Donnovan received the AC Awards – Community Leader of the Year in 2019. In 2021 he received the inaugural Edith Baxter Memorial Award for his contribution to promoting Jamaica in the Diaspora. Donnovan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) from the University of the West Indies (Mona), Bachelor of Science (Information Technology) from DeVry University and Masters in Business Administration from Nova SouthEastern University.
Donnovan is the consummate contributor to the community. Since moving to Calgary from Jamaica, he has been involved in numerous community organizations. He has served two stints as the President of the Jamaican Canadian Association Alberta (JCAA) – 2008 – 2010 and 2015 – 2021. He has served on the board of the Caribbean Community Council (the organizers of the annual Carifest parade), and the planning committee for Reggaefest as well as served on the executive of the Calgary and District Cricket League.

As President of the JCAA, Donnovan has spearheaded numerous initiatives including, financial literacy programs for youth, integration support for new Jamaicans to Calgary as well as rejuvenation of the brand of the JCAA. He was instrumental in building the organization’s strategic plan (2016-2021) as well as creating key strategic partnerships to support their flagship event, Taste of Jamaica, which is an annual showcase of Jamaican culture. He was the primary force behind the JCAA acquiring its own building in 2019. Additionally, he has forged partnerships with other community agencies such as The Centre for Newcomers and Action Dignity to further the presence of the Jamaican community and to contribute to the cultural diversity of the city. He has also served as a mentor in the Multicultural Mentorship Programme offered by the Centre for Newcomers.

He has also been the primary architect and driver of the collaboration forum for Caribbean associations in Calgary. The Caribbean Presidents’ Forum, a collaboration of associations (representing Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Guyana, Caribbean Community Council and the Caribbean Heritage Sports Council) was formed out of Donnovan’s idea in 2017 and this collaboration has produced the Caribbean Black History Celebrations and the Caribbean Youth Summit for the last two years (2018 – 2019). Currently he is Executive Producer and Interviewer for a weekly diaspora program What a Gwaan National which is a collaborative effort between Jamaican associations in Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Montreal.

Donnovan is the Founder of From Boyz to Men, a mentorship program focused on young men. The program takes young men through a 12-month curriculum focused on communication, conflict management, leadership, career development, and life skills.