Daurene Lewis facts for kids

Daurene Elaine Lewis, CM (born September 9, 1943 – died January 26, 2013), was a Canadian politician and educator. She made history as the first Black female mayor in Canada.

Early Life and Education

Daurene Lewis was born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, in 1943. Her family had a long history in the area. They were descendants of freed African Americans who settled in Annapolis Royal in 1783.

One of her famous ancestors was Rose Fortune. Rose Fortune was a Virginian who became the first female police officer in North America.

Daurene Lewis was trained as a registered nurse. She also earned a diploma in teaching from Dalhousie University. Later, she received a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary's University. In 1993, she was given an honorary doctorate from Mount Saint Vincent University.

Becoming a Leader

Daurene Lewis first got involved in politics in 1979. She ran for town council in Annapolis Royal. She wanted to make people more aware of the area's history. She also worked to help the community grow and improve. In 1982, she was appointed as the deputy mayor.

In 1984, Lewis was elected mayor of Annapolis Royal. This was a very important moment. It made her the first Black female mayor in all of Canada.

Lewis also tried to enter provincial politics in 1988. She ran to represent Annapolis West for the Liberal Party. Although she did not win, she was the first Black woman in Nova Scotia to run in a provincial election.

After Her Political Career

After her time as mayor, Daurene Lewis continued to be a leader. She was the executive director of the Centre for Women in Business. This center is located at Mount Saint Vincent University.

She also served as the principal of two campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College. In 2001, she became the first African Canadian senior administrator at the college. She also served on the board of directors for Canada Post. She was part of the Governor General's Order of Canada Advisory Council.

Lewis was also involved with the Vanier Institute of the Family. She was on the executive of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. She was also a member of the International Women's Foundation. She passed away in a Halifax hospital in 2013.

Awards and Recognition

Daurene Lewis received many awards for her contributions. In 1994, her name was added to the Nova Scotia Black Cultural Centre Wall of Honour. The United Nations gave her the Global Citizenship Award in 1995.

In 1998, she received the Progress Club of Halifax Woman of Excellence award. This was for her work in Public Affairs and Communication. In 2002, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. She also received the YWCA volunteer award.

She was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. These medals celebrated her service to Canada.

In 2018, the town hall plaza in Annapolis Royal was named after Lewis. A bronze statue of her was also unveiled there. This statue was created by sculptor Ruth Abernethy.