – Dr. Delfin Rodriguez Leyva

Dr. Rodriguez was born in Holguin, Cuba, obtained a Bachelor in Sciences Degree at Pre-University on Exact Sciences Institute “Jose Marti” in Holguin, Cuba, and graduated from the Faculty of Medical Sciences “Mariana Grajales Coello” and Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba with a MD in 1996. He completed a residency in Cardiology at the University of Medical Sciences of Holguin from 1996-2000. Subsequently, he completed his Ph.D (cardiovascular medicine) at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana, Cuba. In 2004 he received a Second Degree Specialization in Critical Medicine.

Dr. Rodriguez joined the Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Medical Sciences of Holguin in 2000. From 2000 to 2015 he was faculty member as assistant and associate professor of Internal Medicine. In 2015, Dr. Rodriguez was appointed as Professor of Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. Also in 2015, Dr. Rodriguez was appointed as Associated Professor of the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology and the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba. He is also Principal Investigator of the Cardiology Translational Program as a member of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences.

Dr. Rodriguez is a Cardiologist and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Fellow of the American Heart Association.