Lillian Allen

Lillian Allen

Lillian Allen (born 1951) On her website, Lillian Allen describes herself as a “grassroots artist, cultural activist and university professor – …a godmother of rap/hip hop, dub and spoken word.” Born in Jamaica, Allen came to Canada in 1969 to attend Waterloo...
Kayla Grey

Kayla Grey

Kayla Grey (born 1993)In 2018, award-winning journalist and racial-justice advocate Kayla Grey became the first Black woman to host a national sports show in Canada. She regularly speaks on racism in Canada and in sports. Grey began her broadcasting career as an...
Dudley Laws

Dudley Laws

Dudley Laws (1934-2011) Dudley Laws was a Canadian civil rights activist whose rallying cry was “No justice, no peace.” Born in Jamaica, Laws emigrated to England and lived there for 10 years before coming to Canada in 1965. He worked in Toronto as a welder and...
Mabel Adeline (Addie) Aylestock

Mabel Adeline (Addie) Aylestock

Mabel Adeline (Addie) Aylestock (1909-1998) Mabel Adeline (Addie) Aylestock was the first Black woman to be ordained in Canada, becoming a minister of the British Methodist Episcopal Church. Raised in the rural community of Glen Allan, Ontario, located northwest of...
Jean Augustine

Jean Augustine

Jean Augustine (born 1937) In many ways, the Honourable Jean Augustine has lived the Canadian dream! In 1960, she came to Canada from Grenada to work as a nanny. When her contract ended, she enrolled in teacher’s college, graduated and taught at elementary school,...