Black Excellence

Black Canadian contributions

Black Canadians have made invaluable contributions to Canada in politics, technological innovation, sports, education, military service, and the arts—all during periods of history characterized by pervasive racism and discrimination.

The concept of Black excellence challenges negative stereotypes and showcases the remarkable achievements of Black individuals across diverse fields. Breaking through historical barriers and systemic discrimination, Black Excellence represents the triumph of talent, courage, perseverance, and triumph against the backdrop of adversity.

Here are some examples of Black excellence in Canada. They are a small representation of the significant accomplishments of Black Canadians.

Activism, advocacy, education and community / Geography / Military / Music, film and television / Politics, law and business / Sports / Writing

Jully Black

Eleanor Collins

Ella Cooper

Kayla Grey

Oscar Peterson

The Rascalz

RT Thorne

Jully Black

Jully Black is a talented Canadian singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and uplifting music. Born and raised in Toronto, she's become one of Canada's most celebrated R&B artists.

Black's soulful performances and heartfelt lyrics resonate with audiences, inspiring hope and empowerment. She is most recently known for altering the Canadian national anthem, singing “our home on Native land.”

She's won numerous awards for her music, including the Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. In 2021, Jully Black was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Credit: Photo by Damien D. Originally posted to Flickr. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license (CC BY-SA 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Eleanor Collins

Eleanor Collins was a trailblazing entertainer, celebrated as Canada's first Black television host. Born in Alberta, she made history with her talent and charisma, breaking barriers in the entertainment industry during the 1950s.

In 1955, Collins captivated audiences with her singing on The Eleanor Show, becoming a beloved figure in Canadian television history.

Eleanor Collins lived to be 104, and was the first woman, Black person and jazz singer to host their own show on cable in North America.

Credit: Credit: Image in the public domain. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eleanor_Collins.jpg

Ella Cooper

Ella Cooper is a talented Canadian artist, director, producer, and cultural leader.

Cooper's powerful films and visual art pieces explore themes like identity, belonging, and equality. They invite viewers to reflect on their own experiences and perspectives. Her work inspires empathy and understanding, encouraging people to come together to spark positive social change and conversations about important issues in their communities.

In 2016, Cooper founded Black Women Film! Canada, a not for profit that supports Black women in film and media.

Credit: Used by permission of Ella Cooper.

Kayla Grey

Kayla Grey is a talented Canadian sports journalist and television presenter known for her passion and expertise in covering sports news.

Born and raised in Toronto, she is the Executive Producer, host, and courtside reporter for the Toronto Raptors.

In 2018, Grey was the first Black woman to flagship the Sports Highlight show in Canada

Credit: Photo by Nikki Ormerod. Used by permission.

Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson, a Canadian jazz pianist and composer, was a towering figure in music. Born in Montreal, he overcame racism to become one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time.

Peterson's virtuosic playing and improvisational brilliance captivated audiences worldwide. He recorded over 200 albums and won numerous awards, including multiple Grammys.

Through his talent and dedication, Peterson broke down racial barriers and inspired generations of musicians. In 1978, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Credit: Photo by Tom Marcello, originally posted on Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/11447043@N00/2136730089

The Rascalz

The Rascalz were a pioneering Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver that emerged in the 1990s. The group consisted of Red1, Misfit, and DJ Kemo.

Known for their energetic beats and socially conscious lyrics, the Rascalz gained fame with hits like "Northern Touch," which is known as Canada’s hip hop anthem.

In 1998, the Rascalz refused to accept a Juno award for Best Rap album, citing racism since the “Urban Music” category would not be televised. The following year not only was the category televised, but they won and were invited to perform.

Credit: Photo by “Joelweinmaster.” Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license (CC BY-SA 4.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

RT Thorne

Randall Thorne, also known as R.T. Thorne and is a writer, video producer and director.

R.T. began his career directing music videos, and won 17 international music video awards.

In 2012, he turned to long-form videography. He directed episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Make it Pop, Backstage, and Find Me in Paris.

R.T.! created the first hip-hop science fiction series called Utopia Falls, and directed and produced CBC’s The Porter, for which he received Canadian Screen Awards.

Credit: R.T. Thorne

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