Eric Wickham

In his youth, Eric was classically trained in guitar under the tutelage of Inspector Cecil Archer of the Barbados Police Band, and went on to perform several times on Barbados radio in the early 1960s. After high school, he became a teacher at Bay Primary School in St. Michael, Barbados.

As children, Eric and the ultimate love of his life, Emily (Lashley), met in Barbados. As they grew into adulthood, so did their connection and love for one another. Emily immigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1964, and Eric immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1966 to pursue higher education (and to follow Emily!). He attended Ryerson Polytechnic Institute (now called Toronto Metropolitan University), where he earned a Diploma in Business Administration in 1968, followed by a Bachelor of Business Management in 1972.

Eric and Emily were married on August 24, 1968 in Montreal, and settled in Toronto soon after. In 1970, they welcomed a son, Olembe, and in 1974, a daughter, Aisha. Eric and Emily were a deeply devoted couple, and as anyone who saw them together can attest, they were truly inseparable.

Eric never stopped pursuing various forms of higher learning. He earned his Certified General Accountant - CGA designation in 1977 (now known as Certified Professional Accountant - CPA, following the merging of the three professional accounting bodies). He was an active member of the CGA/CPA Ontario Chapter, where he taught fifth level courses, reviewed exams, and served on the Board of Governors for a decade. In 1997, he was elected as a Life Member in recognition of his years of distinguished service.

In 1998, he was named a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants' Association of Canada (FCPA), the highest honour that a CPA can receive. This is a formal recognition bestowed upon CPAs who have rendered exceptional service to the profession and in their communities.

Eric dedicated most of his career to education. He joined the faculty at Centennial College (Progress Campus) in 1979 when he became an instructor in the Business Department, where Finance was his specialty.

In melding together his personal and professional passions, Eric was granted approval by Centennial College in 2002 to develop a groundbreaking general education course entitled Ancient Africa: Glorious Legacies, for which he built the curriculum from his in-depth self-study of African kingdoms and Egyptian antiquity. He taught the course with great passion for ten semesters until his retirement in 2004. He continued to return to Centennial College to deliver lectures on Ancient African history during Black History Month events and other special occasions. Eric impacted thousands of students (young and old) over the course of his professional career and via his community volunteerism.

His connection and contributions to Toronto’s Black community ran deep. In 1969, when the Black Heritage Program (BHP) began, Eric and Emily became volunteers in the Saturday afternoon educational and cultural program, where they enrolled their children when they became of age.

Throughout Eric’s time involved with the program (which later became known as the African Canadian Heritage Association - ACHA), he served in various roles, including Board member, President, and Instructor. He continued to actively volunteer at the program until the age of 77. Beyond the ACHA family, Eric and Emily were a consistent presence at various community gatherings and Kwanzaa events across Toronto, and were often called upon to deliver libations. In 2015, they were jointly recognized by the Ontario Government for their more than 40 years of community service.

Over the past six years, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) weakened his body, but not his spirit. He remained optimistic and found many ways to demonstrate determination and express his love right up to the very end. Eric passed away at Scarborough Centenary Hospital on November 10, 2023.

Eric is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-five years, Emily (Lashley); his son, Olembe (Nefeteria) of Toronto, Ontario; his daughter, Aisha (Nicole) of Toronto, Ontario; his beloved grandchildren, Jabari, Kimani, Daniel and Matthew; his brother Robert (Maureen) of Scarborough, Ontario; sister Margaret of Middleton, St. George, Barbados; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and friends. He is predeceased by his father, Samuel DaCosta Wickham, and mother Lenora (Jordan) Wickham.

Eric’s wish was to be cremated. The Celebration of Eric’s Life will take place on Sunday, November 26 from 1-4 pm at Tropicana Community Services (1385 Huntingwood Drive, Scarborough).

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to the African Canadian Heritage Association (achaonline.org/donate).