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"Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do."

-Shaquille O'Neal

Belize

Travel to the land where Harold originates!

Harold Usher was born in Belize. He came to Canada via Jamaica to pursue a new life.

Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. It is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Kriol and Spanish are also widely spoken. With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²) of territory and 320,000 people (2008 est.),[2] the population density is the lowest in the Central American region and one of the lowest in the world. Belize is the least populous non-island nation outside of Europe. The country's population growth rate, 2.21% (2008 est.),[3] is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the western hemisphere. Culturally, Belize considers itself to be both Caribbean and Central American.

Read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize#History

The Ushers of Belize can be traced back to 1786, when the original Ushers arrived in this Central American mainland when it was simply a settlement occupied by explorers who were in search of lucrative area to explore. There they discovered logwood in abundance which they could cut and sent back to Britain to extract DYE. They later discovered Mahogany and a more lucrative market for that. It was on that market that Belize was grown and developed into a Colony, then a Country.

The Ushers arrived in 1786 to join about 100 other settlers who were occupying an area at the mouth of what is now called the Belize River. Today that is Belize City. They arrived in a sailing vessel name JUBA - a father James and fives children, Sarah (who later formed a Union with William Gabourel), Mary (who later formed a Union with John Foreman), James (who later formed a Union with Mrs Jane Trapp – a free coloured woman), George who fathered a son name George, and William (who later formed a Union with a woman named Elizabeth and later with Susan or Suzannah Winter – a free coloured woman). See Usher’s of Belize Family Tree by Harold (Harry) Usher.

Harold is the Son of John (Jack) Maurice Gower Usher, who was the son of John Purcell Usher who was the son of Robert Beach Usher, who was the son of John Usher who was the son of the original James Usher.

Harold mother was Violet Elzabeth McKesey, whose grandfather (her mother’s father by the name of Haynes) came from Barbados and her father (McKesey) came from Jamaica.

Harold, known as Harry in Belize, was born in Dangriga (then known as Stann Creek) in Belize (then known as British Honduras). He Left Stann Creek at the age of two for Belize City.

He grew up in Belize City, residing first on: Victoria Street, then Paper Alley, then Usher Street, then Magazine Road.

His schooling took him through: Mrs. Panton Private School – Kinder Garden (Belize City); then Holy Redeemer Primary School - Grade 1 (Sub 1) and Grade 2 (Sub 2) Belize City; then St. Mary’s Primary School – Grade 3 (Standard 1) – Grade 8 (Standard 6) Belize City; then Belize Technical High School – Grade 9 – 12 (Form 1 to 4) Belize City; then Mayaguez Vocational High School – Mayaguez, Puerto Rico (1958-59); then

Sir George Williams (Currently Concordia) University – Montreal (1963-69 evenings, 1969-72 full time), Quebec, CANADA.

He worked at Brodies (Formerly, James Brodie & Co.) in Belize from December 1955 to January 1958.

In January 1958, he left Belize for Puerto Rico, via Miami and Havana, Cuba.

That trip took him to Miami where he stayed overnight, then on to San Juan, Puerto Rico via Havana Cuba. There in Miami, he had his first experience with prejudice or racism. It would not be his last.

In San Juan he stayed for a few days at the YMCA then was shipped off to Mayaguez, where he attended the Mayaguez Vocational High School for a year, studying Construction Drafting.

He returned to Belize in February 1959

He taught Grade 6 at Wesley Primary School from April 1959 to January 1960.

In January 1960 he left Belize for Jamaica. He first went to Montego Bay, then off to Ocho Rios where he worked at the Marakesh Hotel (Later became the Playboy Hotel) for six weeks. Actually his job there was to survey and measure the already built Hotel and draw up a new set of plans, as the plans were misplaced and plans were needed for a mortgage to be obtained for the purchase of the building and property. Sounds sleazy, but true.

He moved to Kingston, Jamaica where he worked for a firm of Architects called “West Indies Design Group” (Kirkman and McLean) and lived for a year until February 1961 when he moved back to Montego Bay. In Montego Bay, he worked for a firm of Architects “Mitchell and Associates,” until June 1963 when he left to reside in Canada.

While living and working in Montego Bay, Harold was approached by a Canadian man who almost daily, who suggested to him that he should go to Canada, because, with his talents, he would be able to use his talents much more. In response to that persuasion, he applied to become a resident of Canada and was accepted the end of May 1963 and came on July 1, 1963 with $300 in his possession and a grade 12 education.

One of the first opportunities he sought after finding a place to live and a job, was to upgrade his education. He found Sir George Williams University, downtown Montreal where he was able to attend classes in the evenings after work. He attended until he graduated as an Civil Engineer in 1969.

Today he works to inspire others and to give back to his community. His mission is “to inspire and empower individuals to better their personal disposition.”