Canadian Black History
For the month of February, we are highlighting six inspiring Black historians and figures who have made /continue to make significant contributions in Canada. Each candle is named in honour of one of the six Black figures and their legacy. For some, we had the pleasure to speak with them and let them choose the name of the candle and explain their story, but for others we chose a name that would be fitting based on who they are and what they stand for.
The 2023 Light ‘n Learn Black History collection features, Rosemary Sadiler, Robert Small, Charles Roach, Afua Cooper, The Honourable Lincoln Alexander, and Dr. A. Pearleen (Borden) Oliver.
Rosemary Sadiler OOnt - Rooted Candle
Why Rooted?
Rosemary Sadiler OOnt (Order of Ontario) is a social justice advocate, researcher, writer, consultant, and international speaker on Black History, anti-racism and women’s issues. She is commonly known for serving 22 years as the unpaid leader of the Ontario Black History Society – the only Provincial Heritage Organization in Canada with a focus on Black History.
The story behind Rosemary’s candle is rooted deeply in Rosemary’s Canadian heritage and success in securing the commemoration and celebration of February as Black History Month in Canada.
Thankfully, we had the chance to speak with Rosemary who chose to name her candle, Rooted, based on the following:
Her Canadian Roots
Her fight for Canada’s Black History Month and Emancipation Day:
Her contributions as the president of the Ontario Black History Society:
To this day Rosemary Sadiler continues to contribute to society as an author of 7 books on African Canadian history, and a consultant for diversity, equity and inclusion. She has a long resume of accomplishments, honours and success that she has earned over the years. Though it took a lot of patience, her resilience and dedication to championing Black History Month in Canada shows the difference that people can make.
Charles Roach - Advocate Candle
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Charles Roach was born in Trinidad and Tobago, in 1933 and passed away in Toronto in 2012. While we don’t have the opportunity to speak with Charles to let him choose his candle name, after researching and learning more about his dedication and fight against systemic racism, oppression and police abuse of power, we thought Advocate was fitting to represent his fight for the Black community.
Charles Roach was a human rights lawyer, activist, artist, musician and considered a prominent leader in Toronto’s Black community. In 1968, he opened his own law practice and focused primarily on human rights. He represented Black Panthers seeking refuge from criminal prosecution in the United States, domestic workers facing deportations, and young Black men subjected to racial profiling and police abuse.
After a number of police killings of Black men in the GTA, Charles Roach along with Dudley Laws, Sherona Hall, and Lennox Farrell founded the Black Action Defence Committee. During its time the Committee organized and fought against anti-Black racism within the police and the criminal justice system and set out to promote police accountability. The Committee’s work led to the creation of the Commission on Systemic Racism and, in 1990, the founding of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), an independent civilian oversight agency responsible for investigating deaths, serious injuries or sexual assaults caused by police.
In addition to his fight for justice, Charles also contributed to the community by promoting Caribbean arts and culture with his club, Little Trinidad – an important venue for artists, musicians and cultural and community gatherings. In 1967, he founded, along with others, the Caribana festival (Toronto Caribbean Carnival) a festival of Caribbean culture and traditions held each summer in the city of Toronto.
Dr. Afua Cooper - Commitment Candle
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Dr. Afua Cooper is a multidisciplinary scholar and artist. Her commitment and dedication to fight for Black studies in the classroom is the motive behind her candle, Commitment.
From when she was a graduate student to her present appointment as professor at Dalhousie University, Dr. Cooper has been involved with championing and developing Black studies in universities and beyond. From a disturbing and racist incident with a student while teaching African Canadian history at the University of Toronto, to criticism from senior academics and historians, Dr. Cooper never gave up and was committed to teaching Black Canadian history.
She has taught Caribbean history and studies at Ryerson University, where she helped set up the Caribbean Research Centre, taught, created, and designed new courses at Simon Fraser University, York University and the University of Toronto, chaired an international meeting of Black studies scholars — historians, community activists, artists, students and workers — in a conference called “Knowledge Production and the Black Experience,” established a minor in Black and African diaspora studies, which is being turned into a major, and established the Black Canadian Studies Association (BCSA), which has served as a site of Black studies mobilization within and beyond Canada.
Dr. Cooper’s expertise in and contributions to the arts, history, and education were additionally recognized when she was presented with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Award in 2015 from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (CANADA).
Honourable Lincoln Alexander - Limitless Candle
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Lincoln Alexander played a huge role in the fight for racial equity and advancement through education, inclusion and dignity for Black Canadians. He was born in 1922 in Toronto, and passed away in 2012 in Hamilton. While we don’t have the opportunity to speak with Lincoln Alexander about all of his contributions, we did find this powerful quote to help name his candle:
“My determination was fueled by my recognition from a very early age that education was the path to limitless possibility… I have seen constant reinforcement of the grandness of education, from bright and enthusiastic students— the future— to committed educators and administrators that deliver the greatest gift.”
Honourable Lincoln Alexander
Lincoln Alexander’s determination led him to break barriers and be a man of many ‘firsts’, hold several titles, and be honoured with several awards. To name a few, Lincoln Alexander served as an Airman in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, he was the first Black Canadian member of Parliament in the House of Commons, the first Black federal Cabinet Minister (as federal Minister of Labour), the first Black Chair of the Worker’s Compensation Board of Ontario, the first person to serve five terms as Chancellor of the University of Guelph, the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and a recipient of both the Order of Ontario and Canada – the highest level of distinction in the Canadian Honours System. As lieutenant governor, Lincoln Alexander was able to take an active role in the multicultural affairs of Ontario. His mandate was to fight racism, advance youth’s cause, and advocate for seniors. In 2000 he was appointed chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, an organization dedicated to ending racism and racial discrimination in Canada.
Dr. A. Pearleen (Borden) Oliver - Crusader Candle
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A crusader is the perfect way to describe Dr. A. Pearleen (Borden) Oliver – someone who campaigns vigorously for political, social, or religious change. In fact, because of all the pivotal work she has done, Dr. Oliver is often referred to as Canada’s Black Crusader of Civil Rights.
Dr. Oliver was a prominent figure and trailblazer in Nova Scotia for providing over 60 years of leadership, and community involvement as a religious and human rights leader.
Breaking down barriers and a huge advocate for Black women, Dr. Oliver fought fiercely to elevate the role of women in the church, mentored countless young women to help them follow their dreams, and challenged the nurse’s training system so that Black women had the right to become nurses. With that said, her advocacy did not end with women’s rights – Dr. Oliver successfully convinced public schools to remove Little Black Sambo, a racist children’s book and have replaced it with true stories of the contributions of Black Canadians, and stood alongside Viola Desmond in court when she appealed her infamous conviction in 1946.
Dr. Oliver and her husband, Dr. Rev. William Pearly Oliver were founding members of the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NSAAC), the Nova Scotia Humans Rights Commission, the Black United Front, and the Black Cultural Centre.
Robert Small, C.M. - Powerful Candle
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Robert Small is widely known for his LEGACY posters. We thankfully had the chance to speak with him which gave him the opportunity to name his candle, Powerful to express the work he does with his LEGACY posters.
Robert Small is a self-taught artist, owner of LEGACY Enterprises, and an Order of Canada recipient for his long-standing commitment to highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of Black people in Canadian society. Every February since Black History Month was officially recognized in Canada in 1995, Robert Small uses his artistic talents to create the “LEGACY” poster that promotes Black excellence and power through portrait paintings of African-Canadians and Americans. This has led Robert to become a prominent figure in Canada’s Black History Month, the only African-Canadian artist, and one of the youngest Canadians to receive the Order of Canada.
The LEGACY Enterprises (LE) is a cutting-edge, innovative company that uses art as a powerful vehicle to educate society about the accomplishments of historic people. LE sees itself as a powerful advocate for making school spaces conducive to culturally relevant teaching and transforming community areas into being reflective of our society.