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

Stephanie Allen

Beverly Bain

Caribana

Cameron Davis

Desmond Cole

Dr. June Francis

Janaya Khan

Josiah Henson

Dr. Clement Ligoure

Mattie Mayes

Robyn Maynard

Image 12: Historical black and white photo of a group of well-dressed Black people.

Negro Citizenship Association

Anthonia Ongundele

Charles Roach

Tru Wilson

Rachel Zellars

Stephanie-Allen

Stephanie Allen is actively involved in business operations centered around housing initiatives in Vancouver's Hogan's Alley.

Historically a vibrant Black community, Hogan's Alley faced displacement due to urban development. As a co-founder of the Hogan’s Alley Society in 2013, Allen's efforts have focused on revitalizing the area through providing affordable housing options, and preserving its cultural heritage.

Through Allen’s work, she has aimed to address housing inequities and create sustainable solutions for the community.

Credit: Photo used by permission of Stephanie Allen. Monashee Photography.

Beverly Bain

Beverly Bain is a Black queer feminist who has spent the last 40 years involved in feminist, anti-racist and anti-capitalist activism in Toronto.

From 1992-1997, she was the Executive Director of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC).

Bain teaches at the University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus, in the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program in the Department of Historical Studies.

Credit: Used by permission of Beverly Bain.

Caribana

Caribana, Toronto's vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture, is a lively festival filled with colorful parades, pulsating music, and delicious food. Every summer, the streets come alive with dancers adorned in elaborate costumes, showcasing the rich traditions of Caribbean nations like Trinidad and Tobago.

Families gather to enjoy the rhythmic beats of calypso and soca music, while savoring mouthwatering Caribbean cuisine. Caribana is a joyful festival that brings together people of all backgrounds to celebrate diversity and unity in Toronto's multicultural tapestry.

Credit: Photo by Deejay D. on Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/deejay08/7717469510/in/album-72157630912082056/
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Sharealike 2.0 Generic Deed (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

Cameron Davis

Cameron Davis is a Black activist from Ontario who advocates for youth, racial equality, and justice. Born and raised in a diverse community, Davis has been vocal about addressing systemic racism and building an inclusive society.

In 2020, Davis founded BYR Youth (Black York Region Youth), a Black youth advocacy organization. Through peaceful protests, community organizing, and educational initiatives, he strives to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Black individuals and communities.

Credit: Cameron Davis

Desmond Cole

Desmond Cole is a Canadian journalist and activist known for his advocacy on racial justice and police reform. He's outspoken about issues like racial profiling and discrimination, especially against Black Canadians.

In 2020, Cole’s book The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, was published. It was the bestselling Canadian book that year.

“Racism isn’t just about what someone says or does, but also about what they don’t say or do.”
—The Skin We’re In

Credit: The Canadian Press.

Dr. June Francis

Dr. June Francis, PhD, MBA, LLB, is a professor at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, co-director of the Institute for the Black and African Diaspora Research and Engagement, and formerly special advisor to the president on anti-racism.

Francis also supports the broader community as Chair of the Board of Directors of Hogan’s Alley Society and B.C.’s Anti-Racism Data Committee.

Through her work in academia, public and private sectors, she advocates for equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights for racialized groups.

Credit: Simon Fraser University Communications & Marketing. Waltraud Greif. Used by permission.

Janaya Khan

Janaya Khan is a passionate activist and leader in the fight for social justice. As a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada and a leader of several demonstrations, they've dedicated their life to advocating for equality and dismantling systemic racism.

Khan's powerful voice and advocacy work have sparked important conversations about racism, police brutality, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Khan was awarded the 2015 Bromley Armstrong Human Rights Award from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.

Credit: The Canadian Press.

Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson was a remarkable Canadian who escaped enslavement in the United States and became a leader in the abolitionist movement.

After gaining freedom, he settled in Ontario, where he established the Dawn Settlement, a refuge for formerly enslaved Black people.

Published in 1849, Henson's autobiography,The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Credit: Smithsonian Institution, National Portrait Gallery. https://www.si.edu/object/josiah-henson:npg_NPG.2013.7
Creative Commons Zero attribution (CC0). https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/

Dr. Clement Ligoure

Dr. Clement Ligoure was a dedicated educator and community leader in Canada.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Ligoure immigrated to Canada and became known for his commitment to helping others.

Dr. Ligoure was barred from practicing in hospitals because he was Black, however that did not stop him from serving patients. He ran a clinic out of his home and after the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917, Dr. Ligoure treated hundreds of patients and saved over 100 lives with only his clinic assistant. He did all of this free of charge. Dr Ligoure has many prizes in his namesake, these awards recognize exemplary service during a crisis.

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

Mattie Mayes

Born enslaved in Georgia, Mattie Mayes was separated from her mother at age 4.

Mayes worked for an optician and then trained as a midwife. She met her husband Joseph and moved with him to Texas, then Oklahoma in 1910.

She had 13 children with Joseph, and delivered many babies in the area, for which she was respected and well-liked.

Credit: Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan/R-A10362
https://search.saskarchives.com/mrs-martha-jane-mattie-mayes-who-established-a-colony

Robyn Maynard

Robyn Maynard is an author, scholar, and is Assistant Professor of Black Feminisms in Canada at the University of Toronto-Scarborough. Her work focuses on racial justice, gender, and policing in Canada.

Through her writing and advocacy, Maynard highlights the experiences of Black Canadians, particularly Black women and girls, who face intersecting forms of discrimination.

Maynard has written two highly acclaimed books: Policing Black Lives: State violence in Canada from slavery to the present (2017); and Rehearsals for Living (2022).

Credit: Photo by StacyLee Photography. Use by permission.

Negro Citizenship Association

Historical black and white photo of a group of well-dressed Black people.

The Negro Citizenship Association was a pivotal organization founded in 1905 by Black activists in Canada. It aimed to fight racial discrimination and advocate for civil rights for Black Canadians.

Led by figures like William Peyton Hubbard, the association challenged racial prejudice and fought for equal treatment under the law.

Through grassroots organizing and activism, the association paved the way for greater recognition and rights for Black Canadians, leaving a lasting legacy of resilience and progress.

Credit: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 431, File 15, Item 2. Image in the public domain.

Anthonia Ongundele

Anthonia Tolulope Ogundele is community organizer and resiliency professional. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ethos Lab Educational Society championing representation in S.T.E.A.M.

She is also the founder of the Hogan’s Alley Land Trust, which evolved into the Hogan’s Alley Society by merging with the Hogan’s Alley Memorial Project. She is also the founder of a community art gallery called the Cheeky Proletariat.

Ms. Ogundele is the winner of the 2024 BC Business Women of the Year Award for Diversity and Inclusion and serves on the Board of Governors at U.B.C.

Credit: Used by permission of Anthonia Ongundele.

Charles Roach

Charles Roach was a lawyer who fought for fairness and equality. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, he moved to Canada in the 1950s.

In 1967, Roach was actively involved in founding the Caribana festival.

Roach spent his life standing up against discrimination towards Black Canadians and immigrants.

Roach tried to change Canadian law so that Canadians taking the Oath of Citizenship do not have to swear allegiance to a Canadian monarch, but never succeeded.

Credit: The Canadian Press.

Tru Wilson

Tru Wilson is a Canadian transgender rights advocate known for her courage and activism. Born in Vancouver, she became a prominent voice for transgender rights after advocating for her right to access gender-affirming healthcare in her school.

In 2016, Wilson's advocacy led to a landmark human rights ruling in British Columbia. Her bravery and determination have inspired countless individuals, sparking important conversations about transgender rights and inclusion in schools and society.

Rachel Zellars

Rachel Zellars is a lawyer and Associate Professor at Saint Mary’s University (SMU).

In 2021, Zellars was named a Senior Research Fellow at SMU and awarded a SMUSA Award for Overall Excellence in the Field of Education, for enhancing student quality of life.

Zellars is a leading authority on Black Canadian studies, a long-time community organizer and co-founder of the African Nova Scotian Freedom School in Halifax. Her research and activism describe the historical and contemporary experiences of Black communities in Canada.

Credit: Used by permission of Rachel Zellars.

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