Who is Harold Usher?

Harold Usher, born in Belize, is a City Councillor in London, Ontario  CANADA  who, with his election in 2000, and re-elections in 2003 and 2006, became the first and only person of African/Caribbean ancestry or African Diaspora, to be elected to London (Ontario, CANADA) City Council. He is a 1972 Civil Engineering graduate of  Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, CANADA. He worked for Bell Canada, in various Engineering/Management roles and levels for 24 years, then 1996 he embarked on other career adventures. He is also a Distinguished Toastmaster, an author (Book: PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men), an inspirational speaker and human resources development trainer, who believes that “service is the rent we pay for being on this earth.” He is mentioned in the "Who's Who in Black Canada," and in the "2010 Who's Who in Canada." He is the receipient of many awards, including: The Canada 125th Commemorative Medal; The 2000 Toastmasters International President's Citation; The 2008 Joint Professional Engineers Ontario and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers "Citizenship Award;" The 2009 London (Ontario, CANADA) Black Community Achievement Award; and The 2010 African Canadian Achievement Award (ACAA) for "Excellence in Politics."

Harold's Mission in life is: to enable, inspire and empower individuals (particularly a new generation) to better their personal disposition and to add quality and value to their lives.
 

Open Letter From Harold Usher

Greetings friends! I hope this message finds you in good health, a cheerful spirit and a positive frame of mind.

Thanks for visiting my web-site. For that I extend to YOU wishes of happiness, health, joy and prosperity - for you and your family, career, business and personal growth. I hope i can assist you in one way or another. Currently I am shamelessly committed to fulfilling my MISSION in Life: "To enable, inspire and empower individuals (in particular a new generation) to better their personal disposition, and add quality and value to their lives," as well as "expressing my ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE, whenever I can."   I simultaneously take care of myself - mentally, physically, socially, spiritually and financially, and serve my Constituents to enable them to enjoy a good quality of life, daily. I also do what I can for the less fortunate in our society, especially the homeless and those who hunger. I make donations and I volunteer whenever and wherever I can, as appropriate, especially to my church, to various causes and to Goodwill, because Goodwill recycles donated goods to create work for the marginalized, especially people with disabilities. One of my goals is to meet 1,000,000 people and touch 100,000 lives before I leave this earth.    I wish you Joy within your homes, Love within your hearts, Happiness now and always!

Margaret Cho wrote: "Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways, it can change someone else's life forever."  I believe that.

Here is another I recently heard:

Little keys open big locks
Simple words reflect great thoughts
Your smile can cure heart blocks
So keep on smiling - it rocks.

If there is anything I can do for you or you can do for me, please let me know.

In the meantime, you can check out my Book entitled: PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men at www.haroldusher.com. It is written to be read by every man and every woman who have men in theri lives, because one of every six men will contract Prostate Cancer and 20% of them will die from it. Also nine of every ten men will experience an enlarged prostate. This book makes them understand those dilemma and formulate questions to ask their doctors to help them make a good treatment of choice decision. Readers have said, the 45 chapters/390 pages book is very comforting, patient-friendly, easy to read, informative and inspirational. Check it out at www.trafford.com or www.amazon.com or www.haroldusher.com. You may order a copy from any of those sites or directly from me at husher@rogers.com (I will autograph it for you) for $34 plus $10 S&H. It is well worth the price. The bok is also available in China (in Chinese) and in Belize.

Please remind all men over 40 years of age to get tested regularly (yearly) for Prostate Cancer, because, according to estimates based on National Cancer Institute data, the number of men to be diagnosed this year (2010) with prostate cancer is expected to rise by a whopping 13 percent over last year's actual (which was one in six), and the number of deaths are expected to jump a whopping 17 percent this year over last years actual (which was 20 % of those diagnosed). See

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ prostate-cancer-deaths-up-17-percent-963 82509.html

I encourage you to obtain a copy of this book - it is better to be safe than to be sorry.

Warmest Personal Regards,

• Harold Usher, P.Eng., DTM
• City Councillor - Ward 12 (London, Ontario, CANADA)
  
• Founder and Past President: London City Hall Toastmasters Club (London, Ontario)
• PRESIDENT: "Adventures in . . ." SEMINARS & SPEECHES
  
• Board Member: Consortium for Belizean Development
  
• Honorary Chair - 2010 Father's Day Walk/Run Event for Prostate Cancer Research Fundraising (London, Ontario)  
  
• AUTHOR: PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men
  Book available at:   www.trafford.com/bookstore ; or Amazon.com; or from husher@rogers.com
  
• View book at www.trafford.com/bookstore (type: USHER   or   PROSTATE), or www.haroldusher.com
  
• *On matters of style, swim with the current; On matters of principle, stand like a rock. Thomas Jefferson

Read more about Harold Usher on his "About" or "Biography" page. (Or you can click here.) 

Business
 

Fathers Day WALK/RUN for Prostate Cancer Research

We had a successful Father's Day WALK/RUN today, fathers Day June 20, 2010, to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research. It will occur in 10 Cities across Canada. In London alone, we raised more than $50,000. Thanks to all those who participated and those who sponsored me and others. Please note, you can still make contributions by accessing "fathersdayrun.ca" and click VOLUNTEERS or at http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Father-s-Da y-Run/home.aspx

Prostate Cancer Canada - Prostate Cancer Canada

www.prostatecancer.ca

 

We had a very successful Fathers Day WALK/RUN to raise $$$ for prostate cancer research. I understand we raised over $50,000 here in London alone. Thanks to all of you who participated and also those of you who sponsored me and others. You can still contribute.

NOW, please remind all men over 40 years of age to get tested regularly (yeaarly) for Prostate Cancer, because the number of men to be diagnosed yearly with prostate cancer is expected to rise by a whopping 13 percent this year over last year's actual (which was one in six), and the number of deaths are expected to jump a whopping 17 percent this year over last years (which was 20 % of those diagnosed), according to estimates based on National Cancer Institute data. See

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ prostate-cancer-deaths-up-17-percent-963 82509.html

Men, and women who have men in their lives, would also learn a lot from my book. 

My Book, entitled "PROSTATE! PROSTATE! PROSTATE! A Problem of Men," co-authored by famed London Urologic Surgeon, Dr. Joseph Chin, helps you to handle these situation and formulate the right questions to ask to make a good decision regarding treatment of choice. It is also available in Chinese. The book is patient-friendly, easy to read and very informative and inspiring. Read more about it at www.trafford.com or at www.haroldusher.com. You can also order copies directly from me at husher@rogers.com. Cost is $34 plus $10 for S & H per copy. 

Harold Usher Honoured with African Canadian Achievement Award of Excellence - for "Excellence in Politics."

Hundreds of people filled the Jane Mallet Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, in Toronto to witness and applaud the 25th Annual African Canadian Achievement Awards (ACAA) of Excellence GALA where they honoured and paid tribute to 15 exemplary African Canadian high-achievers, who have also made significant contributions to their community and their country.

Among those honoured was City Councillor Harold Usher, P. Eng., DTM of London, Ontario, and originally from the Central American Country of Belize.

Harold received his Award for "Excellence in Politics," for Striving, Persevering and Achieving Excellence. In his remarks, he gave thanks to those who took the initiative to nominate the recipients and in particular, The Honourable jean Augustine for nominating him. he also paid tribute to those many people of all distinction who have believed in him and supported him in his many endeavours and allowed him to serve with honesty and integrity. He relayed to the audience that his MISSION in life is to "enable, inspire and empower others to experience and enjoy a good quality of life" - which was one of the enduring attraction of politics for him. He closed off by thanking his family particularly his wife Melba, whom he credited and referred to as: "the Wind beneath his Wings."

Harold Usher registered this Friday, June 18, to seek re-election for Ward 12 which he has represented for the past 10 years, first as part of the old Ward 6 and during the last term as itself.  Usher has stated on several occasions that he has some unfinished work to do to ensure certain things are in place for his constituenties and for the people of London. He stated his priorities as follows:

To continue to ensure, improve and sustain the good quality of life for our residents by continuing to:

1.        Develop a vibrant, resilient, economy that offers HOPE, creates JOBS and afford SERVICES .

2.        Provide and maintain quality services, including ;

-          a safe , healthy and peaceful environment and lifestyle

-           Services – waste and snow removal, safe drinking water provision

-           Roads, bike paths and trails

-           Recreation, sports and play facilities

-           more social and affordable housing

-           Traffic routing , calming and signalling

-           Noise control

-           Smoke control

-           Value added green technologies and products

3.        Develop a JOB CREATION environment and atmosphere with opportunities for as many trades and skills as possible, by providing services to accommodate new business opportunities. 

4.        Provision adequate and efficient transportation, including a state of the art modern Transit System moving toward a "Bus Rapid Transit" System.

5.        Establish more affordable Housing and apartments for people who are homeless, less fortunate, with disabilities and the disenfranchised.

6.        Encourage the accommodation of diversity and inclusiveness in the workplaces and the workforces as well as harmony in the neighbourhoods and the community at large. 

7.        Encourage and make way for a safe, healthy and active environment.

8.        Create  liveable communities, incorporating SMART GROWTH principles devoted to fiscally, socially and environmentally responsible land use and development.

The challenge in achieving all these will be TIME and MONEY and how innovative Council can be in working together and efficiently.

Finally, we need to respect each other, the position we hold and the people we represent and work with.

London, Ontario CANADA is known for its Health, Education, Research and Recreation facilities and institutions and the good quality of life it offers its residents - which makes it a great place for raising a family and retiring. Chech it out at www.london.ca.

I had a sensational trip to Seoul, Korea, July 7 to 11, 2010. It was without a doubt an exemplary experience, not to be forgotten, nor to just cast aside in the back of my mind. There has got to be a far reaching reason why such an opportunity presented itself in my life.

I have always advocated and inspired others to "recognize an opportunity when it presents itself." This unexpected opportunity surfaced suddenly in the form of an invitation from Curtis Poling of the U.S., representing Korean Medical Institute International (KMII). Without analyzing its pros and cons, I accepted it and cleared my calendar. I have not regretted it.

A few months ago, visiting Korea was not on my schedule or even my radar, nor did I even heard of Curtis Poling or Korean Medical Institute (KMI) – or even Korean Travel Organization (KTO), or the Korean National Cancer Center (NCC). Neither did I hear of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Now they are all part of my vocabulary. However, I had taken the initiative to pen a book on Prostate to support and advocate men getting a regular medical check-up and to take care of themselves to avoid dying from prostate cancer. I had also joined LINKEDIN and   promoted and advocated these Prostate and health initiatives, shamelessly on LINKEDIN. That's where Curtis Poling found me. Thus he invited me to the FORUM to be held in Seoul, Korea on Proton Beam Therapy treatment for Prostate Cancer. I accepted without hesitation and without question. From then on everything was made easy for me, including reservation for flights and hotels and tours.

The main purpose of the trip was to attend the FORUM and to witness the launching of Korea as a "Medical Tourism Destination," starting immediately, with the offering of their Proton Beam Therapy treatment at their national Cancer Centre, initially focussing on treatment for men with confined prostate cancer. The FORUM took place in the afternoon of Thursday July 8, 2010. Earlier in the morning we had a complete seminar on Proton Beam Therapy and a tour of the NCC Proton Beam treatment Facilities (equipment manufactured by iba).

Then we witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NCC and the KTO, establishing the Medical Tourism Initiative, whereby the NCC would provide Proton Beam Therapy treatment to men with prostate cancer from other parts of the world, especially, U.S.A., Canada, Britain, Australia, etc. The international marketing for this initiative would be done by the KMII.

Thus I and others, from the U.S.A.were invited by KMII (Curtis Poling). KTO covered all our expenses.

The serendipity of this trip was the vast knowledge and appreciation I acquired as a result. Engaging with the people of Korea, tasting the food, viewing the history, visiting the various heritage sites, including the palaces, museum, and DMZ – even stepping a few feet into North Korea. It is an experience of a lifetime. The trip was 13 hours from Toronto to Seoul non-stop, via the Polar Route. And we crossed the international date line.

I left London on Monday night for Toronto and left Toronto on Tuesday Morning July 6, at 1:30 a.m. and arrived in Seoul at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. I left Seoul at 8:50 p.m. on Sunday evening and arrived in Toronto at 8:55 p.m. on Sunday evening. And finally arrived in London at 11:50 p.m. on that Sunday night.

Follow Me

Reflection Archives

Every year, Harold writes up about his past events and experiences in his life. He calls these reflections. To view reflections, use the drop box to find the desired year .