Celebrating Black History Month

Today, it is with great honour that I join Black communities from coast to coast to coast to mark the start of Black History Month. 

In December 1995, the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black women to be elected to the House of Commons, introduced a motion that received unanimous consent to recognize February every year as Black History Month in Canada. 

Growing up in Oakville and working hard to compete in the Olympics, I had no shortage of Black sporting heroes to look up to. From local track and field Olympic Champion Donovan Bailey, to World Champion kayaker Renn Crichlow, I was consistently inspired by them and others to try my very best. Now that I am a public servant, people like Jean Augustine and my colleagues the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Greg Fergus, Emmanual Dubourg, and Marci Ien are my role models. 

I would like to thank the Canadian Caribeean Association of Halton and the African Caribbean Council of Halton for continuing their work in educating our community on the experiences, contributions and successes of Black Canadians. 

By celebrating these contributions- Canada’s youth of today and tomorrow will have no shortage of inspiration to chase their goals and achieve their dreams.