In the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemic, the notion of “tourism resilience” has been thrusted to the forefront of the global discourse on the future and sustainability of international tourism. While travel and tourism has been traditionally considered one of the most resilient segments of the global economy, it has also proven to be simultaneously and disproportionately prone to shocks, due to the impact of disruptive events on perceptions of destination attractiveness and security. y. Such disruptive events include natural disasters, climate change impacts and bio-diversity loss, food insecurity, political instability and conflicts, the threat of terror attacks, cyber-crime and cyber security issues, economic recessions and indeed epidemics and pandemics, as exemplified by the current crisis.

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Jam-walk, May 2022

Source: CTV Toronto

Getting active helping to raise money to give kids a brighter future. Participants hit the streets as part of the annual Jam-walk 5 km walk and brunch raising funds to build schools for underserved communities in Jamaica.  Over 100 people laced up their shoes for the 13th annual on behalf of Helping Hands Jamaica foundation. Monies raised will be allocated to build schools and support education in Jamaica where 85% of children in Jamaica don't make it past the 6th grade due to lack of resources and spaces to learn, HHJF provides a facility with spacious and safe classroom facilities, bathrooms, kitchens, etc.

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Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation To Build School In Honour of Denise Jones

Source: Steve McLean | www.samaritanmag.com

One Jamaican Canadian is paying tribute to another by raising funds to build a school in her honour through his Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation.

"It's with the heaviest heart and the fondest memories of Denise Jones, I ask you to support our school build effort in 2021 in her name. $100,000 is our goal," writes Karl Hale, founder of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, on his Facebook page.

"She was a wonderful, caring, kind and a loving mother, wife, friend as well as founding member of HHJF and we dedicate our next school to Denise Jones," he continues.

"Her passion to provide access to education for children in the most vulnerable communities in Jamaica was contagious and inspiring. A pillar of strength and guidance for each and every one of us. Denise and her legacy will carry on with HHJF through all of our works."

Jones served on the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation’s board for almost 15 years. Hale said they will accept tax-deductible donations in her memory to build the Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Center in Portland in 2021.

Jones was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Canada, where she became a respected actress, producer, promoter, manager, activist and much more as she championed Black and Caribbean arts and culture while acting as a mentor and community builder. She operated Jones and Jones Productions with her husband Allan before passing away from brain cancer at her Brampton, Ont. home on Dec. 3 at age 64.

Hale was also born in Jamaica and represented the country as a tennis player from the late 1980s through the mid-2000s. He now consults tennis clubs, professionals, events, resorts and associations through Hale Tennis Consulting, is the president of the Caribbean Cup Tennis Series, and, since 2006, has been the Rogers Cup ATP/WTA Toronto Tournament director.

Hale founded the Daniel Nestor Celebrity Charity Event, which has raised more than $1 million for North York General Hospital and Tennis Canada’s “Go for Gold” program that supports junior competitive development programs across the country. He’s also involved in many philanthropic activities for the Jamaican community and founded the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation.

The Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation has been involved with the development and construction of more than 20 Jamaican schools. Its motto is “Participate, Educate, Elevate” because it believes providing the opportunity for an education can eliminate the barriers to a child's success.

The Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation offers organizations and individuals a chance to take part in working holidays where team members come together to help build schools while also being given time to take part in tours, activities and relaxation. No construction experience is necessary to take part.

While this year’s voluntourism school build trip was cancelled due to COVID-19, the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and its partners were able to fulfill a commitment to St. Martin Infant and Primary in St. Mary by adding: an infant department with four classrooms; two additional classrooms; a resource room/library; a guidance counselling unit; a water harvesting system; and a fenced playground.

The Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation has six partners.

The Oracabessa Foundation was created in 1997 by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell to serve as a catalyst for sustainable development and make a positive impact in the town of Oracabessa.

The Stephen Tulloch Foundation was launched in 2009 to assist underprivileged youth with opportunities to be successful and provide them with the same opportunities as other children.

Kisko Products makes freeze pops and has also assisted Canadian schools and charities through fundraising. Company president Mark Josephs is a Jamaican Canadian and a Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation board member.

BREDS' mission is to foster community empowerment through programs designed to enhance the education, vocational training, recreation and livelihoods of Treasure Beach community members and to ensure the sustainability of the environment that nurtures the community.

Food For The Poor (FFP)-Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country. Its goal is to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children it serves through emergency relief aid and programs in the areas of housing, food, medical, water, sanitation, education, agriculture, outreach and micro-enterprise.

The Caribbean Chinese Association was founded in 1977 to keep its members in touch and connected, sustain their culture and heritage, and build a healthier community.

In addition to accepting cash donations and gifts, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation also raises funds through an annual gala and walkathon.

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation honours Jamaican Canadian Icon Denise Jones

Source: Michael Thomas | www.torontocaribbean.com

Sadly, Canada’s entertainment industry lost a giant in the person of Denise Jones of “Jones and Jones Entertainment” who passed away on December 3rd, 2020 after a battle with cancer.

Jones was not only a promoter of musical talent but she wore many hats and one of them was a founding board member to her beloved Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation that was based in her home parish of Portland Jamaica where she grew up.

As a result of this devastating news, HHJF has chosen to dedicate the money raised during their “Lend a Helping Hand” capital campaign to construct the Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Center in Portland Jamaica, where Denise Jones grew up, in her memory to commemorate her incredible spirit and dedication.

Once complete, the Center will create a lasting and meaningful legacy of Denise Jones, where she grew up and carry on her vision of eliminating the barriers to education for children

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Natasha Borota whose company (The It Factor) manages the administration of the HHJF and has known Denise Jones for the better part of a decade about her drive, determination and how her legacy continues to stand tall.

Borota told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “She was a champion for education for the children of Jamaica. She was always thinking outside of the box, to bring people on board, to spread the word. She gave opportunity to people in the music industry from Jamaica who came to Canada.”

“She drove me to be better,” Borota said. “She tested me always and that definitely made me better at what I do.”

Borota told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper the school in honour of Jones, would be ready to accommodate children in the fall of 2021. “This school is our 24th school. We provide access to education in a safe place for learning. A lot of the schools that we build are in areas where the schools are not equipped for learning. Sometimes they might not have running water, no lunchroom, no rooms for professors, no washroom facilities or a safe playground, so we actually add all of those things on every one of our school builds.”

Borota said that the schools also serve the communities in more ways than one. “The schools can be a community gathering place for elders if they have community projects and allocate food. We are open to those things to make sure that there are strong communities.”

The foundation which has been around for over fifteen years now specializes in lending a helping hand to the disenfranchised communities and children of Jamaica. “Ninety to ninety-five per cent of the money raised by Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation in Canada goes directly to the community in Jamaica.

Every one of the people on the board are volunteers as was Denise Jones. We execute a few events during the year in order to raise funds to do these projects,” Borota explains.

“We have had people come on our volunteer bills from the UK, France and the U.S.A, It is important to have people here in Canada knowing what we are doing in Jamaica and every dollar counts.”

When asked how Jones would be remembered? Borota answered, “Everything that she has done has facilitated things ongoing. I feel that through her spirit her work will continue and I just think that her blessings will continue to be upon us.”

Goodwill centre to get new school courtesy of Helping Hands Jamaica

Source: The Gleaner

The Toronto-based Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF) has set out to raise CDN$100,000 to construct a new building for the Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Centre in Port Antonio, Portland.

The “Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Centre is desperately seeking assistance to upgrade its infrastructure so that it can receive recognition and certification from the Ministry of Education under which early childhood institutions should operate”, HHJF member Natasha Borota told The Gleaner.

“A new school building, with all the required amenities that are currently lacking, would help to fulfil the school’s most urgent needs,” she added.

Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Centre, which was established in September 2016, currently caters to 25 toddlers who range from three to six years old. However, it was started by its founder and principal, Tanisha Smith-Thompson, with 10 students. With the growth in the number of students, the facility outgrew the space it occupied with two other tenants in a plaza.

“This led to a litany of issues and concerns that created an unconducive and unsafe learning environment,including student exposure to lewd music and second-hand smoke, inaccessibility to the building in the early hours, high rent, flooding, no sick bay or play equipment for the children, improper furniture for young learners, and shared washroom facilities with other tenants of the plaza,” Borota said.

The school was relocated to the office area in the Port Antonio Open Bible Church, but Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Centre continues to experience hardships and hazards that have an impact on student learning. According to Borota, there are “no classroom partitions, no playground, shared bathroom for all students and staff, (and) no fences to keep students safe within the property”.

Despite these challenges, Borota said, “The parents and staff are overwhelmingly pleased with quality of care and education that their children receive from (the principal) and her staff.”

Consequently, the HHJF has decided to assist the early childhood learning facility by constructing a new building, which will be outfitted with the amenities to improve the learning environment for the toddlers. The HHJF has also decided to dedicate the project to the memory of its founder and former president, Denise Jones, who was also from the parish.

HHJF will be providing:

• A wooden school building with a corrugated metal roof, built on a solid steel-reinforced foundation

• Kitchen with fridge and stove

• Office with staff bathroom

• Sick bay

• Student bathrooms

• Four classrooms fitted with age-appropriate student furniture

• Fencing

• Playground

Construction has begun and is expected to be completed in time for the new school year in the fall of 2021.

Jamaica Tourist Board laces up in support of Helping Hands Jamaica

Source: Michael Pihach, PAX

“We believe that giving children a gift of education is the best gift we can give to Jamaica and the community,” said Angella Bennett, regional director for Canada at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

The JTB talked the talk, and walked the walk, on Saturday (Sept. 26) as a presenting sponsor at “Jam-Walk 2020,” a 5 km fundraiser in support of the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation’s school-building efforts in Jamaican communities.

The lively walkathon, which started at Palais Royale on Lakeshore Boulevard West and then proceeded along the Lake Ontario-facing Martin Goodman Trail to the Humber Bay Arch Bridge and back, aimed to raise funds for the foundation’s 23rd school, set to be built in Port Antonio, Jamaica, in July of 2021.

Saturday marked the organization's 11th annual fundraiser, which raised more than $37,000.

“All donations go back to Jamaica and helps build a school in a rural community that needs support,” Bennett told PAX at the sunny Saturday morning event, which drew roughly 60 people. “For us, it is a perfect project.”

For more than ten years, Helping Hands Jamaica has built 22 schools in Jamaica, raising more than $2 million dollars and improving the lives of generations.

One to two times a year, the organization takes a team of some 25 volunteers to Jamaica to build a school – to help with everything from nail hammering to door installations to painting – alongside a crew of local construction workers.

“We have a dedication where the principal and students come out and we get to hand the school over to the community,” said Natasha Borota, president of the It Factor Ltd, which manages the builds. “Not only are we providing access to education for kids in need in a third-world country, but we are also giving them a place in the community where elders can meet, where they can have opportunities to have votes, or have after-school programs.”

“It’s a safe place that’s conducive to learning,” said Borota.

Helping Hands Jamaica organizes the logistics for the voluntourism trips, which typically happen off season.

“It’s an experience where you’re immersed in the culture, the food, the music, and the people,” said Borota. “It’s unbelievable team building.”

This year’s trip was, unfortunately, cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the organization still managed to fulfill its commitments to funding the construction of St. Martin Infant and Primary in St. Mary, Jamaica, which was completed by local workers and will open in October.

Funds for their 2021 build in Port Antonio, which is located on the northeastern coast of Jamaica about 100 km from Kingston, are ready to go, said Borota, noting that the foundation for the new school will be completed in the coming months.

“People go down there and fall in love with the culture and the people. They form relationships,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people have gone on more than one school build.”

THE JOY OF VOLUNTOURISM

Bennett describes Port Antonio as a small community where access to electricity and internet is limited.

“For those in rural communities, they need this project more than ever,” she said, calling Port Antonio one of Jamaica’s “best kept secrets.”

“It’s not a touristy town, but it’s a town worth exploring,” she said.

She said travel advisors are in a perfect position to engage in voluntourism.

“They can join forces with these organizations, and when going down on a FAM, they can book an extra day to help the community,” said Bennett. “It’s that extra leg of what travel agents are looking for – that connection between the country, its people and how we promote it.”

Travel agents are welcome to connect with the JTB for information on ways to get involved, she said.

THE MONTHS AHEAD

As for the state of travel to Jamaica, which reopened its borders to tourism on June 15th with strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Bennett applauded those key Canadian airline partners for their readiness in providing lift to the destination.

While Canada’s 14-day quarantine order remains a challenge, there’s still a “good amount” of air seats to start, said Bennett.

Furthermore, the JTB will be launching a new campaign on October 5th in Canada to inspire travel to Jamaica.

“This winter, if we don’t make it, we’re going to be in trouble,” said Bennett. “The economy is in a really fragile state. We have to use tourism as the base to this recovery plan.”

This is based on the premise that people will feel comfortable travelling because of the comprehensive protocols Jamaica’s government, private sector and hotels have put in place to keep guests safe, she said.

“We have had no cases of COVID-19 in the hotels between a guest and a hotel worker to this date,” said Bennett. “This speaks volumes to the fact that the protocols do work.”

For more on Helping Hands Jamaica, click here.

JTB supports Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation with Jam-Walk 2020

Source: Annie Cicvaric, Travelweek

TORONTO — Nothing can replace a gloriously sunny, warm fall weekend that makes you feel like summer is still in the air. And that’s especially true after close to seven months of COVID doldrums (and counting).

The pandemic has completely upended normal life but we’re still dreaming of the future – and brighter days ahead.

These days everyday life has taken a virtual turn including work, school, music concerts and even running races, to name just a few.

So, when the invitation arrived to dust off the sneakers and join the Jamaica Tourist Board team in Toronto for a NON-VIRTUAL Jam-Walk in support of the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation – yes, an actual walk outside with industry friends and colleagues – there was no hesitation to accept. In fact it was a welcome distraction!

The Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, described as a “little boutique charity that does a great job,” by founder and former Jamaica tennis pro, Karl Hale, raised more than $37,000 with its 11th annual fundraiser walk this past weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 26.

This year, despite COVID, the organization completed a school in the Jamaican parish of St. Mary with plans in the new year to build again with a new project in Port Antonio.

To date the foundation has raised more than $2 million for education in Jamaica and is responsible for the construction of 22 schools on the island.

The Jamaica Tourist Board took an honorary role as presenting sponsor this year, with Angella Bennett, the JTB’s Regional Director, Canada, sharing a few words and chuckles before the walk got underway. “I love to walk although my knees don’t,” said Bennett with a smile.

Bennett added: “This is an organization to hit the mark and really, truly are giving back an educational experience to Jamaica, to the Jamaica community, and its children. This is the best gift you can ever give to a country and its people. I applaud the committee and the board.”

The 5km route included a picturesque waterfront stroll from Toronto’s Palais Royale along the boardwalk to the Palace Pier Park Bridge (also known as the Humber Bay Arch Bridge) and back. All participants enjoyed a post-race boxed breakfast-to-go, and especially the opportunity to stay on and socialize with new and old friends.

It was heartwarming to see everyone rally for a great cause during these challenging days. Thank you to our friends at JTB, Angella and Judy, for a delightful and empowering morning.

For more details about the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation check out https://www.helpinghandsjamaica.com.

Canadian charity builds school in St. Mary during Pandemic, Summer 2020

Canadian charity Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF) is looking to finish its latest ‘voluntourism’ project – a school gifted to residents of St Mary by late parishioner Cislyn Sinclair Cupidore and her husband, Rupert Cupidore.

The group has engaged local implementing partner Food For The Poor to construct the St Martin Infant and Primary School four-room addition in St Mary in honour of the couple’s wish for a way to help the people of the parish.

The dedication of the school is slated for mid-October due to the pandemic and out-of-country travel restrictions. However, the school will be open to students this upcoming school year.

This year’s HHJF school build was made possible by the generous estate donation of Cislyn and Rupert.

IN HONOUR OF LATE WIFE

Cislyn Sinclair Cupidore was born in St Mary in Jamaica. She migrated to the United States of America, built a life there, and was married for many years to Rupert. Even while she lived in America, Jamaica, especially the parish of St Mary, remained especially fond to her. Cislyn predeceased her husband, but after her death, he arranged for her memory to be honoured by an estate donation to the charity. In his last will and testament, it was designated that monies be used for a charitable purpose in Jamaica. The conditions were that “it had to be for something that would endure, help others, and be in St Mary,” an HHJF release outlined.

HHJF was founded by Karl Hale, former Jamaican Davis Cup player and tournament director for Canada’s prestigious Rogers Cup.

Looking Back, Looking Forward | Jamaica On Track To Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Published: Thursday | December 20, 2018 | 12:00 AMKamina Johnson Smith/Contributor

Jamaica has enjoyed a record year, as the country remains on track in its pursuit to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no one behind.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) continues to make significant strides in international relations, which has led to the strengthening of bilateral partnerships, the securing of economic and technical assistance, as well as the implementation of several projects.

…

The building of two basic schools in Wakefield, Trelawny, and Mount Pleasant in Portland in July of this year funded by members of the Toronto Carpenters Union in Canada in collaboration with Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation and Food For The Poor Canada.

Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation Raises $500K

Source: TravelPulse

MARSHA MOWERS  SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 | The Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation held their 13th Annual Gala Friday night in Toronto, raising more than $500,000 to build schools and empower youth in Jamaica.

Founded by Karl Hale, the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation seeks to improve the lives of the next generation of Jamaicans and their communities by creating a world-class education system through investment in infrastructure, resource materials and expertise.

“We had a record breaking night in thanks to many generous donors and partners who believe in our vision,” said Hale. “We are focused on helping educate as many young people in Jamaica as possible!”

Source: Sunwing Foundation

TORONTO, May 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - After an outpouring of support for the Sunwing Foundation’s recently launched Flying Start initiative, 250 backpacks filled with gently-used children’s books, essential school supplies and other necessities for learning were sent to Jamaican schools via Sunwing Airlines last month. 

The backpacks were delivered to schoolchildren across the Caribbean island, including students at Hastings Infant School, Kinloss Basic School and Salt Marsh Infant School. A donation was also made to the students at Spicy Hill Early Childhood Institution in Trelawny, a school constructed and funded by the Sunwing Foundation in partnership with Helping Hands Jamaica & Food for the Poor Canada in 2015.

Kingston-born, Toronto-based supermodel Stacey McKenzie—best known as runway coach on America's Next Top Model—worked alongside the Sunwing Foundation to hand-deliver the backpacks to the students of Spicy Hill.

JAMAICAN BORN. CANADIAN RAISED.

MAR/APR, 2017

Make money, do good. Integral to Kisko's business philosophy is the entrenched belief that purpose is as important as profit. For Kisko, running a business is not just about making money but also about positively impacting people's lives. The company creates that impact by giving back to communities, both in Canada and Jamaica.

HALE AND HELPING HANDS JAMAICA RECOGNIZED

FEB 21, 2017

The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) named Karl Hale, chairman of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation as the PTR Humanitarian of the Year at their recent 2017 International Tennis Symposium in South Carolina.

Hale played Davis Cup for his native Jamaica for a decade, serving several years as the team’s coach, and he is a former Fed Cup coach for his adopted country of Canada.  Since 2007, he has been the Tournament Director of the Rogers Cup and the Director of Racquet Sports at the prestigious Donalda Club in Toronto. 

Hale has taken Serena and other celebs, like San Diego (soon to be LA) Chargers Orlando Franklin and rapper Kardinal Offishall to Jamaica where they picked up hammers and helped to build new schools. 

So far, Helping Hands Jamaica has raised more than $1.5 million and built 13 new elementary schools.  It has impacted more than 50,000 Jamaican children.  The first school raised the literacy rate from 33% to 80% in five years.

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 15,600 members in 125 countries.  Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation is building 4 schools in Jamaica in 2017.   To participate as a volunteer or donate, go to www.helpinghandsjamaica.com

For further information:  Contact Karen McDonald Gayle (876-381-1848 or info@helpinghandsjamaica.com)

HO-SANG HELPS BUILD SCHOOL IN JAMAICA

NHL - July 10, 2015

SERENA WILLIAMS DELETES HER AIRBRUSHED PEOPLE MAGAZINE IMAGE FROM INSTAGRAM AND REPLACES IT WITH THE UNTOUCHED VERSION - AFTER A HUGE BACKLASH FROM FANS

MAY 1, 2016

DR. MARJORIE DIXON AND HER SON HELP BUILD A SCHOOL IN JAMAICA

MAR 16, 2016

"So happy to see the word being spread. We could not have said it better. Thank you to all our supporters and partners."

HELPING HANDS JAMAICA BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE CHILDREN OF JAMAICA

Alyssa Mahadeo - Toronto Caribbean - Feb 16, 2016

All across the globe, we hear of many different initiatives and organizations all working toward their own cause hoping to change the world and stimulate growth in the years to come. For over ten years the Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF) has been actively working to improve the lives of the next generation of Jamaicans, by implementing world-class education systems through financing infrastructure developments, resource materials and expertise.

Founder and Chair of Helping Hands Jamaica, Karl Hale was living in Toronto at the time and he was very much aware of the social and economical changes of his homeland in the Caribbean. Originally hailing from Falmouth, Jamaica, Hale desired to help his people in anyway that he could. Through his success as a tennis player, working as the Tournament Director of the Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament in Toronto and being a member on the board for very prestigious tennis coaching organizations, Hale had built a network of organizations and individuals that he could potentially work with to implement this mission.

HALE AND WILLIAMS GIVE BACK WITH SCHOOL BUILD

Tennis Canada - Feb 11, 2016

Tennis superstar Serena Williams and Rogers Cup Tournament Director Karl Hale put their racquets down and picked up hammers to service and fulfill critical education needs in Jamaica this past week.

Williams’ Serena Williams Fund and Hale’s Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation collaborated with their teams and 25 volunteers to build a school.  Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, hip hop and reggae superstars Sean Paul and Shaggy, gold medalist Yohan Blake and Warren Weir and MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario were all and hand to support the effort.

HELPING HANDS FOCUSES ON JAMAICAN EDUCATION

CHRIS LACKNER - The Star - Dec. 25, 2015

Rogers Cup tournament director Karl Hale is serving up aces in his native land. His charity, Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation, just celebrated its 10th year working to improve the island’s education. His new company, Sports Travel Experts, is helping fund those projects — with a helpful forehand or two from stars of the tennis world.

We spoke to Hale about his initiatives.

HELPING HANDS JAMAICA FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Share News - September 23 2015

Living comfortably with his family in Toronto and being exposed to the sport of lawn tennis at a young age separated Karl Hale from the Jamaican homeland he left behind and the many social and economic challenges the Caribbean country faces.

Not prepared for the poverty he saw on his return for the first time in a decade in the 1980s, Hale pledged to use his networks to support Jamaica.

A decade ago, he initiated a meeting with then Jamaica consul general Anne-Marie Bonner to explore ways in which he could contribute to his birth country.

HO-SANG HELPS BUILD SCHOOL IN JAMAICA

NHL - July 10, 2015

Joshua Ho-Sang has become a fan favourite during his short time with the New York Islanders. The Barclays Center crowd chanted his name as he dangled at the Islanders Blue and White Scrimmage on Wednesday, but some of his biggest fans reside in Montpelier, St. James, Jamaica and have never seen him play.

This summer, Ho-Sang was part of a group that helped build a schoolhouse in a community outside of Montego Bay in Jamaica. Ho-Sang joined Helping Hands Jamaica, a foundation of expats – his father is Jamaican-born – who build schools on the Caribbean island.

The Islanders’ prospect spent five days painting the exterior of the school, as well as helping move construction materials around the worksite.

“I wanted to try to find a way to give back,” Ho-Sang said. “It’s not like a charity thing, it’s more of a helping thing. I met an older man who was telling me about how he built schools and I said, ‘oh, I have to get in on that,’ and it was something I’d encourage everyone to do.”

JOSH HO-SANG IS WIDE AWAKE

LUKE FOX  - Sportsnet - AUGUST 27, 2016, 9:04 AM

Joshua Ho-Sang is a confident kid. He's confident in his abilities, his talent and his smarts. But that doesn't make him arrogant or selfish or sullen. And he plans to prove to the world that they're wrong to doubt him.

TORONTO — Josh Ho-Sang was late for the first day of New York Islanders training camp last fall and was told not to bother coming at all. General manager Garth Snow, who drafted the gifted prospect 28th overall in 2014, kicked him back to the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs.

Since then, not a day has gone by that the right wing with an eye-popping dangle for every disapproving word said about him hasn’t thought about his mistake.

Today, the 20-year-old Ho-Sang says the snap demotion was the best thing that could have happened to him.

He woke up.

BUILDING DREAMS IN JAMAICA

CBC - July 19, 2013

In Torontoif you say "Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment" most people will think about the Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC and the Marlies.

But residents of a rural town in Jamaica are also big MLSE fans.