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Donnovan Simon is the consummate contributor to the community. Since moving to Calgary from Jamaica in 2001, he has been involved in numerous community organizations. He is currently the President of the Jamaican Canadian Association Alberta (JCAA). He has been leading the association since 2015. Donnovan was also President of the JCAA from 2008-2010. He has served on the board of the Caribbean Community Council (the organizers of the annual Carifest parade), the planning committee for Reggaefest as well as served on the executive of the Calgary and District Cricket League.

As President of the JCAA, Donnovan has spearheaded numerous initiatives including, financial literacy programs for youth, integration support for new Jamaicans to Calgary as well as rejuvenation of the brand of the JCAA. He was instrumental in building the organization’s strategic plan (2016-2021) as well as creating key strategic partnerships to support their flagship event, Taste of Jamaica, which is an annual showcase of Jamaican culture. He has also been the force behind the JCAA acquiring their own building in their 40th year of existence. Additionally, he has forged partnerships with other community agencies such as The Centre for Newcomers and Action Dignity to further the presence of the Jamaican community and to contribute to the cultural diversity of the city. He has also served as a mentor in the Multicultural Mentorship Programme offered by the Centre for Newcomers.

He has also been the primary architect and driver of the collaboration forum for Caribbean associations in Calgary. The Caribbean Presidents’ Forum, a collaboration of associations (representing Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Guyana, Caribbean Community Council and the Caribbean Heritage Sports Council) was formed out of Donnovan’s idea in 2017 and this collaboration has produced the Caribbean Black History Celebrations and the Caribbean Youth Summit for the last two years (2018 – 2019). In addition to his activities within the Caribbean community, Donnovan has also served on the School Council for the Ecole St Pius school for three years (2014 – 2017).

Professionally, Donnovan is an executive for a medical device manufacturing company here in Calgary. He is the author of two business books, The Way You Make Me Feel – 20 Lessons in Customer Service and Social Media Equals Social Customer: Managing Customer Experience in the Age of Social Media.