Grant

Dr. Grant Morris, ORB, Dip. Bldg & Eng. Tech., B.A., M.Ed., Hon. LLD

To say that Dr. Morris is grounded in community is to speak to both his professional career and to his volunteer work.

Barbados

In 1956 he was judged Mr. Most Muscular Teenager and 4 years later was the Junior Weight Lifting Champion in the 148 pound division. He represented Harrison College in football and cricket and was also a cadet and a senior scout. In community service he served on the Ways and Means Committee and as Chair of the Awards Committee of The Barbados Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and as Chair of the Awards Committee of the West Indies Chapter.

He began his working life in 1960 as Draftsman at the Barbados Ministry of Transport where he was involved in designing roads and airport infrastructure. He later joined the Natural Gas Corporation of Barbados, rising to the position of Senior Mains Assistant and Acting Distribution Superintendent.

Canada

After immigrating to Canada in 1966, his knowledge and practical experience led to an 18-year career as an Area Planner and Senior Planner with the Ontario Government. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from York University and subsequently a Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto.

In 1984, his mix of professional skill and entrepreneurial zeal resulted in the creation of his firm, Grant Morris Associates Ltd., which continues to provide expert advice on urban development to architects, engineers, surveyors and land owners. In 1991, Mr. Morris was invited to join the Ontario Municipal Board as a Tribunal Judge, where he ruled on matters governed by the Ontario Planning Act. He has also served as a guest lecturer in university programs focused on urban studies and survey work.

So in 2018 Dr. Morris published trhe Caribbean Event, 20 year Anniversary of which demonstrated the raising of $1,000 for charitable projects including bursaries and scholarships. Distribution of refurshibed computers for rural schools in the Caribbean and distribution of Christmas toys for financially challenged youths.

Awards

Dr. Morris is the recipient of many awards, including the Barbados Award for Philanthropy, the Harry Jerome Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Business and Professional Association, the African Canadian Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Service and the Pride of Barbados Award for outstanding activity in the Barbados diaspora from the Government of Barbados. Honrary Dr. of Laws conferred by the Ontario Institute of Technology now the Ontario Tech University and in 2023 was awared the order of the republic of Barbados

"Beyond Rum and Saltfish"

Personal Life

He is the son of the late J.O. Morris, a well known educator and Principal of St. Giles Boy School and brother of the late Robert (Bobby) Morris, lecturer at Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP). His older brother, Roger, is a retired Accountant residing in Canada. His stepmother, the late Emiline Morris, Principal of St. Joseph Girls’ School, instilled in him humility and the need to help those less fortunate in society.

Mr. Morris has one daughter, Suzanne, a graduate in Communications from Howard University with a Law Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She resides in Atlanta, USA.

In 2022 Dr. Morris published Harrison College, Queen's College, Commeorative Publication include some 600 pages with Bios from ove 300 graduates from the 2 schools living worldwide.

Philanthropy

Computers for the Caribbean

Dr. Morris, through the Caribbean Event and with the help of Amec Canada, has embarked upon a project of providing refurbished computers to set up computer labs mainly in rural schools throughout the Caribbean. To date, approximately 108 computers have been sent to Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua, St. Kitts and Guyana. This project is aimed at providing computer experience mainly to financially challenged children.

The Caribbean Event

While his professional expertise is well known in many circles, he is perhaps best known in Durham Region for his commitment to serving others and to giving back to the community.

Each year at what has become known as “The Caribbean Event”, Dr. Morris and his significant other Patricia Sammy, open their home to hundreds of supporters and members of the Caribbean-Canadian community to raise money for scholarships and financial support to students in Barbados, the Caribbean and in Canada.

Through this Event, along with personal contributions, Dr. Morris has also pledged an endowment targeted at $1 million to assist students in need attending the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). This is in addition to providing some $30,000.00 yearly for 18 Bursaries and Scholarships for students attending Junior/High School, College and University.

Scholarships & Bursuries Awarded

Within the last 12 years, the Caribbean Event’s contributions to the community include the following:

Approximately $347,904.00 to our Endowment Fund at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).
$67,595.00 to the Downsview Youth Covenant aimed at positive development of financially challenged youth in the Jane Finch area.
$173,150.00 to local Bursaries and Scholarships.
$1,950.00 towards St. Michael Alumni Association’s Scholarship.
$8,240.54 towards its computer initiative program for Caribbean countries. To date, the following countries have benefited, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and St. Lucia
$6,000.00 to support Aids research programs at Harrison College & Queen’s College in Barbados
$5,000.00 to assist with the Grenada Relief Fund.
$1,000.00 to McMaster University for Cancer Research.
$8,750.00 to aid two students with medical problems, one with operations to prevent total blindness and another to assist with her deformed feet.
$12,000.00 to our first Robert Morris Masters Scholarship. This student has now graduated with an Executive MBA.
$7,000.00 for other charitable projects.

Grant

Philanthropy

Contact Us