Carolann Wright facts for kids

Carolann Wright is a Canadian activist and community leader. She is known for her work helping people and for running for political office.

Born in Nova Scotia, Carolann Wright lived in Toronto's Regent Park neighbourhood in the 1980s. There, she became the leader of the local residents' association.

Early Life and Education

Carolann Wright was born in 1957 in Beechville, Nova Scotia. This is a small Black community near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her family had lived there since the 1800s. She was the oldest of eight children.

After high school, she went to Dalhousie University. In the 1970s, she moved to Toronto to study business at York University. During this time, she faced some difficult challenges. She found herself without a home for a while. But she worked hard to get back on her feet. She settled in the Regent Park neighbourhood.

Wright successfully graduated from York University. She then found a job helping her community. She taught computer skills to children who needed extra support.

Running for Mayor of Toronto

In 1988, Carolann Wright decided to run for mayor of Toronto. This is a very important job in a city. She ran against the person who was already mayor, Art Eggleton.

Her Campaign and Supporters

Wright's campaign was organized by a group called the Basic Action Poverty Group. This group included church and community workers. Another group, "Reform Toronto," also supported her. This group was made up of community activists. Some well-known people supported her, like city councillor Jack Layton.

Her Ideas for the City

Carolann Wright had clear ideas about how to make Toronto better. She wanted to:

• Increase financial help for people in need by 25%.
• Make it easier for people to live in shared homes.
• Legalize apartments that were not officially approved.

She was the first woman of colour to run for mayor of Toronto. She was a very important candidate.

Later Political Races

Two years later, in 1990, Carolann Wright ran for another political job. She ran to become a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario. She ran in the St. George—St. David area. She lost this election by a very small number of votes, only 65 votes.

Return to Nova Scotia

In the mid-1990s, Carolann Wright moved back to Nova Scotia. She continued her work helping communities. She has worked for many community groups in Halifax.

Today, she holds an important role. She helps with economic development for African Nova Scotian communities. She works for the Halifax Regional Municipality's economic development group. This group is called Halifax Partnership. She helps these communities grow and succeed.