Equity Network is excited to celebrate Black History Month. We will be highlighting Black Canadian contributions, both past and present.
Day 1: Bernie Custis. First black quarterback in the Canadian Football League.
Day 2 – Constance Scott (nee Farmer) Born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1943. Connie has dedicated her life as a Registered Nurse for over 40 years, most of it as an Operating Room Nurse & First Assistant. As a lifelong advocate for marginalized community members navigating healthcare, she encourages the next generation of Black excellence “by calling up.” We stand on the shoulders of Connie Scott & are forever grateful for the wise & selfless ways she makes our community better.
Day 3 – Jean Augustine is the first Black woman elected into the House of Commons, serving from 1993-2006. She’s responsible for the legislation to recognize February as BlackHistoryMonth in Canada. Although not from Hamilton , our community is deeply impacted by her crucial work.
Day 4 – Lincoln Alexander was Canada’s 1st Black member of Parliament & federal cabinet minister, & Ontario’s 1st Black lieutenant-governor. He represented Hamilton West in the House of Commons for 12 years. His impact on the Hamilton community is immeasurable.
Day 5- Curtis Bell a 5th generation Hamiltonian with deep roots. The grandson of William Henson Holland, nephew to Lincoln Alexander, Rev. John Holland & cousin to Ray Lewis & Norman ‘ Pinky’ Lewis. He self identifies as BlackIndigenous, Chippewa, Potawatomi & Erie Nation. Curtis earned a scholarship to the US and went on to play football in the CFL for the Hamilton Ticats. He has given back as a coach for over 25 years, as an author of resources about addictions and recovery, and he developed and implemented programs to mentor Black boys. Curtis released a book called TrailTrain13, a story depicting his family’s triumphs from slavery to Parliament. He is most proud of his children, 2 of which earned academic/athletic scholarships and are currently following their dreams in the US.
Day 6 – Rev John C. Holland was the first Black Canadian to be named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by a major Canadian city for his impactful community work and activism in #Hamont. He was inducted into the Hamilton’s Gallery of Distinction in 2003.
Day 7 – Lawrence Hill is an award-winning Canadian novelist. His writings mostly focuse on “identity and belonging.” He lives in Hamilton and continues to impact the #HamOnt community through his work and advocacy.
Day 8- Dr. Gary Warner is a Professor Emeritus who has been active in the Hamilton community for over 50 years on issues related to international development, peace, poverty, human rights, antiracism, immigration and social justice.
Day 9 – Andrea Purnell Is the Co-founder of Equity Network. She relentlessly promotes equity, and fights against racism and injustice in society. Andrea models leading with generosity, compassion and love as she strives for a just and equitable Hamilton
Day 10 – Stewart Memorial Church is Hamilton’s oldest Black church. It was established in the 1830s (on Rebecca St Paul’s African Methodist). After a fire in 1879, its location moved to John St. The reverence for this church runs deep in Hamilton.
The first pastor was Abolitionist Josiah Henson. We have members who grew up in the church along with luminaries like the Holland, Alexander, Lewis and Washington families.
In 1994, the property was designated an Ontario Heritage Site.
Day11- Raymond Gray Lewis was born October 8, 1910 in Hamilton. Known as “Rapid” Ray. He was proud to be the first Canadian-born Black athlete to win a bronze medal in the
4 x 400m relay at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Lewis was named an officer of the Order of Canada (2001). He had a Hamilton elementary school named after him in 2005 Most recently, the Ray Lewis Track and Field Centre received upgrades to honour his athletic legacy.
Day-12 Raymond Robert Emery was born September 28 1982, in Hamilton. As a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, he played in the National Hockey League for eleven seasons. Emery was chosen 99th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. In 2013, he was awarded as the goaltender who give up the fewest goals in the season. His nickname was Razor” or “Sugar Ray” for his talented playing style.
Day 13- Jackie Washington was born in Hamilton in 1919. His performing debut was at age 5. The Washington family have deep roots in Hamilton & are world renowned. Several awards were created to honour his outstanding musicianship & contributions in Canada.
Day 14-Evelyn Myrie is a community activist and leader who’s crucial work has deeply impacted marginalized groups in #HamOnt. The current president of African Canadian Carribean Association in Hamilton and CEO of the Empower Strategy Group, she was one of the inaugural inductees into the Order of Hamilton award.
Day 15- Norman (Pinky) Lewis is a legend in Hamilton sport. His extraordinary contributions as a trainer and friend to McMaster athletes came after many years with the Hamilton Ticats. He was elected Hamilton’s Citizen of the Year in 1971.
Day 16 – Sarah Jama is a community organizer who relentlessly fights oppressive structures to defend the humanity of those unjustly marginalized. She is the cofounder of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario and Program Coordinator the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion. Sarah is a beacon of hope for many in Hamilton.
Day 17-Eleanor W Rodney was a passionate community leader & educator in Hamilton. As the founder of African Caribbean Cultural Potpourri Inc, she relentlessly advocated for youth of African & Caribbean descent. She received many awards for her work in racial equity & justice.
Day 18-Sarah Nurse is a professional hockey player from Hamilton. She is the first Black woman to win a gold medal in hockey from any country. She also holds the record of most points in a single Olympic tournament scored by a woman. Congratulations Sarah!?
Day 19 – Kojo Damptey is a musician, interdisciplinary scholar practitioner & decolonial advocate. As the Executive Director of Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, he is one of the most influential leaders in Hamilton advocating for racial justice & equity.
Day 20-Matthew Green elected as a MP for Hamilton Centre (2019). He is a member of the Parliamentary Black Caucus. In 2014, he was the first Black person elected to Hamilton City Council. Green is an advocate & organizer for many issues effecting Canadians.
Day 21 – Dr. Ama deGraft-Johnson, the brilliant anesthetist retired from HHS after over 30 years. As the only Black woman in the department, she faced racism & sexism from patients & colleagues. She broke many barriers @ HHS & is a devoted humanitarian.
Day-22 Historian, archivist and choir member/musician, Evelyn Auchinvole, is a member Stewart Memorial Church. Through her work as a historian, she documents the deep history of Black Canadians and the numerous contributions woven into the Hamilton community.
Day 23-Kia Nurse is a Hamiltonian basketball player in the WNBA & a 2x Olympian for the Canada Women’s National Basketball team. She is also a basketball pundit featured on The Sports Network. The Nurse family is well known in Hamilton for their contributions.
Day 24- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a professional basketball player in the NBA. Son of a former Olympian, he grew up in Hamilton attending St. Thomas More and Sir Allan Macnab Secondary schools. He was named the Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year for 2020.
Day 25-Yohana Otite is the Human Rights and Equity officer at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. In her previous role as Executive Director of Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, Yohana led many initiatives to make #HamOnt an inclusive community
Day 26- Sarah Adjekum is a social worker and community organizer in #HamOnt. She is also on the board of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion. Sarah is a PhD student at @McMasterSocSci and won the Wilson Leadership Scholar Award in 2021.
Day 27 – Darnell Nurse is a professional hockey player for Edmonton Oilers in the NHL. He was drafted 7th overall in 2013. He grew up in Hamilton and attended St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School. Darnell is from a family of very successful athletes.
Celebrate 365/24/7❤️
Day 28-On the Concession Street wall at the public library, a plaque reflects the deep history of Black communities. “Little Africa” started in the 1800s extending from Upper Wellington to Upper Sherman, between Concession and Fennell Avenue.
Historian Adrienne Shadd writes, initially at least seven Black families bought the land & owned 100 acres on the Mountain; some of these families subdivided the land & sold it to other Black families.“They bought their land like everybody else, they weren’t given free land”.
Black History in Hamilton is deeply entrenched. The historical photo is Julia Berry and her family. Berry operated the James Street tollgate. To find more facts, check out the book, The Journey from Tollgate to Parkway, African Canadians in Hamilton by Author Adrienne Shadd.
