Aileen Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aileen Theodora Williams
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| Born |
Aileen Gollinger
1924 |
| Died | August 31, 2015 (aged 90–91) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Known for | Founding member of CANEWA |
Aileen Theodora Williams (1924-2015) was an important Black Canadian activist. She helped start the Canadian Negro Women's Association (CANEWA). She worked hard to make things better for Black people in Canada.
Contents
Growing Up in Toronto
Aileen Theodora Williams was born Aileen Gollinger in Toronto, Canada. Her parents were Frances Louise and William Bertram Gollinger. She went to Duke of York Public School. Later, she attended Northern Secondary School. As a teenager, she often visited the Universal Negro Improvement Association Hall. She also went to the First Baptist Church in Toronto.
Helping Her Community
Starting CANEWA
In 1940, Aileen Williams joined a social group called the Dilettantes. This group was made up of Black women in Toronto. Aileen, along with Kay Livingstone and Phyllis Simmons Brooks, helped change this group. They turned it into the Canadian Negro Women's Association (CANEWA).
CANEWA focused on solving social problems. They also created scholarships and bursaries. These helped young Black people get an education. Aileen worked closely with Penny Hodge in this group. She was the secretary for many years. She also served as president twice, from 1953-1954 and 1973–1974.
Leading the Way for Black Women
In 1973, Aileen Williams played a key role in organizing a big meeting. This meeting was for the first National Congress of Black Women of Canada (NCBWC). It took 18 months to plan. About 200 Black women attended the meeting in Toronto.
Women from different groups came together. They wanted to discuss important issues for the Black community. Aileen was also very active in the Ontario Black History Society. She was its vice-president in the 1980s.
Her Other Work
Besides her volunteer work, Aileen Williams had several jobs. She worked at Simpson's department store in Toronto. She also worked for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Pictures of Canada. Other jobs included the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Ontario Ministry of Revenue.
Awards and Legacy
In 2008, Aileen Williams received the Ontario Senior Achievement Award. She told The Toronto Observer that things had improved a lot for African Canadians. She said, "We never used to have any voice back then."
Aileen Williams passed away in Mississauga on August 31, 2015. She is honored in a book called "100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women - 2016 1st Edition." This book celebrates the achievements of Black Canadian women.
