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Ninth Floor - Documentary of the infamous George Washington Williams Riot.

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Ninth Floor - Documentary of the infamous George Washington Williams Riot.

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BLK: An Origin Story acts as an immersive and informative chapter of Black Canadian history, elevating remarkable Black Canadians previously unacknowledged in mainstream social, academic, and cultural circles, normalizing their unique stories as a matter of general record.

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Significant events in Black Canadian history.

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Significant events in Black Canadian history.

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The life and legacy of the Honorable Lincoln Alexander

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The life and legacy of the Honorable Lincoln Alexander

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Today, people in towns and communities across Canada will take a moment to recognize the life and legacy of the Honourable Lincoln Alexander.

A trailblazer in his own right, the Honourable Lincoln MacCauley Alexander was born in Toronto. Years later, he would eventually become Canada's first Black Member of Parliament, Cabinet minister and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

His distinguished career was centred around his advocacy for racial equality, support for young people, and an enduring belief in the power of education as an agent of social change. A source of inspiration for many, Lincoln Alexander made a difference. His legacy lives on as a testament to the strength and willpower of so many Black and Afro-descendant communities in Canada.

The story of Lincoln Alexander's life is one of the countless many that highlight the positive impact that Black and Afro-descendant communities have made and continue to make towards building the country that we love today.

Our shared history reminds us of how far we've come, but it also helps us chart the path for where we want to go. In less than two weeks, Canada will mark the 28th official Black History Month, and this year's theme is "Ours to Tell."

Sharing the many stories of success, sacrifice, and triumph of people like Lincoln Alexander helps inspire Canadians to build a more equitable society that leaves no one behind. Lincoln Alexander was a great part of making our country more inclusive, and we are better because of inspirational individuals like him.

As Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, and on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, I invite all Canadians to remember the life and legacy of a remarkable Black Canadian who challenged us to build a better country for everyone.

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Statement by Minister Hussen on Lincoln Alexander Day and announcement of the theme for Black History Month

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Today, people in towns and communities across Canada will take a moment to recognize the life and legacy of the Honourable Lincoln Alexander. A trailblazer in his own right, the Honourable Lincoln MacCauley Alexander was born in Toronto. Years later, he would eventually become Canada's first Black Member of Parliament, Cabinet minister and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

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Black Trailblazers in Canadian Political History

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Black Trailblazers in Canadian Political History

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I often walk in the grand hallways of Queen's Park and think about those who served before me. Our history is emboldened by men and women of African descent who paved the way for future generations of leadership in the Legislative Assembly.;xNLx;;xNLx;I am frequently drawn to the east wing of the building. In a lonely corner there is a framed image of the elected members in 1963. Among the many faces in this frame, a picture of Leonard Braithwaite, the first Black Member of Provincial Parliament stands out. I think of his days at Queen`s Park and the considerable challenges he surely faced. I compare his undertaking to the job of the one who clears the path before other travelers to ensure their safe journey. I am thankful for his pioneering efforts, and to those who continue to travel the path and encourage others to use it.;xNLx;;xNLx;Our history is strong because of people like Mary Anne Chambers, who has dedicated her life to enabling others. And it is proud because of Alvin Curling, who treaded into new territory, becoming the first Black Minister of the Crown and Speaker of the House in Ontario. This enduring legacy is burnished by the work of contemporaries like my friend Mitzie Hunter, who is helping pave the way towards a new generation of leadership in Ontario.;xNLx;;xNLx;Together, we celebrate the memory and legacies of all of the prominent African Canadian figures in this timeline and beyond for their extraordinary contributions to our social, economic and cultural fabric. Their courageous efforts have helped make Canada a better place.;xNLx;;xNLx;Michael Coteau, MPP;xNLx;2014;xNLx;;xNLx;

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Black Trailblazers in Canadian Political History

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I often walk in the grand hallways of Queen's Park and think about those who served before me. Our history is emboldened by men and women of African descent who paved the way for future generations of leadership in the Legislative Assembly.;xNLx;;xNLx;I am frequently drawn to the east wing of the building.

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As February and Black History Month come to a close, we want to highlight some historical and current Black Canadian scientists you may not have heard of. We also acknowledge that there are many unknown contributions to Canadian science made by Black scientists. If you know of any others, please share these stories with us and your networks throughout the year!

Sophia Jones

Her medical journey started at the University of Toronto, and continued at the University of Michigan, whose medical education for women at the time was less limited. There, she became the institution's first Black female doctor. In 1885, she also became the first Black faculty member at Spelman College and established their nursing training course before she moved to St. Louis and Kansas City to practice medicine. Throughout her career, she was passionate about advancing public health and health equity, evidenced in an she wrote in 1913 as well as her endeavours throughout her career.

Read more

William Allen Jones

Read more

Douglas Salmon

Knowing how much a scholarship he had received helped him through university, his family "wanted to extend the same opportunity to students today," his wife, Beverley, says.

With his family, Beverley helped establish the Dr. J. Douglas Salmon Award for Black Medical Students for the University of Toronto. "Douglas and the other Black medical students in his class really had to assert themselves to get a good placement, even though they all graduated in the top third of their class. I think even today Black students have to prove themselves by working harder."

In 1967, Dr. Salmon joined the Scarborough Centenary Hospital and later became president of the medical staff there and chief of general surgery. He was the first Black person in Canada to hold these positions, and was awrded the Canadian Black Achievement Award, Medicine.

Beyond his medical accomplishments, he was passionate about music,. Not only was he a pianist and had formed a musical group, "Doug Salmon & his Orchestra," he was a protest leader on the Racial Discrimination Committee. The committee fought for the rights of Black people to enter Toronto's Palais Royale to see jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington.

Read more

Anna Jarvis

She moved to Canada when her husband was accepted at the University of Toronto's anesthesia program. Her applications for residency were unsuccessful but her persistence and willingness to work anywhere and anytime was clear. "Serendipity again," she says, "there were unexpected vacancies in the paediatric training program." In her fourth year, she worked as chief resident under Dr. Harry Bain, who introduced her to "Canada's incredible lands and the unique challenges" of Indigenous communities.

Her career also involved contributing to the transformation of Canada's emergency medical services and first-responders. When she arrived in Canada, paramedics did not exist. When these services were established from 1984, she was invited to teach some of the first cohorts of paramedics. "That was a whole adventure and certainly, I never thought working in paediatrics, I'd have the chance to be a part of that," she recalls.

Dr. Jarvis held various academic appointments at the University of Toronto and clinical positions at hospitals, received the Order of Ontario and various teaching awards, and continues to demonstrate her commitment to mentoring students. Now, the Paediatric Emergency Medicine Section of the Canadian Paediatric Society established a Teaching Award in her name.

Read more

Dr. June Marion James

Dr. James co-founded Manitoba's Family Allergy College and served as a councilor and later, president for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. With over 20 boards and committees under her belt, she was also involved with organizations such as the Caribbean Canadian Association, the Winnipeg Foundation, United Way, the Congress of Black Women, and the Manitoba Museum. She was also instrumental in founding the Harambee Housing Co-op, which provides affordable social housing in Winnipeg.

She has received numerous awards, including the YMCAs Woman of the Year (1981), the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Order of Manitoba (2004), and the Volunteer Centre Award for Outstanding Community Leadership (2005).

Read more

Dr. Donald Holness

Read more

More Black Canadians in STEM to follow!

Along with these influential scientists throughout Canadian history, we want to add to our previous list of Black scientists in Canada to follow on social media. Do you know anyone else we should add to the list? Let us know!

Paul Bzonek, PhD candidate in behavioral and conservation ecology at the University of Toronto ( , )

Dr. Nicole S. Smith, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, coral reef and invasion ecologist at Simon Fraser University ( , )

Ismalia de Sousa, Doctoral student in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia ( , )

Dr. Trevor Charles, Microbiologist at Waterloo University ( )

Janelle Hinds, Founder of Helping Hands ( )

Nicole Mortillaro, Senior Science Reporter at CBC and editor of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Twitter)

Morris Scantlebury, Child Health & Wellness Researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Calgary (Website, Twitter)

Marthe Kenny Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and Medical Microbiologist at Vancouver General Hospital (Website, VMDAS International Women's Day 2020)

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As February and Black History Month come to a close, we want to highlight some historical and current Black Canadian scientists you may not have heard of. We also acknowledge that there are many unknown contributions to Canadian science made by Black scientists.

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Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About

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Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About

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...And Some Free Classroom Resources for Your Instruction

Helping your students see the possibilities of careers in STEM fields means providing them with diverse role models. Black History Month provides teachers with an opportunity to feature the stories and voices of black scientists, engineers and mathematicians in the context of their science instruction. We have made a list of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors and mathematicians, along with media resources to help you bring their work-and stories-into your classroom.

A great place to start is with the The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers, an Emmy-nominated web-series from the acclaimed PBS series, NOVA. The diversity collection of this series profiles some of today's leading scientists-showing students that science engages men and women of all ages and diverse backgrounds.

1. George Washington Carver

2. Percy Julian

3. Mae Carol Jemison

4. Katherine Johnson

August 26, 1918 -
Field: Mathematician
Known for: Katherine Johnson is best known for her major contributions to the United States' aeronautics and space programs with the early application of digital electronic computers. Her work was recently recognized and featured in the movie Hidden Figures.
Resource: Katherine Johnson | NASA Computer | Video for grades 4-12

5. Gladys West

1930 --
Field: Mathematician
Known for: Born and raised in Virginia, Gladys West leveraged her mathematical and programming expertise to invent an accurate model of the Earth which was used as the foundation for the creation of the Global Positioning System (GPS). She was the second black woman ever to be employed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and was inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame-one of the highest honors awarded by the Air Force.

6. Marie M. Daly

7. Edward Bouchet

8. Annie Easley

9. Walter Lincoln Hawkins

10. Alexa Canady

Rachel Connolly is the Director of STEM Education for WGBH and PBS LearningMedia. After teaching high school physics in NYC, she moved into teacher professional development and educational programming at the American Museum of Natural History. Her work with the Hayden Planetarium sparked a love of data visualization that led to her graduate work at Teachers College Columbia University. Her work focuses on designing media-integrated educational experiences that leverage emerging formats of scientific data for innovative instruction. You can see her on PBS LearningMedia talking about the Solar System, or follow her at @rachelbconnolly.
Brooke Kinney is the STEM Digital Learning Assistant for WGBH and PBS LearningMedia. A recent graduate from the George Washington University with a Bachelors in Environmental Studies, she moved to Boston to pursue science communication with WGBH.

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ten black scientists that science teachers should know about

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Ten Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About | PBS Education

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Helping your students see the possibilities of careers in STEM fields means providing them with diverse role models. Black History Month provides teachers with an opportunity to feature the stories and voices of black scientists, engineers and mathematicians in the context of their science instruction.

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Black History Month Resources for the Arts

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Black History Month Resources for the Arts

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Black History and Culture - Google Arts & Culture

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The past, present, and future of the Black experience in the United States

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Honouring Canada’s Black Artists - Art & Heritage

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Honouring Canada’s Black Artists - Art & Heritage

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Describing the African-American influence on American music in all of its glory an d variety is an intimidating-if not impossible-task. African American influences are so fundamental to American music that there would be no American music without them. People of African descent were among the earliest non-indigenous settlers of what would become the United States, and the rich African musical heritage that they carried with them was part of the foundation of a new American musical culture that mixed African traditions with those of Europe and the Americas. Their work songs, dance tunes, and religious music-and the syncopated, swung, remixed, rocked, and rapped music of their descendants-would become the lingua franca of American music, eventually influencing Americans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. The music of African Americans is one of the most poetic and inescapable examples of the importance of the African American experience to the cultural heritage of all Americans, regardless of race or origin.

See full article by Steven Lewis on how African American music is a vital part of America's musical heritage.
Explore a selection of the Smithsonian's wide range of collections preserving the material history of African American musical history.

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Describing the African-American influence on American music in all of its glory an d variety is an intimidating-if not impossible-task. African American influences are so fundamental to American music that there would be no American music without them.

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SUMMER OF SOUL | Official Trailer | In Theaters and on Hulu July 2

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A novel perspective on Basquiat's artistic and musical career

Music holds a prominent place in Jean-Michel Basquiat's painterly practice in the form of sign, symbol and sound. His oeuvre is replete with depictions of musical instruments alongside references to opera, classical music, jazz, bebop, hip-hop and rap. Presenting some 100 works by the artist together with numerous sound clips, film footage and archival documents, the exhibition provides an innovative in-depth look at Basquiat's career as a musician, the sounds that accompanied his mark-making and the musicians who inspired him, from Beethoven to the New York underground scene of the 1970s and 1980s and, notably, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Maria Callas.

Beginning with an exploration of the music that shaped Basquiat's New York, the exhibition sheds new light on his career as a performer and musician, notably with the band Gray. It also looks at his painting compositional techniques as they relate to music, and references his ties to particular record labels, musicians, cultures and sounds.

Major public partners

Official Sponsor

A socially engaged artist

For Basquiat, music was a message about the transatlantic migration of cultural forms and the brutal reality of being a Black artist facing racism. His engagement with the African diaspora and the politics of race in the United States is one of the main threads of the exhibition. Anchoring the artist's oeuvre in our time, it considers how his works relate to contemporary culture.

A Tailor-made Augmented Reality App

Designed and developed by Dpt., a Montreal-based studio specialized in creating immersive environments, the Basquiat and Music app features interactive content that transports the visitor into New York of the 1970s and 1980s, thus amplifying their experience of the exhibition. Equipped with your smartphone and earphones, you will discover the artist's musical influences, view reconstructions of stages from that period, and learn more about the symbols that adorn several of the exhibited paintings. Fun and easy to navigate, the app also allows you to take pictures of your Museum visit to remember and share.

The Basquiat and Music app can be downloaded for free from the App Store and Google Play. Its content is offered in French and English.

Exhibition Catalogue

Released in English and French by the MMFA's Publishing Department, in collaboration with Éditions Gallimard, this catalogue is an unprecedented study of the role of music in Basquiat's painting. It includes essays by major art, music and culture historians as well as interviews with public figures who knew Basquiat or who were inspired by his work, such as George Condo, Anna Domino, Fab 5 Freddy, Michael Holman, Lee Jaffe, Nick Taylor and Toxic. It also includes new compositions by American poet Thomas Sayers Ellis and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis.

Richly illustrated, the book is divided into four sections, which follow the exhibition's main themes and trace the history of Jean-Michel Basquiat's artistic production. Each section comes with a playlist to further immerse readers in the artist's sonic landscapes.

The catalogue is sold at the Museum's Boutique and Bookstore.

Basquiat Exploration Zone

Located adjacent to the exhibition galleries, a mediation area invites visitors to continue their exploration of Jean-Michel Basquiat's creative world.

Gathering space
This space is set up for hosting a variety of activities, including guided discussions, screenings of film excerpts, a participatory art wall, and activities for families on Sunday afternoons.

Creativity space
Here, visitors can unleash their creativity as they explore the remix technique in an evolving participatory artwork.

Reflection space
In this space, the public can quietly enjoy a collection of music and books about the artist.

Associated educational and cultural programming

In connection with the exhibition, the MMFA is offering a host of activities for all audiences:

A series of captivating events and lectures (round-table discussion, poetry night, and more)

A series of film screenings at Cinéma du Musée, proposed by music expert Ansfrid Tchetchenigbo, including documentaries and musical comedies, among others.

Creative workshops for families every Saturday and Sunday

Afternoon guided tours, Wednesdays through Saturdays, designed to stimulate reflection and discussion.

A series of concerts at Bourgie Hall inspired by the musical world of Basquiat

Themed night time events and visits of the exhibition in an electrifying atmosphere

The activities are progressively added to our cultural calendar. Consult it regularly to see what's new!

You can also extend your musical experience of the exhibition on Stingray Music: the Basquiat and Music channel offers you 24 h of listening pleasure, compiled by specialized programmers.

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Music holds a prominent place in Jean-Michel Basquiat's painterly practice in the form of sign, symbol and sound. His oeuvre is replete with depictions of musical instruments alongside references to opera, classical music, jazz, bebop, hip-hop and rap.

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HIP-HOP & SOCIALJUSTICE IN CANADA - RESOURCE INTRODUCTION

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HIP-HOP & SOCIALJUSTICE IN CANADA - RESOURCE INTRODUCTION

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HIP-HOP & SOCIALJUSTICE IN CANADA - RESOURCE CONTEXT

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HIP-HOP & SOCIALJUSTICE IN CANADA - RESOURCE CONTEXT

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“AFRICVILLE” - BLACK UNION FT MAESTRO& KALEB SIMMONDS

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“AFRICVILLE” - BLACK UNION FT MAESTRO& KALEB SIMMONDS

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“BROTHER (WATCHING)”-  12SHAD FT B & F KABANGO

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“BROTHER (WATCHING)”-  12SHAD FT B & F KABANGO

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Black Writers Matter, Edited by Whitney French & Foreword by Afua Cooper

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Black Writers Matter, Edited by Whitney French & Foreword by Afua Cooper

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“Black Writers? African, Bluesy, Classical, Disrespectful, Erudite, Fiery, Groovy, Haunting, Inspiring, Jazzy, Knowing, Liberating, Militant, Nervy, Optimistic, Pugnacious, Quixotic, Rambunctious, Seductive, ...

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Books for learning about Canadian Black History

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Books for learning about Canadian Black History

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An assortment of books about the history of Black people in Canada, from its earliest days to the recent past.

From books for young readers to serious academic works, there is plenty to delve into. Whether you're looking for an overview or want to focus on a certain person or place, you can find something to read about Canadian Black History on Kobo.

Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged by Jody Nyasha Warner and Richard Rudnicki

This biographical picture book tells the story of Canadian activist Viola Desmond, who sparked civil rights action in 1946 Nova Scotia. During a time of institutionalized segregation, she was one of the leaders of change-focused activism in Canada.

Last Days in Africville by Dorothy Perkyns

Africville was a Black community that was demolished in the mid-20th century. Read this short novel about a 12-year old girl living in Africville at the end of its life. A finalist for multiple awards for youth literature in the early 2000s, the novel touches on many aspects of young life in the 1960s, including race relations.

Africville by Shauntay Grant

For a different perspective on the community, this award-winning picture book looks back at Africville's history and legacy. Full of vibrant images and flowing prose, it focuses on the joy of being part of a community long gone.

With original content from Benjamin Drew's A North-Side View of Slavery, this book features Drew's collection of first-hand accounts of being enslaved, escaping to Canada, and living outside of the United States from hundreds of Black American refugees.

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Books for learning about Canadian Black History

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An assortment of books about the history of Black people in Canada, from its earliest days to the recent past. From books for young readers to serious academic works, there is plenty to delve into. Whether you're looking for an overview or want to focus on a certain person or place, you can find something to read about Canadian Black History on Kobo.

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The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry, Edited by Valerie Mason-John and Kevan Anthony Cameron

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The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry, Edited by Valerie Mason-John and Kevan Anthony Cameron

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Depuis les premières explorations jusqu'au temps de l'esclavage, de la Confédération jusqu'à nos jours, les Noirs ont toujours fait paritie de l'expérience québécoise. À Montréal tout particulièrement, bien que faible sur le plan numérique, une communauté noire distincte s'est développée au cours du dernier siècle. Pourtant, cette présence, vieille de plus de trois cents ans, demeure largement méconnue. Bon nombre de Québécois croient toujours que les Noirs sont parmi les derniers arrivés dans notre société. Les Noirs à Montréal, publiés d'abord en anglais, viennnent combler en partie cette lacune en retraçant l'histoire démographique urbaine des Noirs québécois.

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Depuis les premières explorations jusqu'au temps de l'esclavage, de la Confédération jusqu'à nos jours, les Noirs ont toujours fait paritie de l'expérience québécoise. À Montréal tout particulièrement, bien que faible sur le plan numérique, une communauté noire distincte s'est développée au cours du dernier siècle.

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Black Montreal: A Brief History | Destinations

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Montréal's Jazz Scene once earned it the name "Harlem of the North". Today, Black Montreal is diverse and growing. Broadly speaking, there are two prominent groups with little mixing between them: the older segment of the community has roots in Canada, the United States and the English-speaking West Indies while more recent Black Montrealers likely originate in Haiti or French-speaking African countries.

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5 Black Canadian artists whose names should be known alongside the Group of Seven

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5 Black Canadian artists whose names should be known alongside the Group of Seven

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5 Black Canadian artists whose names should be known alongside the Group of Seven | CBC Arts

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Artists appearing in Here We Are Here, the ROM’s show about Black Canadian contemporary art, share their picks.

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Marie-Joseph Angélique | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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History, politics, arts, science & more: the Canadian Encyclopedia is your reference on Canada. Articles, timelines & resources for teachers, students & public.

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Read the biographies of some notable Black Canadians who have helped shape Canadian heritage and identity, and who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to the wellbeing, and prosperity of our country.

Georges Anglade

Born on July 18, 1944, in Port-au-Prince, Georges Anglade was a Haitian-born geographer, politician and writer from Montreal.

In 1965, Anglade obtained a law degree and a diploma in Social Sciences from the Faculty of Law in Port-au-Prince. His opposition to the Duvalier dictatorship led him to leave Haiti for France. Between 1965 and 1969, he studied at the Center of Applied Geography in Strasbourg, where he obtained his doctorate. He also obtained a degree in literature at the University of Strasbourg in 1967. Between 1968 and 1969, he was a professor at the Institute of Demography in Strasbourg. His move to Canada, to Montreal, in September 1969, led him to be one of the co-founders of the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), which contributed to the creation of a network of universities across the province where he taught social geography until 2002.

Anglade was a staunch anti-Duvalierist, twice exiled in 1974 and 1991, and repeatedly threatened with death for opposing the Haitian authorities. He spent much of his adult life in exile in Quebec, where he founded the Haitian Solidarity Movement (MAS) in Montreal in the 1980s, and in 1990 published La Chance qui passe, a manifesto calling for democracy in Haiti. In the 1990s, he served as advisor and Minister of Public Works under the governments of Jean Bertrand Aristide and René Préval. In 1994, he chaired the Miami International Political Conference, which initiated the return to democracy in Haiti.

After his government career, he intensified his literary activity, focusing on lodyans, which he theorized by writing stories of this genre.

Georges Anglade and his wife Mireille died suddenly, along with other family members, in the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

Dr. Alexandra Bastiany

Dr. Alexandra Bastiany is a cardiologist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Centre.

She earned her medical degree and completed her Internal medicine and Cardiology training at the Université de Montréal (UdeM). She graduated with honors, as the UdeM Faculty of Medicine first Black valedictorian.

Dr. Bastiany then successfully completed a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute (University of Alberta) in Edmonton, making her the first Black female Canadian Interventional Cardiologist.

Dr. Bastiany is fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole. She was born and raised in Montreal, QC of Haitian parents and developed a strong interest in community work amongst visible minorities. She took direct action, according to her passion, and partnered with La Maison d'Haïti, a local community center to organize learning sessions on common health issues afflicting the Haitian population of Montreal, and for her efforts won 2nd place at the FMRQ Excelsior awards for her community work.

She has also worked directly with other local community organizations, and started career days for minority and children from underserved communities, working to provide them with representation via professional role models.

Combining her expertise in cardiovascular disease and her passion for community work, Dr. Bastiany is actively working to decrease the race and gender biases leading to differences in standard of care and clinical outcomes.

Eleanor Collins

Eleanor Collins, Vancouver's "First Lady of Jazz," was the first Canadian woman to have her own national television show: CBC TV's The Eleanor Show (1955) and Eleanor (1964). She championed the values of equality and acceptance and is considered a civic leader and pioneer in the development of British Columbia's music industry.

Eleanor Collins was born Elnora Ruth Proctor in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1919 to Black and Creole Indian parents who had settled on the Canadian prairies with more than 1,000 Black pioneers from Oklahoma. At the age of 15, she was able to win a talent contest because of her keen ear for music. This talent served her well throughout her career. Eleanor moved to Vancouver in 1939 where she met her husband Richard (Dick) Collins and settled down to raise their four children (Rick, Judith, Barry and Tom).

In 1945, Eleanor became a studio musician for CBC Radio to supplement her family's income. Later that year, Eleanor accepted an invitation to join leading CBC Radio studio musician, Ray Norris, in the formation of a Quintet where she was the featured vocalist. Serenade in Rhythm was a long running jazz series short waved to the Canadian troops in Europe on CBC Radio International Service.

"The Eleanor Show" CBC's musical variety series that aired as a summer series in 1954 and later as "Eleanor" in 1964, featured Collins' style, elegance, and sophistication. Eleanor was the first Canadian music artist to have a show named after her, and the first music artist of color to host a national television series in North America - both groundbreaking achievements in Canadian history.

By the late 1980s, Collins was considered a living legend, and many heritage projects began seeking her out once again. She and the Collins family appeared in a documentary titled Hymn to Freedom: On This Rock.

Among other accomplishments, Eleanor performed live in concerts and recorded on the album She-Bop, which celebrated female musicians in Canadian culture history. Still vibrant at the age of 94, Eleanor surprised and delighted a packed house concert audience by performing live at Marcus Mosely's 3rd and 4th Black History Month.

Collins has received numerous awards for her contributions to the arts and entertainment, including the Centennial Distinguished Pioneer Award in 1986 and induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, ACTRA's Sam Payne Award, the Toronto Black Diversity Network Black Canadian Awards and the Black Women in Jazz Awards in Atlanta.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Born free in Delaware, Mary Ann Shadd became the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America when she established the Provincial Freeman. She was also a teacher, who established a racially integrated school for Black children in Windsor, in addition to writing educational pamphlets promoting settlement in Canada, including A Plea for Emigration; or Notes of Canada West which was written in 1852. Mary was also an activist for numerous causes including the abolition of slavery, temperance and education. She also became increasingly vocal about women's rights, becoming a women's suffragist. Not only did she promote these issues in the Provincial Freeman, she also spoke about them on lecture tours.

Following her time in Canada, Mary decided to return to the United States, where she became a recruitment agent for the Union Army during the Civil War. She also pursued a law degree at Howard University and became one of the first Black women to complete a law degree in 1883, becoming a civil rights lawyer. Among her other "first," she also became the first Black woman to vote in a national election. In 1994, she was designated a Personal of National Historic Significance in Canada.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary
(1823-1893)
Chatham, Ontario
NAC/C-29977

Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré

Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré was born in Verdun (Montréal) in 1942. After receiving her law degree from the Université de Montréal and a doctorate from the Université de Paris, she began practising law in 1970. From 1979 to 1983, she was a member of the Office de protection des consommateurs du Québec. In 1985, Ms. Westmoreland-Traoré became the first chair of Quebec's Conseil des communautés culturelles et de l'immigration. In that capacity, she worked diligently to build bridges between Quebec's diverse communities.

Between 1996 and 1999, she was the dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Windsor, the first Black Canadian to hold such a post. Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré is now a judge in Quebec, and is also the first Black Canadian to be appointed to the bench in that province.

Marie-Josephe Angélique (c.1705- June 21, 1734)

Angélique was born in Madeira, Portugal around 1705, where she was enslaved and sold multiple times before being purchased by French merchant François Poulin de Francheville in 1725. She was brought back to Montréal to provide domestic labour. When Francheville died in 1733, ownership of Angélique was passed to his widow, Therese de Couagne.

During her period of enslavement, Angélique had three children - some historians have said she was likely forced to do so, with another enslaved person, Jacques César. None of her children lived beyond infancy. Angélique also had a lover, an indentured white labourer named Claude Thibault. After asking for freedom and being denied, Angélique ran away with Thibault after setting fire to her bed. They were caught two weeks later in nearby Chambly.

Once Angélique returned to Montréal, she threatened to burn down the house of her mistress. On April 10, 1734, 46 buildings in Montréal's merchant quarter were burnt down, including the convent and the hospital of the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal. The next day, Angélique was accused of starting the fire and arrested by police. She was charged with arson, punishable by death, and in a period where the accused were presumed guilty, had very little chance to prove herself innocent. Throughout her trial, she denied setting the fire.

She was brought before judge Pierre Raimbault, and six-week long trial started. Out of 23 people, 22 testified against Angélique, stating that although they did not see her start the fire, they were sure she did it. One witness testified for her innocence, the mistress herself, Therese de Couagne. It not until the 24th witness that the trial ended. A five-year old Amable Lemoine Monière, swore under oath that she saw Angélique going to the attic of the Francheville house with a shovel full of coals just before the fire. With such a testimony, the judge was able to find Angélique guilty.

She was to have her hands cut off and be burned alive, but the sentence was appealed to be less gruesome. The death penalty still remained, and Angélique was to be tortured, hanged and then her body burned. On the day of her execution, she was tortured by means of brodequins, and forced to confess to her crimes, and begged the pardon of God, the king, and the people. Angélique was then hanged and her body displayed on a gibbet for two hours, burned and her ashes scattered to the wind.

On one hand, Angélique, as an enslaved person living in New France with no rights, may have been an innocent, unfortunate victim of circumstances, rumours, and discrimination. On the other hand, Angélique may have set the fire as a message of rebellion, a cry for freedom of enslaved Black people. We will likely never know if Angélique was guilty or not, but her story and what she represents is well worth remembering.

In 2012, a public square in Montreal, Quebec, facing City Hall, was named Place Marie-Josèphe-Angélique.

Carrie Best

Carrie Best was born on March 4, 1903, in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, to James and Georgina Ashe Prevoe.

In 1925, she married Albert T. Best and had a son, J. Calbert Best. Later, she became a foster mother to Berma, Emily, Sharon and Aubrey Marshall.

During the 1940s, Mrs. Best and her son Cal were arrested for sitting downstairs in the whites-only seats at the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow. Consequently, the pair was charged with disturbing the peace, convicted and fined.

In 1946, Mrs. Best founded The Clarion, the first Black-owned and published Nova Scotia newspaper. In 1952, her radio show, called The Quiet Corner, went on the air. It aired for 12 years and was broadcast on four radio stations throughout Canada's Maritime Provinces. In 1968, she was hired as a columnist for the Pictou Advocate, a newspaper based in Pictou, Nova Scotia. The column ran until 1975 under the heading of "Human Rights."

The following are some of Carrie Best's most important achievements:

Member of the Order of Canada in 1974

Awarded the Queen Elizabeth Medal in 1977

Officer of the Order of Canada in 1979

Awarded an honorary doctor of civil laws (DC.L.) from the University of King's College, Halifax, in 1992

Founded the Kay Livingstone Visible Minority Women's Society of Nova Scotia in 1975

Inducted into the Nova Scotia Black Wall of Fame in 1980

Received the Harry Jerome Award in 1986

Received the Harambee Membership Plaque in 1987

Received the Black Professional Women's Group Award Certificate in 1989

Received the Minister's Award of Excellence in Race Relations-Minister of State for Multiculturalism, in 1990

Received the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission Award in 1991

Received the Town of New Glasgow Award for work in race relations in 1992

Received the Congress of Black Women Certificate in 1993

Carrie Best died in July 2001 in New Glasgow.

Mary Bibb

Born a free person in Rhode Island, Mary Bibb became an abolitionist, teacher, dressmaker, activist and co-editor of the Voice of the Fugitive. In 1854, Mary Bibb also founded the Windsor Ladies Club, also referred to as the Mutual Improvement Society. Mary, along with her husband Henry, was also instrumental in managing the Refugee Home Society and distributing aid to incoming Underground Railroad travelers. They provided newcomers with food, clothing, housing, but also job training and protection from slave hunters. This was in addition to establishing a school for young people who were excluded from the local public school due to discrimination. It was in 2002 that Mary, along with her husband Henry, was recognized as a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada.

Jully Black

Jully Black, born Jully Ann Inderia Gordon, is a singer, songwriter, actress, and TV personality. Known as Canada's Queen of R&B, she is a Juno Award-winner and in 2013 CBC Music named her one of the "25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever."

Black was born on November 8, 1977 in Toronto, Ontario to Jamaican immigrant parents as one of nine children. Her twin brother died at birth, her father left when she was seven, and when Black was ten, she unexpectedly lost an older sister. Black started singing in church at age six, and with the inspiration of her late sister, Sharon, and the lack of women in Canadian media, Black decided to pursue a career in music by age twelve. After winning a local talent show and singing at numerous events, Black began travelling to New York to record by age 14. She later attended C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, then Oakwood Collegiate for their music program. She went on to earn a degree in law enforcement at Seneca College, "I've always loved law because I experienced injustice . . . When you know your rights and responsibilities, you're untouchable", Black told Toronto Life.

After collaborating with well-known artists such as Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Black wrote songs for Destiny's Child, Nas, Sean Paul, Missy Elliott and others. Black released a number of independent songs, including "Rally'n", which was nominated for a Juno Award and a MuchMusic Video Award in 1999. Her collaboration with 2 Rude and Grimmi Grimmi, "Dissin' Us", won Best Soul/R&B Video at the MuchMusic Video Awards in 2000.

Black's debut album, I travelled, set for release in 2003, was delayed due to her label, MCA, being absorbed by Interscope. She then signed with Universal Music Canada and released her first album, This is Me (2005). Her single "Sweat of Your Brow" peaked at no. 16 on the Canadian charts, and won Dance/Recording of the Year at the Canadian Urban Music Awards (2005).

Black's next album, Revival (2007), was dedicated to her late sister Sharon, and features her best-selling single to date, "Seven Day Fool", which peaked at no. 9 on Billboard's Canadian Hot 100 chart. Revival won R&B/Soul Recording of the year at the 2008 Juno Awards.

Black has also been involved in a wide-range of charitable work. In 2006, she performed at a benefit concert in South Africa alongside the Black Eyed Peas to raise funds and awareness for the Shanduka Foundation and their Adopt-a-School Program. Black has also delivered speeches in schools across Canada and participated in the MusiCounts education program. She took part in a benefit concert for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports HIV/AIDS research. In 2014, she hosted Kick It Up for Kidney Cancer Boot Camp in Toronto, which benefited Kidney Cancer Canada. Black is also a vocal advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual, Queer (LGTBQ) communities, performing at various Pride events, including at World Pride (2015).

Chloe Cooley

Chloe Cooley was an enslaved woman in Upper Canada. She resisted her owner, Sergeant Adam Vrooman, a United Empire Loyalist, who forcibly tied Cooley to a boat and brought her across the Niagara River to be sold in New York State. Witness, Peter Martin (Black Loyalist) and William Grisley (White) reported the incident to Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe, who used the Chloe Cooley incident to introduce anti-slavery legislation in Upper Canada. It was Cooley's actions that put in motion the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada in 1793, which prohibited the importation of new slaves into Upper Canada. This was the first legislation in the British colonies to restrict the slave trade.

Senator Anne Clare Cools

Senator Anne Clare Cools was born in 1943 in Barbados, West Indies. She was educated at Queen's College Girls School, Barbados, Montreal's Thomas D'Arcy McGee High School, and McGill University, from which she holds a Bachelor of Arts.

Senator Cools is a Senator from Ontario. Recommended by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, she was summoned to the Senate in January 1984, becoming the first Black person in the Senate of Canada. She is the first black female senator in North America. In June 2004, after 20 years as a Liberal Senator, she briefly joined the Conservatives. She now has no party affiliation.

Senator Cools was a social worker in innovative social services in Toronto. A pioneer in addressing domestic and family violence, in 1974 she founded one of Canada's first women's shelters, Women in Transition Inc., and was its Executive Director.

Senator Cools currently serves on the Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament.

Her many recognitions include:

Women of Distinction in the African-Canadian Community, 2009, Black Business & Professional Association, Toronto, ON;

10 Top Women, Toronto Sun newspaper October 25, 2004. This poll overwhelmingly chose Senator Cools as Canada's top woman;

The Greatest Canadian, CBC TV, 2004: Chosen as one of the 100 greatest Canadians of all time, Senator Cools was the only serving member of Parliament so chosen;

Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree, 2004, Canada Christian College, Toronto, Ontario;

Certificate of Recognition as Canada's first Black senator, 2001, Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center, Howard University, Washington, D.C.; and

Spiritual Mother of the Year, 1997, NA'AMAT Canada, the International Jewish Women's Organization that supports battered women's shelters in Israel.

Frances DelSol

Frances DelSol is the Government of Dominica Representative for Canada and the Trade & Investment Commissioner for Dominica. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Dominica Ontario Association (CDOA), a non-profit that seeks to support the goals and objectives of Ontarians that come from the Commonwealth of Dominica, a small island in the Caribbean. DelSol was previously the Associate Director for Bell Canada for 35 years (until 2016), and currently is the Communications Co-Chair for the Black Business and Professional Association.

As an organization existing since 1970 with diverse members, the CDOA seeks to sponsor literary, musical, and other educational and cultural events, festivals, pageants, and conventions for the preservation and perpetuation of the Dominica residents of Ontario. The organization also provides aid for its members, most recently by collecting aid and money through donations and fundraising events for Hurricane Maria relief. Hurricane Maria was the worst natural disaster on record in Dominica's history. DelSol's contributed through media and press events, and spoke publically many times to highlight Dominica's needs, working tirelessly to help.

DelSol was voted one of Canada's top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2016 (CIBWE). In December 2017 she was awarded the Honoris Causa with a medal in Community Service by the Premier of Ontario, Hon. Kathleen Wynne. DelSol was granted the award for her distinguished services to arts, to letters, to science, to industry, to public services, to media, to community and to the Canadian society by promoting equality, respect to human values, the human rights, co-operation and understanding among the members of the various cultural groups of the Canadian society. This award was her latest in addition to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, Afro-Global TV's Volunteer of the Year, Black Business and Professional Woman of Honour, and many others.

Perdita Felicien

Perdita Felicien is a two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004) and a 2003 world champion in the 100m hurdles. She is also the first Canadian woman to win an individual track medal at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships, is a 10-time Canadian champion, and, in 2004, she set a national record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.46 seconds. In 2003 and 2007, Felicien won silver in the 100m hurdles at the Pan American Games and was also inducted into the Athletics Canada Hall of Fame in 2016.

Mifflin Wistar Gibbs

Born into a free Black family in Philadelphia, Gibbs moved to San Francisco in 1850 and became one of that city's most prosperous Black merchants. Concern about the racial climate in the United States prompted him and other African Americans to head north and seek the protection of British law in Victoria. As a politician, businessman, and defender of human rights, Gibbs was the recognized leader of the Black community on Vancouver Island during its early years between 1858 and 1870, and is still a revered historical figure in the Black community of British Columbia. Through his political abilities, Gibbs made Black residents a force in colonial politics and was elected to Victoria City Council. He acted as a spokesperson for the West Coast's African Canadian community, encouraging their integration into Vancouver Island society and intervening repeatedly when efforts were made to segregate them in the churches and theatres of Victoria. In 1870, Gibbs returned to the United States and enjoyed an equally significant political and business career in the American South before his death in 1915. Gibbs was recently deemed by Parks Canada as a person of National Historic Significance.

Barbara Howard

Born and raised in Vancouver at 10th and Nanaimo. During the late 1930s, the Vancouver-born Howard was one of the fastest female sprinters in the British Empire. She represented Canada at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney, Australia. Howard later graduated from UBC in 1959 attaining a B.Ed. and was the first member of a visible minority hired by the Vancouver School Board. She worked as a Vancouver school teacher until 1984. In her later years, she remained active in the community volunteering as a peer counsellor. She was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada from 2005 to 2010

Michaëlle Jean was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 1957. She was educated at home because her parents, Roger and Luce, did not want her to attend school, where she would have to swear allegiance to dictator François "Papa Doc" Duvalier. In 1968, she immigrated to Canada with her parents, fleeing the dictatorial regime of François Duvalier.

Jean studied comparative literature at the Université de Montréal, and became fluent in five languages (French, Haitian Creole, English, Italian, and Spanish). She was equally active on the issue of domestic violence, and worked with shelters for battered women and coordinated a government-funded study on spousal abuse during her time in university. She also taught Italian in the Université's Department of Literature and Modern Languages.

In 1988, Jean began her career as a reporter, filmmaker, and broadcaster with Radio-Canada. It was there that she became the first person of Caribbean descent to be seen on French television news in Canada, hosting news and affairs programs such as Actuel, Montréal ce soir, Virages, and Le Point. By 1995, she moved to Réseau de l'information (RDI), where she anchored programs such as, Le Monde ce soir, l'Édition québécoise, Horizons francophones, Les Grands reportages, Le Journal RDI, and RDI's Grands reportages, and occasionally Le Téléjournal. Over this period, Jean also made several films with her husband, including the award winning Haïti dans tous nos rêves ("Haiti in All Our Dreams"). RDI à l'écoute. Four years later, she joined CBC Newsworld, to host The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts. By 2004, Jean was hosting her own show, Michaëlle, while anchoring

On September 27, 2005, Michaëlle Jean become the 27th Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. As Governor General she encouraged field initiatives from civil society, stimulating constructive synergies, advocating for the disadvantaged, paying special attention to youth. As Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, she maintained a strong presence among them, including traveling to Afghanistan to salute their valour, and attend to the families of those killed in action, and the wounded. Over the five years of her mandate, she led some forty missions and State visits to Afghanistan, China, ten African countries, nine countries of the Americas, and over ten European countries.

On January 12, 2010, a terrible earthquake devastated Haiti and in October 2010, with her mandate as Governor General coming to an end, Michaëlle Jean agreed to serve as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Special Envoy for Haiti. For four years, she devoted her energy and powers of persuasion to support the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts. In 2010, following her term as Governor General, she cofounded with her husband the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. This independent non-profit organization serve to inspire and empower at-risk youth in Canada through the arts and culture. From 2012 to 2015, Michaëlle Jean served as Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, the largest bilingual French and English campus in the world.

In April 2011, Michaëlle Jean was appointed as the Grand Témoin de la Francophonie at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and was elected Secretary General of La Francophonie on November 30, 2014, at the 15th Summit of La Francophonie.

Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson was born into slavery on June 15, 1789 in Charles County, Maryland. He was sold three times before he reached the age of eighteen. By 1830, Henson had saved $350 to purchase his freedom. After giving his master the money he was told that the price had increased to $1,000.

Cheated of his money, Henson decided to escape with his wife and four children. After reaching Canada, Henson formed a community where he taught other formerly enslaved people how to be successful farmers. American abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe read his autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson (1849), which inspired her powerful and controversial novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Josiah Henson
(1789 - 1889)
Parks Canada

Dr. June Marion James

June Marion James was born in Trinidad & Tabago and moved to Manitoba in 1960 to become the first Black woman admitted to the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Medicine. She received her M.D. in 1967, and went on to earn Specialist Certificates in Pediatrics and Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology for which she was named a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Canada) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. She began her career as a specialist in the Department of Allergy and Immunology at the Winnipeg Clinic in 1976, where she continues to practice today.

Dr. James was one of the founders of Manitoba's Family Allergy College. She has also served as a councilor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and later became its president. Overall, she has served on over 20 boards and committees. She has been involved with organizations such as the Caribbean Canadian Association, the Winnipeg Foundation, United Way, the Congress of Black Women, and the Manitoba Museum and more. She also played an instrumental role in founding the Harambee Housing Co-op, which provides social housing at an affordable cost to a culturally and racially diverse population in Winnipeg.

For her work, Dr. James has been a recipient of numerous awards such as YMCA s Woman of the Year (1981), the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Order of Manitoba (2004), and the Volunteer Centre Award for Outstanding Community Leadership (2005).

Yolande James

Yolande James is a former Quebec provincial politician. She was the first Black female Member of the National Assembly of Quebec (MNA), and the youngest, as well as the first Black cabinet minister in Quebec history. A native of Montréal, Quebec, she acquired her education and training in law from Université de Montréal and Queen's University, and was called to the Bar of Quebec in 2004. During this time, she collaborated in a program for helping youths with learning disabilities at the West Island of Montreal, served as a policy advisor at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and was a member of the organizing committee for Black History Month at Université de Montréal.

James was first elected to the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Nelligan in 2004, and was re-elected in the 2007, 2008, and 2012 general elections. She served as Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities from 2005 to 2010, and Minister of the Family from 2010 to 2012.

Having left politics in 2014, she is currently a political analyst at Radio-Canada and appears on the television show Les EX.

Ferguson Arthur Jenkins

Ferguson Arthur Jenkins was born on December 13, 1942, in Chatham, Ontario. He is considered to be one of the most talented pitchers to ever play baseball. He grew up in Canada and excelled in baseball, basketball and hockey, competing in Canada's highest amateur hockey league.

While playing in the minor league in Chatham, Mr. Jenkins was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1963 and went on to the Chicago Cubs in 1966. In 1967, he began a six-year string of 20 or more wins per season.

Ferguson Jenkins also became only the fourth pitcher in history to win more than 100 games. In addition, his six consecutive 20-game winning seasons as a Cub were rare accomplishments in the majors.

Mr. Jenkins retired in 1983 with the best finesse record in 128 years of organized baseball.

After coaching minor-league pitchers for the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds, he was named the Chicago Cubs' pitching coach for the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

Among his many achievements, Mr. Jenkins accomplished the following:

He won the Cy Young Award for pitching excellence in 1971;

He won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's outstanding athlete in 1974;

He became Canadian Male Athlete of the Year four times;

He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987;

He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1979 and was invested into the Order in 2007, over 27 years after he was appointed; and

He received baseball's ultimate honour when he became the first Canadian inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1991.

Today Fergie is very involved with his Foundation located in St Catharines Ontario and show cases a Black History Museum hi-lighting his achievements while fund raising across the country for those in need through the love of sports. He lives in Anthem Arizona with his wife Lydia and is an Ambassador for the Chicago Cubs professional baseball team.

Violet King (1929-1982)

Violet King was the first Black person to obtain a law degree in Alberta and the first Black person admitted to the Alberta Bar. Overall, she was Canada's first Black female lawyer. She was also the first woman appointed to an executive position in the YMCA in the United States.

King attended the University of Alberta in 1948, and out of 142 students, she was one of the only three in the Faculty of Law. She was a member of the Blue Stocking Club - a discussion group for women with an emphasis on history and public affairs. She was also Vice-President of the students' union and representative of the students' union to the National Federation of Canadian University Students. In 1951-52, she was elected as class historian and was the 1952 Alberta representative to the International Student Conference in Ontario. In 1953, she was the only woman in her graduating class.

King practiced law in Calgary for several years and gave speeches publically about racism. In November 1953, she described the challenges women had faced in the work force, and expressed hope in the future that greater emphasis would be placed on a person's ability rather than their race or gender. King later worked in Ottawa for Citizenship and Immigration for seven years as executive assistant to the chief of the Liaison Branch, and directing programs with the Canadian Citizenship Council. Her work involved travelling around Canada to meet with leaders of different service and community organizations.

In 1963, King moved to New Jersey to become executive director the YMCA's Community Branch and took on the role of assisting Black applicants seeking employment. In 1969, she moved to Chicago to become director of planning, and later director of manpower. In 1976, she was appointed executive director of the National Council of YMCA's Organizational Development Group. In 1998, King was inducted into the National YMCA Hall of Fame.

Although she passed away from cancer at only age 52, King's life consisted of important milestones that broke down barriers for Black people in Canada, particularly because it was extremely difficult to enter the legal profession for all women, especially those who belonged to a racial minority. She is an inspiration for those who work hard and aspire to do great things in their field.

Sam Langford

Sam Langford, born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia, is considered one of the finest heavyweight boxers of all time. After moving to the United States at the age of 14 and fighting out of Massachusetts, he became known as the Boston Terror.

He was one of many top Black boxers denied a chance to fight for a championship largely because of racial discrimination. This led to his being called the unofficial World Champion. In 1906 he fought American Jack Johnson who shortly thereafter became the first Black person to hold the title of World Heavyweight Champion. In the years between 1902 and 1923, Langford is believed to have had approximately 642 fights. Small in stature, he consistently went up against larger men. An injury in 1917 caused him to lose the sight in his right eye, and led his manager to suggest he give up boxing. A proud man, Langford refused and continued to fight until he finally succumbed to blindness seven years later.

Sam Langford
(1886-1956)
Parks Canada

Michael Lee-Chin

Michael Lee-Chin first came to Canada in the early 1970s to attend McMaster University in Hamilton. After earning a civil engineering degree he returned to his native Jamaica to work, but was soon back in Canada working on his Master's degree. In 1977, he began selling mutual funds. In 1987, he bought Advantage Investment Counsel, now AIC Limited, one of the country's biggest mutual-fund companies with assets of more than 12 billion dollars.

Michael Lee-Chin is also known as a philanthropist. In 2003, he made headlines when he donated $30 million to the Royal Ontario Museum

Kathleen "Kay" Livingstone

Kathleen "Kay" Livingstone (1918-1975) was born in London, Ontario, in 1918. Her parents, James and Christina Jenkins founded the Dawn of Tomorrow, a pioneering publication for Canada's Black community in 1921. From a young age, she was interested in the performing arts, studying music in Toronto and Ottawa.

During the Second World War, Kay Livingston worked at the Dominion Bureau of Statistics in Ottawa. It was in Ottawa that she began a career as a radio host with "The Kathleen Livingstone Show."In 1942, she married George Livingstone, and they moved to Toronto where they raised their children. Livingstone maintained her acting career, hosted radio programs on several stations, including the CBC and was called "one of Canada's leading Black actresses" during this time.

Livingstone worked to break down prejudice and promote equality of individuals of all origins and contributed to the development of a more tolerant society. She was deeply involved in expanding a collective awareness and pride in the Toronto Black community in the post-Second World War period. As well, she worked with the United Nations Association - Toronto Branch Women's Auxiliary, the local YWCA Foreign Affairs Committee, the National Black Coalition of Canada, the Canadian Council of Churches, the Legal Aid Society, and Heritage Ontario.

Livingstone was a founder of the Canadian Negro Women's Association (1951). An early Canadian Negro Women's Association (CANEWA) undertaking, and one which would continue throughout the group's existence, was the provision of scholarships to deserving Black students. Later activities included the organization of the Calypso Carnival (forerunner of the Caribana Festival) as a fundraiser for other service projects.

Kay Livingstone actively engaged in creating a Canada-wide network of African-Canadian women. She was the driving force behind the first National Black Women's Congress (1973), providing a national forum to address the concerns of Black women and advance their causes. Perhaps most importantly, the Congress inspired the delegates to maintain close ties with each other, leading to further conventions at Montreal in 1974, Halifax in 1976, Windsor in 1978, and Winnipeg in 1980. It was at the Winnipeg meeting that the Congress of Black Women was formed, an organization which today has over 600 members and is one of Kay Livingstone's legacies.

In the last years of her life, Kay worked as a consultant to the Privy Council of Canada, travelling the country in preparation for a conference on visible minorities in Canada (a term with which she is credited with coining). One of the people she met on these travels was Carrie Best; it is a credit to Kay Livingstone's influence that after her death in 1975, Ms. Best formed the Kay Livingstone Visible Minority Women's Society in her honour, an organization which to this day provides educational funding for deserving young women.

Millie (Goins) McCoy

Born into slavery, Millie escaped enslavement with her manumitted husband, George, and made her way to Colchester Township, Ontario. It was there, within Essex County, that she gave birth to and raised one of the great Black inventors, Elijah McCoy, who is most known for his invention of a lubricating cup for oiling the steam engines of trains and ships. Millie was also brave enough to return to the United States with her family, before the American Civil, where she and George were Underground Railroad operatives in the state of Michigan.

Elijah McCoy

Born in Colchester, Ontario, to parents who had escaped from slavery in Kentucky and arrived in Canada via the Underground Railroad, Elijah McCoy showed an early interest in machines and tools and an aptitude for mechanics. At a time when it was difficult for Black people to obtain training in the United States, his parents sent him to Edinburgh, Scotland to study mechanical engineering.

Upon his return to North America, he took a job as a fireman with the railroad in Michigan. The "fireman" was the person who shovelled the coal to power the locomotive and who lubricated the moving parts during frequent stops. Elijah soon saw that he could put his knowledge and education to work by improving this lubricating process. He developed and patented a particular type of lubricating cup that dripped oil onto the moving parts of a train while it was in motion. While the origin of the expression is probably somewhat older, it is said that buyers of the lubricating oil cup asked specifically for the "Real McCoy" because it was extremely reliable and they wanted no substitutes.

That was just one of the products he developed and patented. For example, in response to his wife's desire for an easier way to iron clothes, he invented and patented the portable ironing board.

Elijah McCoy held more than 50 patents, not just in Canada and the U.S. but also in France, Austria, Germany, Great Britain and Russia.

James Mink

In the 1840s, one of Toronto's most successful business people was James Mink, owner of the Mansion Inn and Livery. Mink, born to parents who had formerly been enslaved, owned stagecoaches that carried people and mail between Toronto and Kingston.

The Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Q.C.

The Honourable Donald H. Oliver, Q.C. was born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 1938. A graduate of Acadia University and Dalhousie University Law School, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada on September 7, 1990.

Mr. Oliver has been active in the Conservative Party for more than 50 years. He has had a distinguished legal career as a civil litigator and a legal educator, having taught at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, St. Mary's University and Dalhousie University Law School. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society.

Donald Oliver is President of Glen Moir Holdings Ltd.; Pleasant River Farms Limited; Dolin Fisheries; and is a Consultant, Advisor and Director of a number of companies. He is a speaker on a wide range of topics, and author of a gourmet cookbook. His community work includes service as President and Chairman of the Halifax Children's Aid Society, and Director of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.

Currently, Senator Oliver is Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament and a member of the Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.

Among his many awards are:

Honorary Doctorates from the University of Guelph, Dalhousie University, and from Acadia University; and,

Recipient of the Harry Jerome Award for Community Service; the African Canadian Achievement Award in Politics; and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission Human Rights Award.

Senator Oliver is married to M. Linda Oliver, a telecommunications consultant. They have one daughter, Carolynn.

Pearleen (Borden) Oliver

Pearleen (Borden) Oliver (1917-2008) was a religious and human rights leader, writer, historian and community activist in Nova Scotia for over sixty years. As an activist, she fought to remove discriminatory barriers that restricted education and employment opportunities for Blacks and other minorities in the 1940s and 1950s. She co-founded the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People alongside her husband, Rev. Dr. William P. Oliver.

She was also a strong advocate for Black women in Nova Scotia, and in 1947 she campaigned to end the exclusion of Black women from nursing training in Canada, leading the Board of the Children's Hospital in Halifax to take two Black women as nursing students. In 1953, she founded the African United Baptist Association (AUBA) Women's Institute and was the first woman elected moderator for the AUBA in 1976.

Dr. Pearleen Oliver wrote a number of books, including A Brief History of the Coloured Baptists of Nova Scotia, 1782- 1953 (1953) and Song of the Spirit (1994).

For her work, Dr. Pearleen Oliver received several honours, including Honorary Doctorates from Saint Mary's University (1990) and Mount Saint Vincent Univeristy (1993), the Woman of the Year Award, YWCA (1981 and 1991), and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002).

Willie O'Ree

On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree stepped on the ice at the Montreal Forum to play his first game in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins - and made history.

Like any Canadian kid, as a young boy Willie played hockey with his friends. And out there on the ice, he probably pretended to be his favourite player, deking around the defence taking shots, scoring goals. Actually playing in the NHL was something most of these kids only dreamed about. For O'Ree that dream came true. In fact, he became the first Black player in the NHL. Known for his speed and checking abilities, his career was cut short by an injury.

Today, Willie O'Ree is the director of the NHL 's diversity program. He travels across Canada and the United States promoting and teaching the game of hockey to children from all cultural backgrounds.

In January 2008, fifty years after his NHL debut, Willie O'Ree's home town of Fredericton, New Brunswick, named its new hockey arena Willie O'Ree Place, in honour of his achievements.

Richard Pierpoint

Richard Pierpoint was a lad of 16 in Senegal, Africa when he was seized and sold into slavery in 1760. He was purchased by an English officer named Pierpoint who had settled in New York's Hudson Valley. Richard became this officer's servant and adopted his surname. The officer and Richard were mustered during the 1763 Aboriginal uprising in British North America, but likely saw no action.

After the outbreak of the American Revolution, Richard was given his freedom and eventually became a soldier, joining John Butler's corps of Rangers operating out of Fort Niagara. When the war of the revolution ended in 1783, Butler's Rangers were disbanded and the men were provided with land grants in what would become the Niagara region of Ontario. Richard received 200 acres of land in present-day St. Catharines and became somewhat of a community leader among Niagara's Black population.

When the War of 1812 broke out Richard Pierpoint petitioned Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, proposing the formation of an all-Black company of militia to fight alongside the British during the war. Brock agreed with the proposal and ordered the formation of what was known as the "Coloured Corps," a small company of about 40 men from the Niagara and York districts mustered under white officers. The 68 year-old Richard Pierpoint served as a private in the corps and served on active duty throughout the conflict, including the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812 when the corps was mentioned in dispatches as having played a key role in that British victory.

The Coloured Corps fought at the Battle of Fort George in May 1813, and were active in the Niagara campaign of 1813. In 1814 they worked on construction of fortifications, many of the men of the company having skills in carpentry and masonry.

When the war ended, the British offered land grants to the veterans of the Coloured Corps, establishing settlements in Oro and Garafraxa Townships. He petitioned the government to provide passage for him back to Senegal in Africa but this was never granted. He was given another land grant of 100 acres in Garafraxa in 1822 and was able to build a house and clear a few acres there but he was too old to farm it properly. Pierpoint died there in 1838.

Watch the story of Richard Pierpoint, a key player in the War of 1812.

Betty Ruth Beatrice Simpson

Champion of Black History and co-founder, with her husband Melvin "Mac" Simpson, of the North American Black Historical Museum, now the Amherstburg Freedom Museum. Betty also worked at Hotel Dieu Hospital (WRH-Ouellette Campus) from 1961 to 1986.

Portia White

Portia White embarked on her stellar singing career at her father's Baptist Church in Halifax. Before she began singing professionally, she supported her musical career by teaching in rural Back schools in Halifax County, and eventually made her professional debut in Toronto. Soon afterwards, she performed in New York City to rave reviews.

Portia White went on to international success, performing more than 100 concerts, including a command performance before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Portia White
(1911-1968)
Truro, Nova Scotia
Advertising material produced by Columbia Concerts Inc.
Collection: MG 100 volume 245 #15a

John Ware

John Ware was born into slavery on a South Carolina cotton plantation in 1845. After gaining his freedom in the emancipation, he moved to Texas and learned the tough life of a cowboy. In 1882, he settled in Alberta where he was immediately hired by Fred Stimpson of the Bar U and Quorn ranches.

Mr. Ware started his own ranch in 1891 in the Millarville area and became a successful rancher and farmer. By the end of the 19th century, he was one of the most well-known and respected ranchers in Western Canada. It is said that his skills at bronco and busting were legendary. He created "steer wrestling" 20 years before the Calgary Stampede-an event that has now become an integral part of the western festival.

Mr. Ware met the former Torontonian Mildred Lewis and they married, settling on a ranch just north of the village of Duchess along the Red Deer River. They had five children. In 1902, his home was washed away in a flood. They rebuilt the cabin on higher ground overlooking a stream, referred to today as the Ware Creek.

John Ware continued to operate a ranch in southern Alberta until his death in 1905 from a horse-riding accident.

Interestingly, Mr. Ware's two sons joined the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the only segregated Battalion in Canada's history. The Battalion celebrates its 95 th anniversary in 2011.

Rose Fortune (1774-1864) and Peter C. Butler III (1859-1943)

First Black police officers in Canada

Born into slavery, Rose Fortune relocated to Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, after her family escaped the British colony of Virginia during the American Revolution. She developed a successful business transporting luggage from the ferry docks to Annapolis hotels and homes via wheelbarrow and providing wake-up calls for travellers. Over time, Fortune became known as the first female police officer in Canada - an unofficial title she earned by maintaining order and safeguarding property at the town's wharves.

The grandson of a formerly enslaved person, Peter C. Butler III (not pictured) became the first Black police officer in Canada in 1883. His career spanned 50 years, during which he was known as a peaceful man. He sometimes kept local offenders and drunks in his home to keep them off the streets, instead of tossing them into jail. Butler rarely carried a gun; he preferred to keep the peace with only a baton and his large hands instead.

Alton C. Parker (1907-1989)

First Black police officer in Windsor and first Black police detective in Canada

Alton C. Parker joined the Windsor Police Service in 1942, at a time when it was rare for Black Canadians to be in positions of authority. Parker gained the admiration of his colleagues and in 1951 was promoted to the rank of Detective - making him not only the first Black police officer in Windsor but also the first Black police detective in Canada.

After serving the Windsor Police Service for 28 years, Parker continued to be engaged in his community and held a big party for the community's children each year. During and after his police career, Parker received many awards and honours including having both a public park and a street named after him in Windsor.

Lawrence "Larry" McLarty

First Black police officer in Toronto

Larry McLarty came to Canada with experience as a Jamaican Constabulary Force officer, but after arriving in Toronto, he worked various jobs as a railway porter, a catalogue book packer, a night cleaner, and in a hospital kitchen.

When McLarty applied to the Toronto Police Service, he was disappointed to be told he was one-eighth of an inch too short. Then two months later, while being measured for a new suit, he discovered he met the height requirement after all. Mr. McLarty reapplied to the force and was hired in 1960 - the first Black officer in Toronto. He rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant and retired after 32 years of service.

Édouard "Eddie" Anglade (1944 - 2007)

First Black police officer in Montreal

A Haitian immigrant, Édouard Anglade joined the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal in 1974 as the first Black officer on the force. For several years he was the only Black officer in Montréal.

During his 30-year career, he fought crime on the streets of Montreal and earned the respect of his police colleagues. Anglade's perseverance and professionalism led him to eventually become the highest-ranking Black officer, of 130 at the time, in Montréal.

His autobiography, Nom de code: Mao, recounts his experiences on the police force.

Photo provided by Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

Devon Clunis

First Black Chief of Police in Canada

Devon Clunis moved to Winnipeg from Jamaica at age 12. Wanting to make a difference, he joined the Winnipeg Police Service in 1987, where he has performed all manner of duties over the course of 25 years, including: patrols, traffic duty, investigations and community relations.

In November 2012, Clunis was sworn in as Chief of Police of the Winnipeg Police Service, becoming the first Black Canadian to hold the position.

Read a speech delivered by Devon Clunis, Chief of the Winnipeg Police Service, at the Black History Month 2013 launch reception.

Craig Gibson

First Black commanding officer in the RCMP

Craig Gibson grew up in a small community in Nova Scotia. He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1980 and has spent more than 30 years working across the country in five different provinces, performing all kinds of policing and leadership duties.

Recognised for excellence and a commitment to helping small communities, Gibson officially assumed command of the RCMP in Prince Edward Island in July 2012, becoming the first Black commanding officer in the RCMP.

Lori Seale-Irving

First Black female commissioned officer in the RCMP

Lori Seale-Irving was born and raised in Ottawa. Her father was a Royal Canadian Air Force Officer (retired Major), so she grew up on a military base. Wanting a career that would allow her to help people in her community, Seale-Irving joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1990. Her career has included many postings, including some in sections devoted to general duty policing, war crimes, marine security, Prime Minister's protection and management support.

Seale-Irving was promoted to the rank of Inspector in 2007, making her the first self-identified Black female RCMP member to become a commissioned officer.

Lyonel Anglade

Community Relations Officer, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

Lyonel Anglade works extensively with youth from different cultural communities in Montréal, particularly those of Haitian origin. His outreach efforts help build trust and improve dialogue between the city's youth and police to break down stereotypes and form community partnerships.

Photo provided by Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

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Read the biographies of some notable Black Canadians who have helped shape Canadian heritage and identity, and who have made and continue to make enormous contributions to the wellbeing, and prosperity of our country. Georges Anglade Born on July 18, 1944, in Port-au-Prince, Georges Anglade was a Haitian-born geographer, politician and writer from Montreal.

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Black Canadian Heroes Who Have Paved The Way For Future Generations

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Black Canadian Heroes Who Have Paved The Way For Future Generations

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From the days when they were slaves in Canada to their ongoing impact today, black Canadians have had a significant hand in shaping this country's past, present, and future.

There are some prominent black Canadians that most of us know well. Donovan Bailey set a world record as a sprinter at the 1996 Olympics. Hockey player P.K. Subban, part of a family full of athletes, has donated millions to a Montreal hospital. Viola Desmond was both an activist for desegregation and a pioneering businesswoman.

And former Governor General Michaëlle Jean has been breaking barriers her entire career, including in her current role as the first woman to be Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

But Canadian history is also full of black people whose remarkable achievements are unfortunately not as well known today. The stories of black Canadians are often not taught and passed on in schools, which means many of us grow up never hearing about people like Elijah McCoy or Josiah Henson.

That's why it's important to take the time and initiative to learn more about how black Canadians have contributed to Canada, to share that information with the people in our own lives, and to push our children's schools to tell these stories - to help ensure that these pioneers and trailblazers hold their proper place in the story of this country.

Designated a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada in 1994, Mary Ann Shadd was the country's first black female newspaper publisher. Born in Delaware to free parents, Shadd founded and edited The Provincial Freeman in 1853, and ran a racially integrated school for black refugees in Windsor, Ont.

Shadd advocated strongly for school desegregation, worked to encourage black Americans to move to Canada, and was one of the first black women to complete a law degree after moving back to the U.S. during the Civil War.

Before there was Donovan Bailey, there was Harry Jerome. Jerome was a black Canadian track and field athlete who went to the Olympics three times, winning a bronze in the 100-metre race in 1964.

He also won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games, and set or matched several world records. After his competitive career ended, Jerome worked to promote amateur and youth sports.

Nova Scotia native Portia White was the first black Canadian singer to become an international star in the 1930s and '40s, a time when black women experienced significant barriers in their personal and professional lives.

The classical singer travelled the world before switching to teaching, where she worked with students including singer Robert Goulet and actress Dinah Christie.

Inventor Elijah McCoy's parents escaped enslavement via the Underground Railroad, and McCoy himself faced considerable discrimination in his own field. But he also invented an industry-changing device for steam-powered engines, and eventually registered more than 50 patents.

His devices for locomotive and ship engines significantly changed the transport industry in the late 1800s.

The first black woman was ordained in this country later than you might think. It was Mabel Adeline (Addie) Aylestock, ordained in the British Methodist Episcopal Church in 1951 and the first woman ordained in that church after they changed their rules earlier that year.

Aylestock worked in congregations in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia throughout her career. Her family members were also trailblazers: her sister Rella Braithwaite wrote several books about African Canadians, and her niece Diana Braithwaite is a blues musician and television director.

Lawyer Lincoln Alexander made history three times in his political career, as the first black member of Parliament, cabinet minister, and provincial lieutenant-governor for Ontario.

Alexander, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force before attending law school, was re-elected four times and also served as chair of the Ontario Workers' Compensation Board and chancellor of the University of Guelph during his long and varied career.

Marie-Joseph Angelique's story is important for several reasons, but one of them is the reminder that black people were enslaved in Canada, a reality we tend to forget.

Angelique, born in Portugal around 1705, was owned by a woman in Montreal and charged with arson after a large fire in the city. The allegations were that she set the fire trying to escape slavery after being refused a request for her freedom, though she denied setting the fire until she was tortured.

Eventually found guilty and executed, Angelique has become a symbol of black resistance and freedom.

Born into slavery in 1789, as an adult Josiah Henson became a leader for black Americans escaping enslavement. Henson escaped to Canada in 1830, and founded the Dawn Settlement near Dresden, Ont. to provide a home for others like him.

He co-organized a trade-labour school and served on its executive, and made fundraising trips to the U.S. and England as the spiritual leader for Dawn. Some believe that Henson was the model for the lead character in the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Politician Rosemary Brown had to deal with the double whammy of racism and sexism on her path to becoming both the first black female member of a provincial legislature and the first woman to run for leadership of a federal party.

Brown immigrated to Canada from Jamaica as a young adult, and first became well known as a political commentator and activist, co-founding the Vancouver Status of Women Council.

She continued her work in national and international human rights after retiring from politics, heading both the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the MATCH International Women's Fund.

Brown died in 2003 in Vancouver.

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Black Canadian Heroes Who Have Paved The Way For Future Generations

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From the days when they were slaves in Canada to their ongoing impact today, black Canadians have had a significant hand in shaping this country's past, present, and future. There are some prominent black Canadians that most of us know well. Donovan Bailey set a world record as a sprinter at the 1996 Olympics.

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4 Black Canadians that are leading the change

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4 Black Canadians that are leading the change

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4 Black Canadians that are leading the change | Articles | CBC Kids

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Black Leaders

January 02, 2023

Black history is everyone's history. And it is happening now. From writer/director R.T. Thorne to the president of the Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri. Black Canadians are making history today and every day.

How many of these contemporary agents of change do you know?

Cameron Davis

Activist and YouTuber Cameron Davis is making changes. He shares videos about his experiences travelling the world, cooking new recipes and dealing with racism as a Black person in Canada.

Davis is a change leader in his community. He started an organization called BY YOUTH, which stands for Black York Region (BYR) Youth. The group focuses on supporting Black youth and their families through education and advocacy work.

Fun fact: Davis teaches his gaming fans how to improve their Minecraft skills.

Masai Ujiri

In 2013, Masai Ujiri joined the Toronto Raptors basketball team. He was the general manager and is now the president. Six years later, Ujiri led the Raptors to the NBA Championship. It was the first for Canada.

Ujiri is also the founder of Giants of Africa. It is an organization that promotes basketball for youth in Africa. They do this by empowering and educating kids on and off the court.

Fun fact: Ujiri was raised in Nigeria.

R.T. Thorne

Randall Thorne, who goes by R.T., spent years directing award-winning music videos. After Thorne became the writer, director, producer and creator of Utopia Falls. Utopia Falls is the first hip-hop sci-fi show. R.T. has also directed and produced Kung Fu, The Lake and The Porter.

In 2020, the Director Guild of Canada named R.T. the first chair of the BIPOC members committee. Today R.T. advocates for Canadian directors. People who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of colour.

Fun fact: Growing up, Thorne wanted to be a comic book creator.

Sedina Fiati

Sedina Fiati was born and raised in Toronto. She is a queer Black activist, producer and director. She also performs in plays, web series, films and television shows.

Besides being on screen, Fiati is also an advocate. They advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion for marginalized people in the arts.

Fun fact: This multi-talented creator's family comes from Trinidad and Ghana.

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4 Black Canadians that are leading the change | Articles | CBC Kids

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Black Leaders January 02, 2023 Black history is everyone's history. And it is happening now. From writer/director R.T. Thorne to the president of the Toronto Raptors Masai Ujiri. Black Canadians are making history today and every day. How many of these contemporary agents of change do you know?

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(Listed alphabetically by first name)

Canadian sprinter who won the silver medal in the 200 m and bronze medals in both the 100 m and 4×100 m relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

CTV News Anchor author, podcaster and on-air personality.

Educaror, Law student, founder of Montreal in Action, former Canadian football player with the Montreal Alouettes. Nicknamed "The Canadian Obama"

Canadian former track and field athlete, winner of a gold medal in the 4×100 metres relay at the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 2008 he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. Holds a personal record of 9.84 seconds.

Order of Canada awardee 2021

Order of Canada awardee 2021

Famed Film and Music Director and Producer

Donald H. Oliver, QC

The first Black Canadian to have a seat in the Senate

Former Canadian MP in Pierrefonds-Dollard until 2019. President of Baylis Medical.

Click the picture for more details. Also see links at the top.

First World War veteran. Pioneer and first Black man to receive the Order of Canada. 1967

Canadian singer and actress known for her screen roles in Turning to Stone, The Gospel According to the Blues, The Doodlebops, and Sins of the Father.She is also known for her appearance on the YTV show Catwalk where she played the grandmother to Atlas (Christopher Lee Clements).

Order of Canada awardee 2021

The Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean

Former Governor General of Canada

né à Douala au Cameroun le 7 décembre 1961, est un artiste et homme politique québécois. Il a été ministre québécois de la Culture et des Communications dans le gouvernement de Pauline Marois.

Click the picture for more details. Also see links at the top.

animateur de télévision du Québec, au Canada. Il est à la barre de l'émission Le Lab, diffusé à VOX. Il est également animateur de l'émission " Beau temps, mauvais temps " sur les ondes d'Espace Musique, chaîne radio de la Société Radio-Canada.

un nouveau souffle féminin et pétillant sur la planète hip-hop

Award-winning Journalist and weekend anchor at CBC Montreal.

Host of CBC's Daybreak morning show, effective January 2021

Coanimatrice de l'émission de radio Les Effrontés sur les ondes de QUB Radio, Vanessa Destiné est une jeune étoile des médias québécois.

une animatrice culturelle, auteure québécoise et femme d'affaires.

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Former Member of Parliament and Vice-President of the Bloc Québécois.

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, PhD, C.M., O.N.S,

Nova Scotian educator, social worker, researcher, and community activist. Professor at Dalhousie School of Social Work. First Black Nova Scotian woman to serve in the Senate Chamber. Received 2004 Order of Canada and 2014 Order of Nova Scotia.

de son vrai nom Aly Ndiaye, né à Québec, au Québec, est un rappeur canadien2. Il commence sa carrière dans les années 1990 aux côtés de Slik Cat et DJ Def au sein de la formation Northern X dans le secteur 21 du quartier Limoilou.

Multi-Grammy Award winner. Singer, songwriter, and record producer. Noted for his falsetto and eccentric music style

Click the picture for more details. Also see links at the top.

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(Listed alphabetically by first name) Canadian sprinter who won the silver medal in the 200 m and bronze medals in both the 100 m and 4×100 m relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. CTV News Anchor author, podcaster and on-air personality.

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Teens have a lot to say about this complicated world - are you listening? Mood-swinging, dream-chasing, rule-breaking dramas and adventures. (Because puberty)

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Being Black in Canada | Special presentation (2021)

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Being Black in Canada | Special presentation (2021)

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Being Black in Canada | Special presentation (2021)

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In this episode, we tell the story of Africville, Amber Valley, Hogan's Alley, Willow Grove And other historic black Neighborhoods of Canada.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS

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Black Neighborhoods Of Canada - Black In The Maritimes

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In this episode, we tell the story of Africville, Amber Valley, Hogan's Alley, Willow Grove And other historic black Neighborhoods of Canada. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS

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Famous Black communities across Canada | Articles | CBC Kids

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Famous Black communities across Canada | Articles | CBC Kids

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From politicians to musicians, Black communities across the country have produced many legendary Canadians. Read on to learn more about these iconic places.

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A Visual History of Iconic Black Hairstyles

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A Visual History of Iconic Black Hairstyles

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A Visual History of Iconic Black Hairstyles | HISTORY

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Afros, cornrows, dreadlocks and beyond: The ancient roots of black hairstyles.

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Black Veterans
Their Stories
Our Canadian History

Legacy Voices Canada 150 Project

Welcome to the Black Canadian Veteran's website. The intent of this site is to raise awareness of the contribution made by Black Canadians who served in the Canadian Military during conflict and in peacetime. Black Canadians have a long tradition of service to Canada. All served with distinction and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice.

For many years the stories of Black veterans were not shared in the mainstream media or textbooks. This site will be a small step in ensuring these important stories are shared with the accuracy and the respect these veterans deserve. The site is a tool for educators, students and those interested in learning about the tradition of service with the Black Canadian community.

The site will grow over time as more stories come in. If you would like to contribute please let us know at bcv.stories@gmail.com.

A special thanks to Veterans Affairs Canada for funding this project, enabling an incredible team composed of historians and researchers:

Do you have a story to share with us?

We would love to hear it!

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Black History | Black Canadian Veterans Stories

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Black Veterans Their Stories Our Canadian History Legacy Voices Canada 150 Project Welcome to the Black Canadian Veteran's website. The intent of this site is to raise awareness of the contribution made by Black Canadians who served in the Canadian Military during conflict and in peacetime.

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One of last living Black Canadian WWII veterans is from Sask.

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One of last living Black Canadian WWII veterans is from Sask.

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Alvie Burden is one of the last surviving Black Canadian veterans who served in the Second World War. A historian says stories like Burden's need to be told.

Alvie's youngest son Kelly sat beside his father in Armstrong, B.C., where Alvie now lives, prompting some of Alvie's stories and filling in some blanks. The conversation was occasionally punctuated by Alvie's hearty laughs.

"Don't ever go back to war, isn't that what you said before?" Kelly said.

Alvie chuckled. "Yeah. People [have] to learn to get along."

Alvie was living in B.C. when he joined the Canadian military at 19 years old, but since he was born in Tisdale, Sask., in 1922, he was sent off to the Prairies to join the Saskatoon Light Infantry regiment as a dispatch rider.

Reuniting with best friend from the military

Alvie was reunited this June with one of his closest friends from the war, Art McKim.

"I met him in Montreal, where we went on the boat to England and then to Sicily," Alvie said.

The two were in Quebec to train on machine guns. Alvie said they'd go downtown and meet French girls on their off time. He spent a lot of time in England with McKim on guard duty, according to Kelly.

Both friends ended up meeting girlfriends in Paisley, Scotland.

"We met them on the street," Alvie said.

"You were going to marry one weren't you?" Kelly asked him.

"Yup."

Kelly recounted how Alvie gave the woman a ring, but then later changed his mind. She gave the ring back, and it later ended up on the finger of Kelly's mother.

Alvie and McKim were waiting for a ferry in Sicily when they started "messing around" with gunpowder that had been left on the beach.

"The damn stuff went up in smoke," Alvie said. "Art, he had his eyes all full of sand."

McKim was temporarily blinded. Alvie had to lead him out of the area and help him to the hospital. It was the last time the men saw each other for decades.

Alvie spent years looking for McKim, even driving to where he thought Art was from.

They were finally able to track him down.

"It was a pretty big deal," Alvie said.

They didn't find out until they reunited that McKim's half-brother lived within an hour drive of Alvie, and his relatives played hockey with Kelly's son.

Injured in war

Alvie was driving over a ridge when an enemy tank shell landed behind him and sent him flying into the air.

According to Kelly, an allied tank straddled him to protect him as soldiers pulled him to safety.

He ended up with shrapnel in his head and wrists, and the embedded lead continued to fester.

Despite that, Alvie returned and started carrying machine guns on a half-track as the driver of a Bren gun carrier.
LISTEN | CBC's Dayne Patterson talks about his conversation with one of the last living Black Canadian Second World War veterans:
Black Canadian stories important to remember

Kathy Grant founded the website and Facebook page Black Canadian Veterans Stories as part of a promise to her father, a Second World War veteran, to honour the contributions of Canada's Black soldiers.

Since then, dozens of stories from Black veterans of various wars have been posted online.

Grant said she's been in situations where Black Canadians have been conflicted on Remembrance Day, asking what they had to celebrate. She would show them stories and pictures.

"We served," Grant said. "By putting these examples and showing we served ... [even] after the war, it humanizes the soldiers by showing examples of us and not only showing examples of victims of racism."

Grant said there were about 1,300 Black Canadians who either enlisted or were conscripted to the military in the First World War, but in the early stages many were turned away by the commanding officer, who had the final say.

"There were hundreds that were turned away because of the commanding officer, but not because of policy," she said.

Things changed in the Second World War, and while some commanders still turned away applicants, Black Canadians joined the military much more easily.

"The majority of Black World War II veterans that I've interviewed indicated the racism ... wasn't rampant, it was the odd occasion," she said.

"The racism that they would experience would be when they returned home from overseas, or also when they were stationed in certain towns during training, when they would go into bars or dancing or whatever."

She said her father was kicked out of a bar in Edmonton because of his skin colour, even though he was in uniform.

Grant believes Alvie is among fewer than five living Black Canadian Second World War veterans in the country.

While Alvie's uncle, Roy Burden, was in a segregated unit in the United States, Alvie said that during his time in the military, from 1941 until the end of the war in 1945, he didn't face race-related issues despite being the only Black Canadian in his company.

It was "all right, no problems," he said.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians - from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community - check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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One of last living Black Canadian WWII veterans is from Sask. | CBC News

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Alvie Burden is one of the last surviving Black Canadian veterans who served in the Second World War. A historian says stories like Burden's need to be told. Alvie's youngest son Kelly sat beside his father in Armstrong, B.C., where Alvie now lives, prompting some of Alvie's stories and filling in some blanks.

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Black Canadians in uniform — a proud tradition

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Black Canadians in uniform — a proud tradition

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Often having to overcome great challenges just to enlist in the military, the sacrifices and achievements of Black Canadians over the years have shone through.

Pre-First World War

Introduction

The tradition of military service by Black Canadians goes back long before Confederation. Indeed, many Black Canadians can trace their family roots to Loyalists who emigrated North in the 1780s after the American Revolutionary War. American slaves had been offered freedom and land if they agreed to fight in the British cause and thousands seized this opportunity to build a new life in British North America.

This tradition of military service did not end there, with some Black soldiers seeing action in the War of 1812, helping defend Upper Canada against American attacks. A number of volunteers were organized into the "Company of Coloured Men," which played an important role in the Battle of Queenston Heights. Black militia members also fought in many other significant battles during the war, helping drive back the American forces. Black soldiers also played an important role in the Upper Canadian Rebellion (1837-1839). In all, approximately 1,000 Black militia men fighting in five companies helped put down the uprising, taking part in some of the most important incidents such as the Battle of Toronto.

Black volunteers also served with British forces farther away from home, including in the Royal Navy. Indeed, one such man, William Hall, would earn the Victoria Cross (the highest award for military valour) for his brave actions in India in 1857.

Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps

Black people in the West also forged their own military traditions. In the late 1850s, hundreds of Black settlers moved from California to Vancouver Island in pursuit of a better life. Approximately 50 of the new immigrants soon organized the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps, an all-Black volunteer force also known locally as the "African Rifles." While the corps was disbanded by 1865 after only a few years of existence, it was the first officially-authorized militia unit in the West Coast colony.

A few Black Canadians were also part of the Canadian Contingent that went overseas during the South African War of 1899-1902. However, the First World War that erupted a decade and a half later would see a great change in how Black Canadians served.

First World War

Eager to serve

Like so many others swept up in the excitement and patriotism that the First World War (1914-1918) initially brought on, young Black Canadians were eager to serve their country. At the time, however, the prejudiced attitudes of many of the people in charge of military enlistment made it very difficult for these men to join the Canadian Army. Despite the barriers, Black Canadians did manage to join up during the opening years of the war. Black Canadians wanted the chance to do their part on a larger scale, however, and pressured the government to do so.

No. 2 Construction Battalion

On July 5, 1916, the No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed in Pictou, Nova Scotia-the largest Black military unit in Canadian history. Recruitment took place across the country and approximately 800 personnel would serve with the battalion at some point during the war. Most were from Nova Scotia, with others coming from New Brunswick, Ontario, the West and even some from the United States. The Black Battalion's chaplain was Reverend William White, who had also played a leading role getting the unit formed. He was given the rank of Honourary Captain-one of the few Black commissioned officers to serve in the Canadian Army during the war.

The segregated battalion was tasked with non-combat support roles. After initial service in Canada, the battalion boarded the SS Southland bound for Liverpool, England in March 1917. Its members were sent to eastern France later in 1917 where they served honourably with the Canadian Forestry Corps. There they helped provide the lumber required to maintain trenches on the front lines, as well as helped improve roads and build a railway. After the end of the First World War in November 1918, the men sailed to Halifax in early 1919 to return to civilian life and the unit was officially disbanded in 1920.

Distinguished service

In addition to the men of the Black Battalion, more than 700 Black Canadians - including soldiers like James Grant, Roy Fells, James Post, Lancelot Bertrand, Henry Thomas Shepherd, Miles Dymond, Jeremiah Jones and Curly Christian - also managed to join other units. They would offer distinguished service that earned some of them medals for bravery at places like Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele.

Black Canadians on the home front

Black Canadians also made important contributions on the home front. They helped achieve victory by working in factories making the weapons and supplies needed by the soldiers fighting overseas, and by taking part in patriotic activities like raising funds for the war effort.

Today, the dedicated service of the "Black Battalion" and other Black Canadians who fought in the First World War is remembered and celebrated as a cornerstone of the proud tradition of Black military service in our country.

Memorials main page

Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada

This memorial is dedicated to the members of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The National War Memorial, also known as "The Response," is a cenotaph symbolizing the sacrifice of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have served Canada in the cause of peace and freedom.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honours the more than 118,000 Canadians who sacrificed their lives in the cause of peace and freedom.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Commemorates Canada's role in international peace support missions and the service members who have participated in these efforts.

Second World War

Canadians serving together

Little more than 20 years after the end of the "War to End all Wars," the Second World War(1939-1945) erupted and soon spread across Europe and around the globe. The Second World War saw considerable growth in how Black Canadians served in the military. While some Black recruits would encounter resistance when trying to enlist in the army, in contrast to the First World War no segregated battalions were created. Indeed, thousands of Black Canadians served during the bloodiest war the world has ever seen. These brave individuals joined all Canadians serving, here at home, in England, and on the battlefields of Europe. Together they served in places like Italy, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the early years of the war, however, the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force were not as inclusive in their policies. This did not mean that trail-blazing Black Canadians did not find a way to persevere and serve. Some Black sailors served in the Navy, and Black airmen served in the Air Force as ground crew and aircrew here at home and overseas in Europe.

The contributions of Black servicemen was second to none and several earned decorations for their bravery. Some Black women joined the military as well, serving in support roles so that more men were available for the front lines.

Home front efforts during the Second World War

Back on the home front, Black Canadians again made important contributions by working in factories that produced vehicles, weapons, ammunition and other materials for the war effort, and taking part in other patriotic efforts like war bond drives. Black women worked in vital jobs in various industries, for example, in munitions factories in Central Canada and shipbuilding yards in Nova Scotia, filling the shoes of the men who would usually do that work but who were away fighting in the war.

The right to equality

The service of Black Canadians in the Second World War remains a point of pride and was a measure of how Black Canadians were becoming increasingly integrated into wider Canadian society. Since the end of the Second World War, the tradition of Black Canadian service in the military has expanded and evolved.

Medals

Medals main page

Korean War and the Post-War Years

Evolving roles

In the Korean War (1950-1953), Canadians returned to the battlefield scarcely five years after the end of the Second World War, travelling halfway around the world to join the United Nations forces fighting to restore peace in Korea. Black soldiers were among the Canadian Army troops that were sent to fight so far from home.

Dismantling racist policies in the military

While some last traces of discrimination continued in Canadian military recruiting practices into the mid-1950s, Black Canadians became more established in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, as well. For example, Raymond Lawrence joined the Navy in 1953, rising to become the first Black Petty Officer 1st class and first Black coxswain on a Canadian ship.

The Air Force's Major Stephen Blizzard was a flight surgeon and also got his wings in the 1960s as a jet pilot during a long and varied career in the Canadian military-a trailblazer both in the air and in medicine. He also made important contributions to aviation medicine in both the military and civil fields.

Over the decades since the Korean War, Black Canadians have gone on to serve in every branch of the military, in duties both here at home and in operations around the world during the Cold War and in international peace support efforts (right from the first large-scale United Nations peacekeeping mission to Egypt during the Suez Crisis of the 1950s).

Sacrifice

Today, Black Canadians standing on the shoulders of the trailblazers who led the way continue to serve proudly in uniform where they share in the sacrifices and achievements being made by the Canadian Armed Forces. Our country's efforts in Afghanistan have come at a high cost, one that has been borne by Black soldiers, as well. Brave men like Ainsworth Dyer and Mark Graham are among the more than 150 Canadian Armed Forces members who have died in Afghanistan since 2002.

Veterans Affairs Canada gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Kathy Grant and Sarah Onyango for their support in the development of the department's commemorative resources on the military service of Black Canadians.

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Black Canadians in uniform - a proud tradition

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Often having to overcome great challenges just to enlist in the military, the sacrifices and achievements of Black Canadians over the years have shone through. The tradition of military service by Black Canadians goes back long before Confederation. Indeed, many Black Canadians can trace their family roots to Loyalists who emigrated North in the 1780s after the American Revolutionary War.

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Some of the earliest Black setters came to Canada as soldiers who fought with British troops during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) or the War of 1812 (1812-1815). This history of service continued into the world wars.

Promised their freedom, and sometimes a plot of land, in exchange for their military service, many Black Loyalists earned their place in Canada by fighting against the very Americans who would have preferred to keep them enslaved. They made notable contributions, including in the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812.

The Black military tradition in Canada extends from coast to coast. African American migrants served as the earliest defenders of Vancouver Island, as part of the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps starting in 1861. Meanwhile, Black Maritimers defended Canada's eastern shores, and served in many British military forces or the Canadian militia in the 1800s.

During the First World War, around 2,000 Black soldiers enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. They worked as translators, artillerymen, combatants, sharpshooters, lumberjacks, and more. About 700 men were members of a segregated Black Canadian military unit, the No. 2 Construction Battalion, which operated in Canada, England and France. Those soldiers played a vital role in moving supplies to troops, building depots, maintaining railroads, serving as sentries, and providing the wood needed to rebuild crumbling trench walls and dissolving duckboards. They did all of this work within the dangerous range of the fighting and at great risk to their lives.

Black Canadian men and women also made mighty contributions and bore great sacrifices during the Second World War. The Carty family from New Brunswick, for example, contributed an astonishing five sons to the conflict. All served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and all survived the war.

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Some of the earliest Black setters came to Canada as soldiers who fought with British troops during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) or the War of 1812 (1812-1815). This history of service continued into the world wars.

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When I sat down to start this column, I read every durag related article I could find. A lot has been said recently, especially within mainstream and pop culture. Its history is deep and mythological, all of the information was out there, but nothing felt personal. I knew I couldn't explore the impact of the durag without revisiting its impact on me, and the community I grew up in. I can't remember a time where owning at least one wasn't the norm. One of my first grooming experiences was tying down my hair after moisturizing and brushing. You couldn't keep your haircut fresh and neat if you didn't use a durag. It was an unspoken tradition, built around a simple piece of fabric. It's an item so widely available, but so personally defined. I wondered how it has lasted so long, where it came from, and where was it going. What makes the durag so unique that it defines decades of Black American culture?

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Meet Byrdie Boy and The Method Male creator Saleam T. Singleton. Each month, he'll be covering beauty topics through the lens of self-care and culture. When I sat down to start this column, I read every durag related article I could find. A lot has been said recently, especially within mainstream and pop culture.

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Après une petite pause de quelques mois, je vous reviens avec une petite synthèse des dernières parutions jeunesse dans lesquels on retrouve un personnage principal noir ou métissé de descendance africaine et/ou caribéenne. Vous souhaitez acheter l'un ou l'autre de ces livres? Cliquez sur les pages couverture pour accéder au site web des Libraires indépendants du Québec et placer vos commandes!
Par Mistikrak! Littérature Jeunesse.

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Petite fille et le loup: Petite fille a promis à sa maman de rester dans le jardin, mais la forêt est tentante et elle se retrouve bientôt face au loup. Pour lui échapper, elle lui chante une petite chanson et le loup s'endort. Mais elle n'a pas le temps d'arriver chez elle que le loup est déjà réveillé. Un conte d'origine afro-américaine qui parle de l'importance de la musique pour combattre les peurs. Sortie: Janvier 2024.

La leçon de patin: Claire est impatiente d'aller sur la glace et de patiner encore et encore! Elle va sauter, bondir et virevolter! Il suffit d'attendre : bientôt, elle passera à la télévision et éblouira le public partout dans le monde. Mais lorsque Claire arrive à la patinoire pour sa toute première leçon, les choses ne se déroulent pas comme elle les avait imaginées. Les débutants portent d'horribles patins bruns. Et qui a envie de s'entraîner à marcher sur place quand on devrait apprendre à sauter et à bondir? Sortie: Janvier 2024.

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Le pus grand: Un jeune hockeyeur noir doit faire face aux préjugés de ses coéquipiers et de leurs parents, qui le considèrent comme une menace parce qu'il est le plus grand de l'équipe. En raison de la couleur de sa peau, ils le trouvent dangereux et supposent que c'est une brute. Le garçon comprend que le fait d'être grand peut être dangereux pour un enfant noir, car cela peut engendrer la haine et la violence. Heureusement, le joueur de hockey arrive à trouver de l'inspiration auprès de sa famille et des légendes du hockey noires pour montrer à son équipe qu'il n'est pas seulement grand, mais aussi grandiose! Sortie: Octobre 2023.

Nous sommes là: Nous sommes là est un récit poignant sur la communauté noire et sur son héritage. Plein d'assurance, de tendresse et de moments de triomphe, ce récit est une ode inspirante et saisissante à toutes les femmes et tous les hommes noirs qui, au cours de l'histoire, ont contribué de manière décisive à la société. Sortie: Octobre 2023.

Les peurs d'Amaline: Quand Amaline arrive dans sa nouvelle école, tout le monde la prend pour une sorcière. La rumeur prétend même qu'elle peut jeter des mauvais sorts. Car en sa présence, il se passe toujours des choses étranges. Pour Morane et ses amis, la jeune haïtienne est bien mystérieuse. Sortie: Octobre 2023.

La licorne volée: Dans la cabane de sa tante, Jade découvre d'anciens trésors. Des aventures extraordinaires commencent lorsqu'elle remonte le temps jusqu'au Moyen Age afin de retrouver la trace d'une licorne qui a été enlevée. Le lecteur doit résoudre des énigmes au fil des pages. Sortie: Mars 2024.

Les petits explorateurs (tome 3): L'équipe des petits explorateurs doit éviter la fermeture du musée égyptien. Gustavo, l'historien, et Kiki, l'ingénieure en chef, voyagent en Egypte et dans le temps pour empêcher les pilleurs de tombes de voler les trésors des pyramides. Sortie: Mars 2024.

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Lisa l'inventrice et Henri la licorne (tome 1): Envoyée par sa marraine la fée au Pays des contes, Lisa doit sauver le prince, prisonnier de la Montagne maudite. Accompagnée d'Henri la licorne, elle affronte des trolls et des lutins. Sortie: Novembre 2023.

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Un très mauvais Noël: Charlotte et Albert passent Noël chez leur grand-père, qui vit seul dans une vieille maison au milieu d'une forêt. Dès la première nuit, ils entendent des bruits inquiétants. Des lutins trouvés au grenier se déplacent peut-être derrière les murs... Sortie: Novembre 2023.

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Histoire du dragon: Dans un village en plein coeur d'une forêt entourée de montagnes, un roi et une reine aimés de tous vivent heureux avec leurs trois enfants, Mael, Téa et Noé. Le village est paisible et les habitants y sont plus heureux que partout ailleurs. La paix et la solidarité règnent entre eux. Mais un danger plane. Sortie: Décembre 2023.

Le défilé: Au Cameroun, un jeune garçon est emmené par son arrière-grand-père au défilé de la Fête de la jeunesse. En tête du cortège, son aïeul marche fièrement. L'enfant apprend qu'il y a bien longtemps, il est parti sur un autre continent pour combattre en tant que tirailleur sénégalais. C'est pour cela qu'aujourd'hui, il marche pour la paix. Sortie: Octobre 2023.

Chaos et flamme: Darling a été recueillie enfant par la maison Kraken après le massacre de sa famille par la maison Dragon. Quand son père adoptif est capturé par l'ennemi, elle jure de le sauver. Prince de guerre des Dragons, Talon mène les troupes de son frère Caspian. Un jour, en plein combat, il tombe nez à nez avec une fille qui ressemble exactement à celle dont Caspian peint des portraits depuis l'enfance. Sortie: Octobre 2023.

Le jour où la terre a tremblé (tome 2): Après le tremblement de terre du 12 janvier 2010, la vie de Cornélie s'est écroulée comme presque tout en Haïti. Elle est donc forcée de quitter son île adorée pour aller vivre à Montréal avec sa tante. Là bas, elle doit s'adapter à une nouvelle vie en quelques semaines alors qu'elle n'a même pas eu le temps d'apprivoiser ses deuils et de faire face aux énormes traumatismes qu'elle a vécu. Comment se reconstruire sans trahir qui on est vraiment et ceux qu'on a laissé derrière soi? Sortie: Octobre 2023.

Thieves' gambit (tome 1): Rose Quest, 17 ans, est une voleuse accomplie, comme le reste de sa famille. Mais la jeune fille préfèrerait arrêter cette activité pour étudier à l'université. Alors qu'elle s'apprête à fuir pour refaire sa vie, elle reçoit deux messages. Le premier l'informe qu'elle est sélectionnée pour le Thieve's gambit, un concours réservé aux jeunes voleurs, et le second que sa mère a été kidnappée. Sortie: Mars 2024.

À nous trois: A leur rentrée en 3e dans un collège parisien, Lily, Mina et Angèle, trois filles qui n'ont a priori rien en commun, se rencontrent. La première arrive de Nice avec sa mère irresponsable, la deuxième a quitté Nantes le coeur lourd avec sa grand-mère adoptive et la troisième a perdu ses repères depuis le divorce de ses parents. Quand elles réalisent qu'elles habitent la même rue, la magie opère. Sortie: Mars 2024.

Angel of Greenwood: En 1921, à Greenwood, dans l'Oklahoma, Isaiah, 17 ans, et Angel, 16 ans, vivent dans une communauté noire. Un jour, leur professeure d'anglais leur demande de créer une bibliothèque mobile pour les plus défavorisés. Alors que des sentiments naissent entre les adolescents, la violence et la haine s'approchent de ce quartier calme de Tulsa, qui était jusque-là épargné par la ségrégation raciale. Sortie: Mars 2024.

Quand tu seras prêt: A l'approche de Noël, Jackson passe le plus clair de son temps avec ses amis. Comme chaque année, sa tante et ses cousins viennent lui rendre visite. Un garçon mystérieux les accompagne. Jackson se lie d'amitié avec lui mais ses sentiments évoluent. Jackson doit affronter son secret et son impact sur ses relations avec ses amis, sa famille et sa communauté. Sortie: novembre 2023.

Guerrière: Dans un village loin de tout, le bonheur et l'insouciance de Soulaï et de Nekeli, des jumeaux, sont soudainement brisés. Puissante et déterminée, Nekeli devient une guerrière. Sortie: Novembre 2023.

Une vie avant la mienne: Née d'une mère américaine et d'un père soudanais qu'elle n'a pas connu, Nima est partagée entre deux cultures et l'impression d'être exclue de tout. Son seul repère, c'est son meilleur ami Haitham. Mais quand ce dernier est agressé et se retrouve à l'hôpital, elle se sent transportée. Soudain, la voilà au Soudan dans une vie qui n'est pas la sienne mais celle d'une certaine Yasmeen. Sortie: Novembre 2023.

Banale flambée dans ma cité: Lycéen introverti passionné de musique, Mabataï est témoin du meurtre de Samir, 17 ans, un dealer tué par un policier. La rumeur d'une bavure policière enflamme la cité, les réseaux sociaux et les médias s'emparent du fait divers, qui devient un jeu d'affrontements politiques en pleine campagne présidentielle. L'adolescent enquête sur cette mort en infiltrant le réseau de drogue. Sortie: Février 2024.

Cœur empoisonné (tome 1): Briséis a le don de faire croître et s'épanouir toutes les plantes qu'elle touche. Lorsque sa tante décède, elle hérite d'un domaine délabré dans la campagne new-yorkaise où elle s'installe avec ses deux mères. L'endroit leur réserve pourtant bien des surprises, la jeune fille reçoit d'étranges lettres et le jardin, envahi par des plantes mortelles, ne s'ouvre qu'à certaines conditions. Sortie: Février 2024.

Sorcières d'or (tome 1): Les Obeah règnent sur le royaume d'Aiyca jusqu'à ce que la doyenne Cariot renverse l'impératrice et jette la fille de cette dernière, Iraya, en prison. Pour renforcer son pourvoir, elle fait perdurer le rituel de la récolte au cours duquel des femmes sont sacrifiées. Jazmyne, sa fille, ne peut plus supporter cette cruauté et s'allie à son ancienne ennemie, Iraya, pour y mettre fin. Premier roman. Sortie: Avril 2023.

Le tourbillon: À la veille de Noël, une tempête de neige s'abat sur New York. La ville est à l'arrêt, des milliers de personnes sont bloquées sur les routes. C'est dans ces conditions que la magie opère et que l'amour vient réchauffer les cœurs. Sortie: Novembre 2023.

Instructions for dancing: Désabusée par l'amour depuis que son père a trompé sa mère, Evie acquiert un étrange pouvoir grâce à une mystérieuse inconnue qui lui offre un livre sur la danse. Désormais capable de voir la vie amoureuse complète de chaque couple qui s'embrasse devant elle, la lycéenne se rend dans un studio de danse où elle est invitée à participer à une compétition en compagnie d'un séduisant garçon. Sortie: Octobre 2023.

Tous nos rêves ordinaires: Depuis leurs 6 ans, Romane et Cyrus ont grandi dans la même rue. Malgré leur attirance réciproque, ils n'ont jamais exprimé les sentiments profonds qu'ils ressentent. Sortie: Octobre 2023.
Pour acheter l'un ou l'autre de ces livres, cliquez sur les pages couvertures pour placer vos commandes. Il s'agit de liens affiliés qui permettent de soutenir ce site. Mistikrak! est un site spécialisé en littérature jeunesse diversifiée. Il est géré de manière bénévole. Ces suggestions vous ont plu? Faites un don dès aujourd'hui!

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This documentary pays tribute to a group of Canadians who took racism to court. They are Canada's unsung heroes in the fight for Black civil rights. Focusing on ...

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Poet and spoken-word artist invites you to 'break away from all the things you think poetry is'

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Poet and spoken-word artist invites you to 'break away from all the things you think poetry is'

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Montreal poet presents a guide to anyone who has ever wanted to write poetry.

This video was produced by Bethyna Saint Laurent and Winno Daniel as part of the CBC Creator Network. Learn more about the Creator Network here.
"We are all created to create," says Montreal poet and spoken-word artist Roen Higgins.

In the Creator Network piece How to Write a poem, Higgins offers practical and inspirational advice for anyone who ever wanted to pick up a pen and get the words flowing.

Higgins - a special-education technician at English Montreal School Board for more than two decades, as well as a life coach and a community events co-ordinator - is no stranger to the city's poetry scene.

Performing under the name BlueRiva, she is part of the KalmUnity Vibe Collective and L'Art Selah collective.

Higgins has voiced her poetry at funerals, weddings and an event with former Governor General Michaëlle Jean, and she has participated on panels to talk about creating and storytelling as ways to provide comfort.

One of her earliest spoken word poems was about watching her mother and others in her life deal with mental illness. It was then she realized there was a way to combine her art and her work, creativity and well-being.

Higgins says when it comes to poetry, "If you believe in the words that you may be writing, sharing or just creating on the spot, it can impact so many lives."
The Creator Network, which works with emerging visual storytellers to bring their stories to CBC platforms, produced the piece. If you have an idea for the Creator Network, you can send .

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Roen Higgins on how to write a poem | CBC News

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Montreal poet presents a guide to anyone who has ever wanted to write poetry. This video was produced by Bethyna Saint Laurent and Winno Daniel as part of the CBC Creator Network. Learn more about the Creator Network here . "We are all created to create," says Montreal poet and spoken-word artist Roen Higgins.

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Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina Virtual Opening | Met Exhibitions

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Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina Virtual Opening | Met Exhibitions

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Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina Virtual Opening | Met Exhibitions

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iHeartRadio and Pushkin Industries

Be Antiracist imagines what an antiracist society might look like and how we all can play an active role in building one. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is the author of How to Be an Antiracist, the book that spurred a nationwide conversation redefining what it means to be antiracist, and in this podcast, he guides listeners how they can identify and reject the racist systems hiding behind racial inequity and injustice. Alongside notable guests, Dr. Kendi continues his journey towards building a just and equitable world and proposes how we can all help create it with him.

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iHeartRadio and Pushkin Industries Be Antiracist imagines what an antiracist society might look like and how we all can play an active role in building one. Dr. Ibram X.

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Remember Africville (1991) | National Film Board of Canada

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Remember Africville (1991) | National Film Board of Canada

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Remember Africville (1991) | National Film Board of Canada

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This 1996 documentary takes a nostalgic ride through history to present the experiences of Black sleeping-car porters who worked on Canada's railways from the early 1900s through the ...