February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month in Canada. During this month, Canadians celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today.

Celebrating Black History Through Art

Sinai Health is presenting ‘Celebrating Black History through Art’ from Robert Small. As an educator, artist and entreasure, he tells the stories of Black Canadians in a powerful and enduring manner. Robert will speak about the importance of recognizing the achievements of Black Canadians and their contribution to our society.

Event Information
Thursday, February 10th
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Zoom link will be sent upon registration

Black Canadians have made major contributions that have shaped Canadian heritage and society. Below, we have highlighted a few prominent Black community leaders:

The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander (1922-2012)

• Born in Toronto
• Served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, between 1942 and 1945.
• He was the first Black person to become a Member of Parliament in 1968 and served in the House of Commons until 1980.
• He was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Carrie Best (1903-2001)

• Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
• In the 1940s, she heard that some Black teens had been removed from Roseland Theatre after sitting in the “white only” section. She argued against the racist policy to the theatre’s owner, but he didn’t listen. So she went to the theatre with her son, and sat in that section. They were both arrested, which allowed her to file a lawsuit against the theatre. Unfortunately, she lost the case.
• Carrie Best went on to start her own newspaper, encouraging better race relations, and also started her own radio show. She wrote her autobiography That Lonesome Road: The Autobiography of Carrie M. Best at the age of 74.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-1873)

• Shadd was the first Black woman to ever publish a newspaper in North America, which she called The Provincial Freeman. She also established a racially integrated school for Black refugees in Windsor, Canada West.
• She was a teacher and an activist, being the voice for Black people and the voice for women’s rights.
• In 1994, Shadd was designated a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada.

Lawrence (Larry) McLarty (1929-2016)

• McLarty was the first Black police officer in Toronto
• He worked as a Jamaican Constabulary Force officer before moving to Canada.
• He applied to the Toronto Police Service in 1960, but his first application was rejected (for being one-eighth of an inch too short). Two months later, when being measured for a suit, he discovered he was indeed tall enough to meet the requirements, and reapplied. He was hired.
• He rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant and retired after 32 years of service.

In 2020, UNILEARNAL created a campaign for Black History Month called the “28 Moments of Black Canadian History”. They published 28 videos, one for each day in February, featuring a different person who talks about their experience as a Black individual in Canada, and discussing a historical figure or historical moment in Black Canadian history. Click on the video above and watch their videos published on their YouTube channel, or visit their website by clicking the link below.