Order of Vaughan recipient describes honour as 'sweet revenge' given legacy of city's namesake

For Jumol Royes, who is of Jamaican ancestry, the moment was bittersweet

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 27, 2023
Brian Capitao

Jumol Royes is a recipient of the Order of Vaughan, the highest civic award the city offers but named after enslaver Benjamin Vaughan. Royes is a descendant of Jamaican ancestry where Vaughan actively fought against the abolition of slavery.

For Jumol Royes, receiving the Order of Vaughan has been a complicated affair.

The Order of Vaughan is the highest civic award bestowed by the City of Vaughan for excellence.

Royes received the award for the media and communications category for his work with Elevate Media, as the director of communications and community engagement supporting the work of 2SLGBTQI+ non-profits and organizations.

However, the award is named after Benjamin Vaughan, the city’s namesake -- an enslaver who advocated against the abolition of slavery in Jamaica where he enslaved people.

Like many, Royes was caught off guard once he learned of Vaughan’s past.

“So, I didn't know the history of the city's namesake, I'm ashamed to admit it, until 2020, when I attended an event hosted by ANCHOR Coalition at city hall.”

“After attending the event, I did a little bit of research, quickly online, and discovered that the city's namesake was a slave owner who owned enslaved folks in Jamaica and who stood up in the British Parliament and advocated against slavery being abolished -- against the abolition of slavery,” said Royes.

Royes, an openly gay Black man in media with Jamaican ancestry, has called receiving the award a bit of “sweet revenge.”

“I think it's important that we acknowledge history because when we hide or attempt to erase it, we are in essence dishonouring the journeys and experiences of those ancestors and those of the people in Jamaica who were enslaved at that person's hands,” said Royes.

An achievement that Royes accomplished is that he was part of the work being done to set in motion the creation of the Rainbow Crosswalk at Vaughan City Hall.

“I was a member of the city's Diversity Inclusion Task Force and really wanted to bring issues relating to our 2SLGBTQI+ community to the forefront,” said Royes.

Royes added that he brought the idea to the task force’s attention and chairs of the committee, with everyone being supportive of the idea “to honour and recognize the lived experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ folks.”

Royes said he wanted “to make folks know that they are seen, that they matter and that they are a part of the city -- a part of the fabric of the city.”

It’s a small first step to progress, according to Royes, who acknowledges the city still has room for improvement. The crosswalk is largely symbolic.

“When my family and I first moved to the city 25 years ago, there wasn't really a lot of support for 2SLGBTQI+ communities. So, I think we've come a long way. Progress has been made, but again, there's still work to be done,” said Royes.

At a time where 2SLGBTQI+ youth feel targeted, Royes wishes there were more safe spaces to help those individuals.

“I do know that there really aren't any safe spaces or community spaces or social spaces in the city for 2SLGBTQI+ focused communities. And so, I'm hopeful that in the future there will be more of those spaces, or those spaces will exist,” said Royes.

It’s part of the work he’s doing with IN Magazine, launching the IN Directory; a community resource directory that features more than 325 listings across Canada, so people can access community programs, hotlines, trans programs, and programs for youth or older adults looking for 2SLGBTQI+ specific programs, services and support.

“To receive an award named after this individual, the highest civic honour in the city, again, it's a little bit of sweet revenge, but I think more apt is restorative justice,” said Royes.