A stalwart of the Caribbean household has died. All of us knew her as Bonnie Hector. Filled with grace with a fascinating smile.
Bonnie was born Cynetta Thomas in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Oct 7 1938 to Churchill and Isabelle Thomas. She was the primary of ten kids. She attended Trinidad’s well-known Tranquility Ladies Faculty, now Tranquility Secondary Faculty.
Bonnie belonged to a really culturally oriented household – her mom based the Dolcets choir, one in every of Trinidad’s extra fashionable choirs of the day. She would carry her love for Trinidad and Caribbean cultural together with her at all times; she by no means tire of selling it.
She got here from part of Trinidad that was on the forefront of the event of steelband. Pan was in her blood, and she or he liked it. She was a lifelong promoter of the instrument and the music that emerged from it.
After her highschool commencement, Bonnie went to England to start the following stage of her training. There she married Guyana- born Steve Hector and bore three kids Roxanne, Sharon and Darryl.
The household moved to Canada in 1968 the place she labored within the insurance coverage enterprise. However for a quick sojourn again in Trinidad, Bonnie lived the remainder of her life in Canada.
It was in her second Canadian interval the place she threw herself into Toronto’s Caribbean tradition. She labored tirelessly to advertise Caribana, now Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
Sam Lewis, former head of Caribana, knew Bonnie for 70 years, and was deeply moved by the lack of his lifelong pal.
“She was inspirational. Bonnie was steeped within the tradition of Trinidad which she unfold in a pure, quiet means. She was additionally deeply linked to Caribbean tradition. She was a stalwart within the Caribana group; at all times encouraging folks to hitch and do their finest for this excellent competition. Bonnie was keen and educated in regards to the primary actions that made the competition what it was and what it turned.
I used to be proud to have identified her and to work together with her. She was a information that at all times pointed us in the appropriate course. I’ll miss her dearly.”
Bonnie Hector leaves to mourn her loss, her kids Roxanne, Sharon and Darryl, step-daughter Schantal, former husband Steve Hector, sisters Mavis, Hayacinth, Lorna and Ann, many nieces and nephews and a grateful Caribbean group
Bonnie Hector nee Cynetta Thomas, was laid to relaxation on Wednesday in Scarborough