Dr. Harris

Passed away after a brief illness in Ottawa, Ontario on June 13, 2014 at the age of 76 years. Formerly of Sherbourne, St.John Barbados, Berkeley is survived by Joyce Harris and their three children: Ricardo Harris, Joy Licorish (& her husband Sam) and Sharon Burke (& her husband Mark); also, eight grandchildren: Loveli, Chesed, True, Honor, Justice, Christian, Shari and Tara; siblings Marion Jemmott, Ralph, Peter and Sheila Harris. Also survived by Dr. Effuah Harris and long-time friend Dr. Shirley Brathwaite, colleagues and individuals of the Barbadian community Canada-wide with whom he shared a special relationship. Berkeley is predeceased by his sister Eunita Alexandra Codrington. A family memorial service and celebration will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Errol Barrow Memorial Trust Fund of Canada .

The Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, July 3rd 2014 at 11:00 am.
Location: Parkdale United Church, 429 Parkdale Ave., Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 1H3. There are two parking lots available at the location.

Achievements

Dr. Berkeley Harris, Probation Officer, Race Relation Consultant, community servant, came to Canada in 1969.

In Ottawa, he introduced innovative programs which included a reading program to youth in the Justice System and coordinated foster parenting for the Eastern Region of Ontario. He worked for the Ontario government for 29 years including Correctional Service Canada where he served as Probation and Aftercare Parole Officer; and for the Ottawa Board of Education where he was seconded as Multicultural Officer to address the integration of immigrant children and their families.

Berkeley was appointed as Race Relations Outreach Consultant and Manager to The Ministry of The Solicitor General, Toronto. His assignment there saw him develop and implement the Alternative Measures to the Court System Program with the Ottawa Carleton Police Force and the Ottawa Salvation Army. This successful program was heralded by Ottawa media, and was reproduced in other areas of Ontario.

As Manager of Community Policing Outreach and Development, Berkeley led a team of Consultants to address Police Community Development and Employment Equity strategies for the Province's some eighty Police Services. One of his noted projects Youth / Policing Mentoring served as a case study for Federal / Provincial relations, and gained national and international recognition at The Chiefs of Police Conference in Wyoming, USA. Berkeley also served as President of the Barbados Ottawa Association as well as the National Council of Barbadian Associations in Canada, and trustee of the Errol Barrow Memorial Trust. He also served as a qualified Fitness Instructor for the Ottawa YMWCA for thirteen years, and was a 2002 Seniors Olympic doubles tennis champion for the State of California. Berkeley was the recipient of several national and international awards: The Barbados Service Medal, The Ontario Volunteer Award for Excellence, and the Government of Ontario Amethyst Award.