Quentrel Provo is a singer, songwriter and an award-winning anti-violence activist as the Founder/ CEO of Stop the Violence Brand and Movement which he started after the tragic killing death of his close cousin Kaylin Diggs in August 2012. He took his hurt, pain, anger and frustration and turned it into something positive to create change and make a difference.
In April 2015 he started the Stop the Violence Clothing Brand the first brand of its kind in Canada geared towards spreading a message of love and standing against violence. Through his work, he’s become the face of Stop the Violence in Nova Scotia and over the years he’s had the opportunity to meet some prominent figures such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Former Governor Generals of Canada His Excellency David Johnston and Her Honor Michaëlle Jean, Former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia John Grant, US Consul General Steven Giegerich and many more.
In June 2016 he made history in Canada as June 10th was declared “Stop the Violence Day” in the Province of Nova Scotia with the signing of the Proclamation by Premier McNeil whereas Nova Scotians are asked to wear red to mark this day of awareness and
perform an act of kindness towards a fellow citizen. Besides being known as "Mr Stop the Violence" he also serves as a Justice Champion for the Michaëlle Jean Foundation.
In 2016, Stop the Violence won BRONZE in BEST OF HALIFAX by The Coast for best Activist Organization. In 2017, Quentrel won SILVER for BEST OF HALIFAX 2017 as Best Activist. In 2017 he was also awarded the Doctor Wenonah Foster Community Service Excellence Award by Veterans Affairs
Canada as an employee for his community service work. He was the 2018 recipient of a Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institutes Ancestral Awards for Civic Engagement. He has been a
guest speaker for WE Day Atlantic (November 2017); The National Summit of Black Canadians (December 2017). He’s been named a “Halifax Hero” (Metro News now the Star 2016) and was recognized as a Local Hero for the Hal-Con Sci-Fi Convention Fall 2018.
In February 2018 he made headlines when he raised $7000 in 5 days to take 400 black youth to see Black Panther together. In September 2018 he was mentioned as change-maker and young leader in Nova Scotia in the Lieutenant Governor’s Speech from the Throne. In October of 2018, the Black Panther Initiative was chosen as 1 of 18 things that represent Nova Scotia out of 5000 suggestions to be accessioned in the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History for the 150th Birthday of the museum.
In March 2019 he was a recipient of the Senate of Canada 150 Medal.
He was nominated (March 2019) and named (May 2019) one of the world’s Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Under 40. He is the 1 st African Nova-Scotian to receive this prestigious honour on a list that includes celebrities such as Beyonce, Drake, Rihanna, PK Subban, The Weekend, Tiger Woods, Chadwick Boseman and so many more.
In November of 2019 he met his inspirational hero President Barack Obama, a moment he’ll cherish for a lifetime, and he was honoured to be also mentioned in the President’s introduction as well.
In December 2020 he was named the official Team Ambassador for the Halifax Hurricanes (Halifax’s Pro Basketball Team) being the 1 st Ambassador in team history. He’s also the recipient of the Indomitable Spirit Award at the 2020 Courage to Give Back Awards by Family SOS. Also in early 2020 was nominated for Canada’s 2020 Top 40 Under 40. In May
2020 he was named 1 of 20 Outstanding Black Men in Canada by Shifters Magazine. He was the 1st and only Nova Scotian and Atlantic Canadian to be named to the list.
In the winter of 2021, he will be featured in a new children’s book called Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians. In March 2021 he was honoured to be named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Halifax Harbourside Rotary Club
receiving a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship award for his community work through his activism.
Mr Stop the Violence has also been featured in other documentaries, podcasts, magazines, as well as school, university projects and presentations. But despite all the attention and coverage he gets, he remains humble and focused to continue to create positive change and make a difference. He continues to make a positive impact in the community by speaking and singing at schools, conferences and other events across Nova Scotia and Canada, and hosting Stop the Violence initiatives such as the STV Christmas Toy Drive, Stop the Violence
Dance Party for School Supplies to name a few, as he continues to spread the message of love against violence and raise violence awareness throughout Nova Scotia, Canada and the world.
Check him out @mr_stop_the_violence
