Shem Parkinson 

By: Shem Parkinson

When my mom was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, it was a scary time for our family. Guillain-Barré is a rare neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, often causing weakness, tingling, and in severe cases, even paralysis.

At SHN’s Centenary Hospital, doctors quickly discovered that a mix of her medications and vitamins was triggering her symptoms. Once that was addressed, she recovered, thanks to the fast, compassionate care of the SHN team. I’ll always be grateful for the difference they made in her life—and in ours.

That experience is why I believe fundraising for SHN is so important. I’ve seen firsthand how much Scarborough families rely on these hospitals. Scarborough makes up such a major part of the GTA, yet only receives a fraction of the funding. If my mom can get such incredible care at Centenary, then every family in Scarborough deserves to have access to the same.

Outside of the hospital, many people know me as Shem. I’m the Executive Producer of the Roz & Mocha Show on KiSS 92.5 FM, and sometimes I jump on the mic myself. Whether I’m behind the scenes or on air, I carry Scarborough with me. It’s in my voice, my attitude, and the pride I bring to every broadcast.

But before I became a radio personality, I had to climb my own mountain of self-acceptance—one that Scarborough helped me conquer.

I lived in Scarborough for over 30 years and grew up in Malvern with my Guyanese parents. In my early school years, I was part of a community that wasn’t as diverse, and I often struggled with my unique name, Shemroy. It felt different from my peers, and different didn’t always feel good. But when I started going to school in Scarborough, people encouraged me to embrace my name. They would say things like, “Embrace Shemroy, that’s what makes you cool.”

And it wasn’t until then that I realized—I do like my name. That’s when I really grew a certain sense of pride in myself, my name, and my Scarborough roots.

I love Scarborough because of its diversity. I love being able to look around and walk a couple of blocks and see people who look like me. But I also love walking a couple of blocks and seeing people who don’t look like me.

And of course, Scarborough has the best food in the city—no questions asked. Some of my favourites are Ted’s Restaurant, Mark’s Pizza, Mona’s Roti, and Roti Hut. These places are more than restaurants; they’re part of the community that shaped me growing up.

Scarborough helped me become comfortable with myself, my name, and my uniqueness, and I love it for that. It’s given me the resilience, pride, and authenticity that I now get to share with the world.

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