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Black Canadian History Timeline
The first named Black person to set foot on Canadian soil was Mathieu Da Costa, a free man who was hired as a translator for Samuel de Champlain's 1605 excursion.
August 20, 1619: BNA's First Blacks Arrive in Jamestown
The first shipload of African slaves to reach British North America landed at Jamestown in 1619.
1628: Slave Boy, First Black Resident of New France
The first named enslaved African to reside in Canada was a six-year old boy, the property of Sir David Kirke. The child was sold several times, lastly to Father Paul Le Jeune, and was baptized Catholic and given the name Olivier Le Jeune.
In 1685, Louis XIV's Code Noir code permitted slavery for economic purposes only and established strict guidelines for the ownership and treatment of slaves. It was officially limited to the West Indies and, although it was never proclaimed in New France, it was used in customary law.
May 1, 1689: Louis XIV gives Slavery Limited Approval in New France
King Louis XIV of France gave limited permission for the colonists of New France to keep Black and Pawnee Indians slaves. The colonists had complained about the shortage of available servants and workers and appealed to the Crown for permission own slaves.
1701: Slaves put to Work at Cadillac's Fort Pontchartrain
In 1701, the ambitious French fur-trader and colonizer Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac established Fort Pontchartrain on the shores of the Detroit River. Black slaves were among its first inhabitants.
1709: Louis XIV Formally Authorizes Slavery in New France
King Louis XIV formally authorized slavery in 1709, when he permitted his Canadian subjects to own slaves, "in full proprietorship." There were fewer slave-owners in New France than in the neighbouring English colonies, and few French colonists openly questioned the long-standing practice.
Spring 1734: Angelique Tortured and Hanged
Marie-Joseph Angélique allegedly set fire to her master's house and destroyed nearly 50 homes. She was tortured and hanged as an object lesson for all Blacks.
1760: Provisions for Preserving Slave Ownership in Articles of Capitulation
When the British conquered New France in 1760, the Articles of Capitulation stated that Blacks and Pawnee Indians would remain slaves.
November 7, 1775: Lord Dunmore's Declaration
With armed rebellion inevitable, Virginia's Governor Lord Dunmore declared martial law in his colony and decreed that "every person capable of bearing arms" including "indentured servants, negroes, or others" must report for duty. More than 300 Black men joined the "Ethiopian Regiment."
1775: Ms. Marie Marguerite Rose
A native of Guinea, Rose was a slave belonging to Louisbourg officer, Jean Chrysostome Loppinot. Purchased in 1736, she worked in the Loppinot household for 19 years, helping to prepare meals and to raise 12 children, as well as her own son. After being freed in 1755, only two years before her death, she married Jean-Baptiste Laurent, a Mi'kmaq man, and together they opened a tavern. Although a slave for most of her life, Rose acquired considerable business skills. As well as managing a tavern, she was a cook and seamstress; she could knit, dye, and iron clothes, and she made her own soap and preserves. An inventory of her possessions at her death is unique in Canada, since it tells the story of a recently freed slave woman. As a gardener, Rose had vegetables worth 40 livres (currency used in France at the time), the most valuable item in her estate.
May 10, 1776: Black Corps Formed
Many Blacks actively participated in the American Revolutionary War, serving as boatmen, woodsmen, general labourers, buglers and musicians. General Henry Clinton formed a corps of free Blacks, called the Black Pioneers.
1776: "Free Negroes" reach Nova Scotia
Canada developed a reputation as a safe haven for Blacks during the American Revolution, 1775-1783. The British promised land, freedom and rights to slaves and free Blacks in exchange for services rendered. Some of the Black Loyalists to reach Nova Scotia belonged to the "Company of Negroes," who left Boston with British troops.
June 30, 1777: Clinton's Philipsburg Proclamation
Sir Henry Clinton encouraged enslaved Blacks to desert rebel masters, promising them freedom and shelter. British Commander-in-Chief Sir Guy Carleton guaranteed that all slaves who formally requested British protection would be freed. An estimated 100, 000 Blacks fled to the British side during the American Revolution.
October, 1781: Loyalist Reverend John Stuart brings Slaves to Quebec
Many Loyalists who settled in Upper Canada saw no conflict between the institution of slavery and their moral beliefs. The Reverend John Stuart of Kingston, the first minister of the Church of England in Upper Canada, recorded in his diary that he brought Black slaves with him from the Mohawk Valley.
July 1, 1782: Enslaved Sylvia defends Colonel Creighton
When Lunenburg, Nova Scotia was invaded by American soldiers, Colonel John Creighton's servant Sylvia rose to his defense. Sylvia shuttled cartridges in her apron from Creighton's house to the fort where he and his soldiers were engaged in battle. She also protected the Colonel's son and valuables. Following the battle, Creighton was publicly recognized and rewarded for her heroism.
Baptist preacher David George was a Black Loyalist from Virginia. He settled in Shelburne, Nova Scotia in 1784 and began preaching in neighbouring Birchtown. His emotional sermons drew both Black and White Christians. Using only Black community funds, George founded several Black Baptist churches and initiated a "self-help" movement that still exists.
July 26-27, 1784: Canada's First Race Riot Rocks Birchtown
After the Revolutionary War, the "Black Pioneers" were among the first settlers in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. They helped build the new settlement. On its fringes they established their own community, "Birchtown." When hundreds of White, disbanded soldiers were forced to accept work at rates competitive with their Black neighbours the ensuing hostility caused a riot.
May 12, 1785: "Negro Frolics" Prohibited
Officials in Nova Scotia ordered "50 Handbills to be immediately printed forbidding Negro Dances and Negro Frolics in the town of Shelburne."
July 13, 1787: Northwest Ordinance Passed
In 1787, the new United States passed the NorthWest Ordinance, the first anti-slavery law in North America, which applied to its NorthWest Territory, where government authority was not clearly defined. The area was simultaneously "free" American territory and part of a larger, British "slave" province.
The Imperial Statute of 1790 effectively allowed settlers to bring enslaved persons to Upper Canada. Under the statute, the enslaved had only to be fed and clothed. Any child born of enslaved parents became free at age 25 and anyone who released someone from bondage had to ensure that he/she could be financially independent.
July 1791: Slave Case heard at Nova Scotia Court
Freedom for Black people was elusive, regardless of the promises made by the British at the end of the American War of Independence. Enslaved woman Mary Postell took her "owner," Jesse Gray, to court, twice for stealing her children. He was found not guilty, even though he had sold her and her daughter.
January 15, 1792: The Black Loyalist Exodus
The difficulty of supporting themselves in the face of widespread discrimination convinced many Black Loyalists that they would never find true freedom and equality in Nova Scotia. When offered the opportunity to leave the colony in the 1790s, almost 1200 Blacks left Halifax to relocate to Sierra Leone.
March 21, 1793: The Cooley Case
Upper Canadians were shocked when Chloë Cooley, an enslaved girl from Queenstown, was beaten and bound by her owner and sold to an American. Brought before Upper Canada's Executive Council 21 March 1793, English law made prosecution impossible. The incident convinced Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe that the abolition of slavery was necessary.
June 19, 1793: Simcoe's Anti-Slave Trade Bill
When Simcoe left England to take up his appointment as the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, he pledged never to support discriminatory laws. On 19 June 1793, Attorney General White introduced Simcoe's anti-slavery measure and it passed, although it was not a total ban on slavery but a gradual prohibition.
1794: Black Loyalists Petition for All-Black Settlement in Upper Canada
In 1794, based on their military service in the war between Great Britain and America, 19 free Blacks in the Niagara area petitioned Governor Simcoe for a grant of land to establish an all-Black settlement. The petition was rejected. In 1819 the government established Oro Settlement near Barrie.
July 22, 1796: The Maroons land at Halifax
On 22 July 1796, a group of 600 freedom-fighters landed at Halifax. These immigrants called Maroons, came from the Jamaican community of escaped-slaves, who had guarded their freedom for more than a century and fought-off countless attempts to re-enslave them.
1799: Papineau presents Citizens' Petition to Abolish Slavery in Lower Canada
In 1799, Joseph Papineau (father of Louis-Joseph Papineau) presented a citizens' petition asking the government to abolish slavery, prompting a series of anti-slavery measures. While these bills were defeated, a movement towards the abolition of slavery was clearly under way in Lower Canada.
February 10, 1806: Russell Family Sells Slaves
Enslaved people, understandably, were not always obedient. Elizabeth Russell. In her personal correspondence, Elizabeth Russell complained about the behaviour of her slave Peggy and Peggy's son Jupiter. In February of 1806 Russell ran an ad in the Upper Canadian press, advertising Peggy for $150 and Jupiter for $200.
1807: Upper Canadian Slave Rejects Freedom
Runaway Blacks were used to help defend Detroit, and served in a Black military unit. In 1807, Upper Canadian slave-holder John Askin sent George, a Black 15-year-old, to Detroit on an errand. Black soldiers offered George a weapon and freedom. George considered staying, but returned to Upper Canada and his master.
July 21, 1812: Company of "Coloured" Troops Commissioned
In the summer of 1812, Black Loyalist Richard Pierpoint petitioned the government of Upper Canada to raise a company of Black troops to help protect the Niagara frontier. After some debate, the government agreed. A company of Blacks was formed under the command of a White officer, Captain Robert Runchey Sr.
1812-1815: The "Coloured" Troops and the War of 1812
Thousands of Black volunteers fought for the British during the War of 1812. Fearing American conquest (and the return to slavery), many Blacks in Upper Canada served heroically in coloured and regular regiments. The British promise of freedom and land united many escaped slaves under the British flag.
September 1813- August 1816: "Black Refugees" Set Sail
British Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane's offer of transportation for anyone wanting to leave the United States was widely circulated among the Black population. Four thousand former slaves deserted to the British side and were transported to the British colonies. About 2000 refugees set sail for Nova Scotia from September 1813- August 1816.
1815-1860: The Underground Railroad
Canada's reputation as a safe haven for Blacks grew substantially during and after the War of 1812. Between 1815 and 1865, tens of thousands of African-Americans sought refuge in Upper and Lower Canada via the legendary Underground Railroad.
1819: John Beverley Robinson's Pronouncement
Building on Simcoe's early work, Attorney General John Beverley Robinson openly declared in 1819, that residence in "Canada" made Blacks free. He also publicly pledged that "Canadian courts" would uphold this freedom. Many, at home and abroad, took notice.
September 24, 1819: Lieutenant-Governor's Black Settlement Plan
In 1815, Lieutenant-Governor Peregrine Maitland of Upper Canada began to offer Black veterans grants of land in the Township of Oro. His intention to balance "policy with humanity," even in the face of American opposition, was expressed in a letter to a British official in 1819.
1820-1821: Last Slave Advertisements Posted
While slavery remained legal in all British North American colonies until 1834, the combination of legislative and judicial action had severely tested the institution by the early 1820s. The last known private advertisement for slaves appeared in Halifax in 1820 and in Québec in 1821.
August 10, 1823: Canadian Steamer Rescues Stranded Slave
By 1820, the Underground Railroad used established routes into Canada West, but some freedom seekers managed their own escapes. In August 1823 the Canadian Steamer Chief Justice Robinson picked up a Black man floating on a wooden gate in Lake Ontario. He was trying to reach Queenston.
October 28, 1830: Henson— "Uncle Tom"—Escapes to Canada
Josiah Henson, considered by many the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom, reached Canada with his family after escaping from Kentucky. A natural leader, Josiah Henson began to help other escaped slaves adapt to life in Upper Canada. He joined the anti-slavery movement and spoke publicly about his experiences.
1829-1830: Wilberforce Settlement
By the end of the 18th century, there were more than 40 Black communities in Upper Canada. Life was uncertain in these early settlements. One of the first sizeable Black communities was Wilberforce, founded by Cincinnati Blacks. It was poorly managed and financially troubled and after only six years disbanded.
August 28, 1833: British Parliament Abolishes Slavery
On 28 August 1833, slavery was abolished throughout the British colonies by the Imperial Act, which became effective August 1, 1834. The act formally freed nearly 800,000 slaves but there were probably fewer than 50 slaves in British North America by that time.
September 1837: The Rescue of Solomon Moseby
Solomon Moseby, accused of stealing a horse from his owner in Kentucky, escaped to Canada. He was arrested in Newark/Niagara in the summer of 1837. Hundreds of sympathetic Blacks encircled the jail for three weeks to prevent his transfer. Upon Moseby's transport in early September, a riot ensued. Moseby escaped, but two supporters were killed.
December 11, 1837: Corps of Negroes
In the early 19th century, few Upper Canada militia units included Blacks. When the Mackenzie Rebellion broke out, the government welcomed Black men into the provincial forces. On 11 December 1837, a militia order authorized Captains Thomas Runchey and James Sears to raise a "corps of Negroes." Four days later, approximately 50 Blacks had joined the corps.
March 6, 1838: Blacks in Upper Canada Publicly Praised
In the spring of 1838, Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis Bond Head addressed the legislature to publicly praise Black Upper Canadians for their loyalty and service during the recent rebellions.
In the Toronto Globe, editor George Brown, one of Canada's leading abolitionists, regularly commented on the disadvantaged condition of Blacks in North America. From its inception in 1844, the Globe gave anti-slavery forces a public forum, attacking United States senator Henry Clay, the Fugitive Slave Act, separate schools, and other issues.
March 8, 1849: Larwill Fails to Block Elgin Settlement
Prejudice does not die easily. In an 1849 petition, ardent-segregationist Edwin Larwill expressed his considerable animosity toward Blacks by opposing the Elgin Settlement. He was unsuccessful, but his strong personality and ability to attract support contributed to Chatham's notorious discrimination against Blacks in the 1840s and 1850s.
August 18, 1849: King-Larwill Debate
Edwin Larwill had some support for his segregationist views, even against Reverend William King's proposal to establish the Elgin Settlement. Larwill challenged King to a debate on the proposal. He misjudged his audience and lost support with his extreme views. The debate was a turning point in the history of race relations in Canada.
September 18, 1850: The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act passed by the American Congress on September 18, 1850 dealt a severe blow to the American abolitionist cause. It gave slave-owners and their agents the right to track down and arrest fugitives anywhere in the country. Bounty hunters often kidnapped free Blacks and illegally sold them into slavery in the Southern states.
January 1, 1851: First Issue of Bibb's Voice of the Fugitive
Henry Bibb was a rebellious slave who escaped to Detroit around 1840 and began speaking publicly against slavery and organizing abolitionist groups. A decade later he moved to Windsor, and founded the Voice of the Fugitive, which reported on the Underground Railroad and colonization schemes.
February-May 1851: Canadians React to Fugitive Slave Act
The passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in the United States led to the formation of an larger and more durable antislavery society in Canada. Canadians publicly debated "the slavery question"; George Brown's Toronto Globe chastised its journalistic opposition for being soft on slavery; and individuals protested Canadian support of the American antislavery movement.
February 26, 1851: Formation of Canadian Anti-Slavery Society
The number of abolitionist sympathizers grew in Canada in the 1850s-1860s. As more Black refugees entered Canada, sympathizers formed organizations and committees to influence public opinion and help freedom-seekers make their way north. On 26 February 1851, the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada was formed, "to aid in the extinction of Slavery all over the world."
April 3, 1851: Leading American Abolitionist Visits Toronto
When Frederick Douglass visited Toronto and addressed a large anti-slavery audience on 3 April 1851, he was the most famous African-American in the abolition movement. In Toronto, a cheering crowd of 1,200 filled the St. Lawrence's grand ballroom to listen to Douglass expound on the evils of American slavery.
September 10, 1851: North American Convention of Colored Freemen
Because of its large Black community and active anti-slavery society, Toronto was chosen as the site for the North American Convention of Colored Freemen in 1851. Hundreds of Blacks from all over Canada, the northern United States and England attended, where speakers included H.C. Bibb, Josiah Henson and J.T. Fisher.
June 17, 1852: Steamers Bring Freedom Seekers to Canada
By mid-century, Great Lakes steamers regularly transported Blacks to Canada. Underground Railroad agents used scows, sailboats, and steamboats to deliver their precious cargo to Canadian shores. This sustained migration prompted one Toronto Colonist editor to complain on 17 June 1852 that "every boat arriving from the United States seems to carry fugitive slaves."
March 24, 1853: Provincial Freeman Founded by Mary Ann and Isaac Shadd
Mary Ann Shadd was an educated Black woman who had opened a Black school in Wilmington, Delaware. She and her brother Isaac fled to Windsor after the Fugitive Slave Act was passed. The Shadds founded the abolitionist newspaper the Provincial Freeman Mary Ann Shadd was the first African-American woman publisher in North America.
November 16, 1857: William Neilson Hall Wins Victoria Cross
William Hall served aboard the frigate Shannon in Calcutta during the 1857 Indian Mutiny. Against all odds, Hall breached a wall of the Najeef Temple to allow British troops to overcome the mutineers. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first Canadian naval recipient, the first Black and the first Nova Scotian to win the prestigious medal.
April 26, 1858: First Black Californians Arrive in BC
On the invitation of James Douglas, the governor of British Columbia, the first ship carrying Black Californians landed in Victoria on 26 April 1858. By summer's end, more than 800 Black settlers had arrived. While government legislation suggested that equality prevailed, in truth, convention and little enforcement allowed acceptance to give way to segregation.
May 8, 1858: John Brown Holds a Convention in Canada
Ardent American abolitionist John Brown planned to overthrow the American government and the entire slave system by training a band of men to wage "guerilla warfare" in the American south. He chose Chatham, Canada West, as his operational base. Upon revealing his radical plan, he lost the support of Chatham Blacks.
October 16, 1859: John Brown's Raid
Despite his extremism, John Brown retained some support in Chatham, including from the Shadd family. On 16 October 1859, Brown and several followers seized the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Half his supporters were killed and Brown was seriously wounded. In the end, only one Chatham Black took part in the ill-fated raid.
December 2, 1859: John Brown is Hanged
The Harpers Ferry raid left a deep impression on Canadians. In the days and weeks that followed, many newspapers took note of John Brown's efforts, and some even proclaimed him a "hero." Funeral bells tolled in Toronto after Brown's 2 December 1859 execution and many churches held memorial services.
February 16, 1861: "Anderson" Case Heard in British Court
Black refugee "John Anderson," was arrested for having murdered Seneca Diggs, who tried to prevent his escape. He was tried by the Court of Queen's Bench and ordered extradited. British abolitionists got the case before the Queen's Court in England. The case was dismissed on a technicality; the arresting warrant had not mentioned murder.
April 15, 1865: Torontonians Mourn Lincoln's Death
When American President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865, Canadians publicly mourned his tragic death. In Toronto, businesses closed, throngs attended memorial services, and Blacks mourned for two months. Lincoln's death prompted a great outpouring of anti-slavery sentiment.
1865: Interview with First Black Girl in Upper Canada Published
American abolitionist and writer Benjamin Drew, conducted research in Canada in the 1850s and interviewed many former slaves about the Black refugee experience. In 1865 he published an interview with an elderly woman named Sophia Pooley who claimed to have been one of Joseph Brant's slaves and the "first Black girl in Upper Canada."
1866: First Black Politician in Canada
Shortly after arriving in Victoria in 1858, Mifflin Gibbs established a business. In 1861, he won public praise for helping to organize a Black militia and decided to run for public office. After an unsuccessful attempt in 1862, Gibbs was elected to the Victoria Town Council in 1866, the first Black politician in Canada.
January 17, 1871: Obituary of Distinguished Black Veteran
On January 17, 1871 in Cornwall, Ontario, the death of John Baker at 105 was announced. In some ways, Baker's life was unique. He may have been the last surviving Upper Canadian slave. He had seen his adopted homeland become Upper Canada, Canada West and then, the Dominion of Canada.
1874: Emma Stark, the first female black teacher on Vancouver Island
In 1874, Emma Stark became the first Black, female teacher on Vancouver Island and in the North Cedar School District in Nanaimo, B.C. She began teaching in a one-room school to the children of rough, half- educated settlers; because she was a child of settled parents, she wanted to pass forward the favour that was given to her by John Craven Jones. In 1890, at the age of just 33, she died of unknown causes.
November 21, 1892: Canada's First Black Physician Named Aide-de-Camp
Anderson Abbot became Canada's first Black physician in 1861. He served as one of only eight Black surgeons in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was distinguished by being appointed aide-de-camp of the New York Commanding Officers Dept., the highest military honour bestowed to that time on a Black person in North America.
Early 1900s: Mrs. Martha Jane Hayes established a Negro colony in the Lashburn-Maidstone
Mrs. Martha Jane ("Mattie") Hayes established a Negro colony in the Lashburn-Maidstone district in Saskatchewan in the early 20th century. Born in slavery on a Georgia plantation, she was a slim, determined woman of 60 when she migrated to Canada, settling in Saskatchewan with her husband (Joe), their 10 sons and 3 daughters, with grandchildren in tow. She settled in Saskatchewan with ten other families. Until her death in 1953 “Mammy Hayes’ remained the matriarch of Maidstone.
March 4, 1903: Birth of Dr. Carrie Best
Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia on March 4th, 1903, she grew to be a woman who was deeply concerned about and involved in her community, especially around issues concerning human rights. She became a publisher in Nova Scotia when her son created "The Clarion", the first Black newspaper in Nova Scotia, while making regular contributions to the Nova Scotia Gleaner, the Halifax Herald, and the Pictou Advocate. In 1947, Best, Pearleen Olliver and the NSACCP became heavily involved righting the injustice toward Blacks in the Viola Desmond case.
February 1911: Anti-Black Campaign
By 1909, hundreds of Oklahoma Blacks had moved to the Canadian Prairies, where they met the same wariness and discrimination that had allowed slavery to exist in an earlier time. In February 1911, a few newspapers in Winnipeg even predicted that the Dominion government would move to exclude "Negro immigrants."
1911: Oliver's Immigration Policy
Alberta's Frank Oliver wanted tighter controls on immigration. He became the Liberal government's Minister of the Interior in 1905. Oliver was staunchly British, and his polices favoured nationality over occupation. By 1911, he was able to assert that his immigration policy was more "restrictive, exclusive and selective" than his predecessor's.
March 10, 1913: Heroine of the Underground Railroad Dies
Harriet Tubman , ardent abolitionist and heroine of the Underground Railroad, died in New York in 1913. As a conductor with the Underground Railroad, she made 19 secret trips to the American South and guided more than 300 slaves to freedom in Canada.
July 5, 1916: WWI All-Black Battalion
In 1916, Canadian enlistment figures fell from 30,000 to 6,000 per month, while the year-end goal was a force of 500,000. When Reverend C.W. Washington of Edmonton offered to raise an all-Black battalion, military officials authorized the creation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. The battalion served in France with the Canadian Forestry Corps.
1914-1918: Black Canadians on the Home Front in WWI
Between 1914 and 1918, Black Canadians at home became actively involved in the war effort. Black associations—on their own and in cooperation with White groups—raised funds, worked in factories and volunteered in hospitals and as labourers.
1940s: Dr. Pearleen Borden Oliver – Nova Scotian Human Rights Activist
Dr. Pearleen Borden Oliver, married to the renowned Rev. Dr. William Pearly Oliver, was a tour de force in representing and fighting for the rights of the racialized, Nova Scotian community. She was the first Black graduate of the New Glasgow High School in Nova Scotia, who fought hard to create access to education and employment for Blacks and other minorities in the 1940s and 1950s. She is a founder of the NS AACP and in 1947, she successfully advocated for the admission of Black women to nursing schools in Canada. In 1976, she became the first woman Moderator of the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia and wrote and published the history of Blacks in Nova Scotia. She received an Honourary Doctor of Letters from Saint Mary’s University in 1990, and an Honourary Doctor of Humane Letters from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1993.
1941: Portia White made her formal debut at age 30 at Toronto's Eaton Auditorium
Known as “The singer who broke the colour barrier in Canadian classical music,” Portia White made her formal debut at age 30 at Toronto's Eaton Auditorium in 1941. She became the first Black, Canadian concert singer to win approval across North America, despite difficulties getting bookings due to her race. Her first official concert took place in July 1967, in Ottawa.
1939-1945: Blacks Accepted into Canadian Services in WWII
Initially, the Canadian military rejected Black volunteers, but as the war continued, many Blacks were accepted into the Regular Army and officer corps. While there was still some segregation in the Canadian forces until the end of the war, hundreds of Black Canadians served alongside Whites in Canada and Europe.
1939-1945: Conditions on the Home Front in WWII
Blacks at home assumed the responsibilities of the men and women serving overseas, working alongside Whites in jobs across the country. During World War II, hundreds of Black workers joined labour unions for the first time. The all-Black Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was one of the greatest success stories of the war years.
March 14, 1944: Ontario Passes Racial Discrimination Act
Ontario was the first province to respond to social change when it passed the Racial Discrimination Act of 1944. This landmark legislation effectively prohibited the publication and display of any symbol, sign, or notice that expressed ethnic, racial, or religious discrimination. It was followed by other sweeping legislation.
November 8, 1946: Black Woman Sits in Theatre's "White Section"
The Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NSAACP) united civil rights forces. The NSAACP supported Viola Desmond, a Black woman from Halifax, in her case against a New Glasgow theatre where she was arrested for sitting in the "White-only" section, even though she was willing to buy the more expensive ticket.
She was the founder and first president of the Canadian Negro Women’s Association, which raised funds to provide scholarships to young, Black students. Born in London, Ontario, Kay hosted several CBC radio shows in 1953. She was an actress, mother, volunteer worker, and champion of minority rights. Through the Canadian Negro Women’s Association she organized the first ever National Congress of Black Women in Toronto; two hundred women from across the country attended the gathering which included workshops on single parenting, education, and living as a Black, female senior.
September 2-3 1954: Toronto Telegram Covers the Dresden Story
Black discrimination continued in the 1950s, despite legislation prohibiting it. In 1954, two Blacks visited rural Dresden, Ont. and were refused service in two restaurants. The Toronto Telegram sent Black "testers" to investigate, who were also refused. When the Telegram ran the story, it confirmed what many Blacks suspected, that Canada's laws and regulations were ineffective.
1959: Rev. Addie Aylestock named a Deaconess by the British Methodist Episcopal Church
In 1959, Reverend Addie Aylestock was named a Deaconess by the British Methodist Episcopal Church after graduating from the Bible College in 1951. At this time, she also became the Church’s first, ordained female minister and Canada’s first ordained Black, female minister. This was achieved through supporting herself by working as a cook and housekeeper for a wealthy, Toronto family. She has organized congregations in Montreal, Halifax, St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Guelph, and North Buxton.
1960: Birth of George Elliott Clarke
Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia of African and Mi’kmaq Amerindian parentage, George Elliott Clarke is a renowned and cherished Canadian author, giving voice to and promoting African Canadian literature and art. His contributions, such as ‘Beatrice Chancey’ and ‘Whylah Falls’, are some of his most recognized work, along with his other publications in poetry, dramatic plays, full length novels, criticisms of post-colonial literature, and other academic articles. He has been recognized for his efforts through receiving 7 honourary doctorates, the Portia White Prize for Artistic Achievement from the Nova Scotia Arts Council, the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award in 2004, and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellows Prize in Montreal in 2005, among others. George Elliott Clarke has been an invited speaker to conferences and universities around the world, and in October 2006, he was appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia . George Elliott Clarke is currently a professor of English at the University of Toronto, and has received honorary degrees from Dalhousie University (LL.D.), the University of New Brunswick (Litt.D.), the University of Alberta (Litt.D.), the University of Waterloo (Litt.D.), and most recently, Saint Mary's University (Litt.D).
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January 19, 1962: Fairclough Dismantles Discriminatory Policy
During her term as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Ellen Fairclough oversaw improvements to the Canadian Immigration Service, but her most significant accomplishment was the radical reform of the government's "White Canada" immigration policy. Regulations tabled in 1962 helped to eliminate racial discrimination in Canada's immigration policy.
September 25, 1963: First Black Elected to a Canadian Parliament
Leonard Braithwaite became the first African-Canadian in a provincial legislature when he was elected, as the Liberal Member for Etobicoke, Ontario in 1963.
1964 - 1970: Africville Demolished
Encouraged by media attention to Africville's "American-style ghetto," the Halifax City Planning Commission expropriated the land. Residents resisted, citing the community's proud traditions, although Africville lacked basic services such as water, sewage, and good roads. Between 1964 and 1970, residents were relocated and the community razed.
August 11, 1965: Klan Activity in Amherstburg
In 1965, racial tension ran high in Amherstburg, Ont.A cross-burning set the tone; the Black Baptist Church was defaced and the town sign was spray-painted "Amherstburg Home of the KKK." Five days of racial incidents threatened to escalate but the situation was saved by an investigation by the Ontario Human Rights Commission. No arrests were made.
July 28, 1967: Toronto's Caribana Festival Founded
Approximately two-thirds of Canada's West Indian population resides in the greater Toronto area. On 28 July 1967, ten Torontonians with a common West Indian heritage founded the Caribana cultural festival to display their rich cultural traditions. The Caribana festival continues to promote cultural pride, mutual respect and social unity.
September 18, 1967: African-Canadian Wins Middleweight Championship
In 1967 David Downey won his first Canadian Middleweight Championship, which he retained until August 1970 Downey's boxing career coincided with one of the most dynamic periods in Halifax's history, which saw the emergence of the city's Black population as a social and political force.
October 1967: Immigration "Points System"
Prior to 1967, the immigration system relied largely on immigration officers' judgment to determine who should be eligible to enter Canada. Deputy Minister of Immigration Tom Kent established a points system, which assigned points in nine categories, to determine eligibility. Ethnic groups all across Canada endorsed the new selection process.
October 1971: Trudeau Introduces Canada's Multicultural Policy
Canada's multiculturalism policy grew partly in reaction to the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, which endorsed a "bicultural Canada," barely recognizing "other ethnic groups." This dilemma was partially resolved in 1971 by Prime Minister Trudeau's assertion that Canada was a "multicultural country with two official languages."
1971: African-Canadian Sprinter Receives Order of Canada
In 1971, sprinter Harry Jerome was awarded the Order of Canada medal for "excellence in all fields of Canadian life." Jerome proudly represented Canada in three Olympic Games, winning bronze at Tokyo in 1964.
1972: First Black Woman Elected to Canadian Provincial Legislature
Born in Jamaica, Rosemary Brown immigrated to Canada in 1951 to pursue post-secondary studies and a career in social work. Throughout her time in Canada, she organized campaigns and educational initiatives in an effort to eliminate sexism in the Canadian sphere. Her tireless campaigning and volunteering brought her recognition in the political world. In 1972, she was elected into the provincial legislature of British Columbia, and in 1975, she was the first female to run for leadership of a political party (NDP). She has received various honorary degrees from many Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and McGill University. As well, she has received the UN Human Rights Fellowship, the Order of British Columbia, and the Order of Canada.
1974: West Indian Immigration Overwhelms Black Communities
With the Immigration Act of 1962 and 1967 reforms, Black West Indians flocked to Canada. Indigenous Blacks and their established communities were overwhelmed by the influx and felt threatened by cultural differences. At first some thought skin colour was their only connection. In the early 1980s, Black Canadians of all backgrounds began uniting around common causes.
1975: Head Founds Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Black reformer Wilson Head brought a lifetime of experience in civil rights activism with him when he moved from the US to Canada in 1959. Among his numerous accomplishments was the creation, in 1975, of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. The organization is still dedicated to fighting discrimination against all ethno-racial communities.
1978: Creation of the Ontario Black History Society
The O.B.H.S. is a well-recognized authority on information regarding Black History in Ontario, promoting recognition of Black Ontarians in the national sphere. They have been shown to be a prime resource in the study, preservation, and promotion of Black history in Ontario. The O.B.H.S. is also the only Ontario Provincial Heritage Organization of the Ministry of Culture devoted to Black history and heritage. This organization is responsible for the celebration of Black History Month in Canada, through the first formal declaration of February as Black history month with the City of Toronto in 1979; the Province of Ontario in 1993; and for the entire country in December 1995 , under Rosemary Sadlier’s leadership. Rosemary Sadlier is the current President of the OBHS, and is an accomplished author on various works including .Leading the Way: Black Women in Canada (1993); Mary Ann Shadd: Publisher, Editor, Teacher, Lawyer, Suffragette (1995); and The Kids Book of Black Canadian History (2003), to name a few. She is also a recipient of the Order of Ontario.
1984: Nova Scotian Civil Rights Advocate Awarded Order of Canada
Dr. William Pearly Oliver and his wife Pearleen Borden Oliver helped unite the Black community in the 1940s and 1950s. William, founder of the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NSAACP), received the Order of Canada in 1984. Pearleen received an Honorary Doctorate from Saint Mary's University in 1990.
1984: Anne Cools Appointed the First Black Senator
Born in Barbados in 1943, Anne immigrated to Canada in 1957 with her family. She studied psychology and sociology at McGill University and participated in a sit-in at (what is now known as) Concordia University regarding the school’s lack of action on addressing allegations of racism made by students. Dedicated to the betterment of her society, Anne assisted in establishing several women’s shelters in the ‘70s and became a social worker until her involvement in the political realm. Anne became the first Black Senator for Canada in 1984, based on a recommendation by Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
September 20, 1985: First Black person to hold Vice-Regal Position in Canada
Lincoln Alexander was born of West Indian immigrant parents. He was sworn in as Ontario's lieutenant-governor in September 1985, the first Black person to hold the vice-regal position in Canada. Alexander was also the first Black MP and federal Cabinet minister.
1990: Donald Oliver Appointed to the Canadian Senate
Already born into greatness as the nephew of Canadian opera singer Portia White, Donald Oliver has many items on his resume that put him up on the list of greats with his auntie. Born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, he began to practice law in 1965, primarily in civil litigation. He was a part-time professor at Dalhousie Law School for 14 years and taught law at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, as well as St. Mary’s University. A long-time member of the Progressive Conservative Party, he served as the Director of Legal Affairs for the party from 1972 to 1988 and was Director of the PC Canada Fund. Oliver was appointed to the Senate in 1990 on the recommendation of then Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney. He currently serves as Speaker pro tempore or acting Speaker, of the Canadian Senate. His extensive work in the Black Nova Scotian Community has shown his dedication to equality and empowerment for the Black community across Canada.
1991: Race Riot at NS High School Prompts Education Reform
In 1991, at Cole Harbour District High School, a fight between one Black and one White student escalated into a brawl involving 50 youths of both races. The event mobilized provincial Black activists around the issue of unequal educational opportunities. Nova Scotia's Ministry of Education established a fund in 1995 to improve education and support anti-racist initiatives.
May 4, 1992: The Yonge Street "Rebellion"
A daytime demonstration against the acquittal of police officers in the Rodney King case in Los Angeles descended into a nighttime riot on Toronto's Yonge Street. Ignoring the historical context, the media decried the "America-style violence" of the young Black men. However, the riot prompted Canadians to address the root causes of Black frustration.
June 7, 1993: Father Convicted for Hiring Hit Man to Kill Daughter's Black Fiancé
Helen Mouskos, daughter of Greek immigrants, planned to marry Lawrence Martineau, son of Trinidadian immigrants. When her parents realized the couples' relationship, they protested. Helen's father, Andreas, was enraged and hired a hit man to kill Lawrence. The murder plot was discovered and Andreas was sentenced to five years in prison in June 1993.
1994: Bissoondath's Selling Illusions is Published
Canada's multiculturalism policies came under attack by many authors who claimed that it had created a divided and fragmented society of hyphenated Canadians. The most powerful condemnation came from Neil Bissoondath, a Canadian novelist and immigrant from Trinidad who refused the "burden of hyphenation," which would label him "an East Indian-Trinidadian-Canadian."
August 6, 1995: Canadian Sprinter Becomes "World's Fastest Human"
In 1995, Oakville's Donovan Bailey assumed the title of "World's Fastest Human" by winning the 100-metre sprint at the World Track Championships at Göteberg, Sweden. Taking silver in the same race was Montreal's Bruny Surin. Bailey went on to win gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, setting a new World and Olympic Record (9.84).
November 5, 2002: Clarke Wins Giller Prize for Polished Hoe
Austin Clarke, Canada's most widely-read Black novelist, won the Giller Prize for fiction in 2002 and the Regional Commonwealth Prize for best book in 2003 for his ninth novel The Polished Hoe. Clarke, who was born in Barbados, has sensitized generations of readers to the plight of West Indian immigrants.
August 4, 2005: First Black Governor General Announced
On 4 August 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced the appointment of Haitian-born Michaëlle Jean as Governor General of Canada. Her dual French-Canadian citizenship and allegations of separatist connections generated controversy. Jean renounced her French citizenship before taking office and refuted a connection to the separatist movement.
September 27, 2005: Jean Sworn in as Governor General
Michaëlle Jean was sworn in as Canada's first Black governor general. She emphasized freedom as a central part of the Canadian identity and has suggested that it was time to "eliminate the spectre" of the two solitudes, French and English, which has so long characterized the country's history.
2006: Craig Smith elected to serve as President of Black Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame
Craig Smith was selected to serve as the President of the newly formed Black Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame,to be located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
2006: First African Nova Scotian to be appointed to Vice-Regal Position
Whitney Pier native Mayann Francis is appointed the Lieutenant Governor for the Province of Nova Scotia. She is the first African Nova Scotian appointed to the Vice Regal position.
2006: Walter Borden – Member of the Prestigious Order of Canada
Walter Borden is an actor, poet, playwright, teacher, and activist. In addition to film, television and radio work, he has recorded the critically acclaimed CD “Walter Borden Reads the Sonnets of William Shakespeare to the Music of Fernando Sor.” He received many awards for his excellence in promoting the arts, such as the African Nova Scotian Music Association (ANSMA) Music Heritage Award for his mentoring and promoting two generations of African Nova Scotian musical talent, as well as the Portia White Prize, an award given annually by the Nova Scotia Arts Council to a person who has made a significant contribution to arts and culture in Nova Scotia. In 2006, Mr. Borden became a member of the prestigious Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour, and has received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for all of his artistic contributions to his community and to Canada. Mr. Borden is also the recipient of two Honourary Doctorate degrees from Saint Mary’s and Acadia University in Nova Scotia.
February 24, 2010: Africville Apology & Reclamation
Halifax Mayor, Peter Kelly, apologizes on behalf of Halifax Regional Council and Halifax Regional Municipality for the loss of the historic Halifax community of Africville in the 1960s. In addition, an agreement has been reached between the municipality and the Africville Genealogy Society to put $3 million toward the reconstruction of the Seaview United Baptist Church replica, to serve as an Africville memorial. It is designed to recognize the past, take action in the present, and plan for improvements in the future.
April 15, 2010: Late Viola Desmond Granted Free Pardon from Nova Scotia
Late Viola Desmond granted a Free Pardon from the Province of Nova Scotia, recognizing her innocence, when she sat in a ‘whites only’ section at a New Glasgow theatre in 1946. In the pardon statement, the speaker recognized that “the law was used to perpetuate racism and racial segregation”.
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