John Christie Holland facts for kids

John Christie Holland (born December 25, 1882 – died June 22, 1954) was an important pastor from Canada. He was the first Canadian of African heritage to be named "Citizen of the Year" in his city. Holland led the Stewart Memorial Church in Hamilton, Ontario. Because he worked so hard for his community, he received the "Distinguished Citizen" award in 1953. The mayor, Lloyd Douglas Jackson, gave him this special award in 1954.

Early Life and Family

John C. Holland was born on Christmas Day in 1882 in Hamilton, Ontario. He was first named John Christmas Holland because of his birthday. Later, he legally changed his middle name to Christie.

His father, Thomas John Holland, had escaped slavery in Sandy Spring, Maryland. He came to Canada in 1860, reportedly by swimming across the Niagara River. In Canada, Thomas met Henrietta Shortts from Saltfleet Township, Ontario. They got married and settled in Hamilton. They opened a store that sold flour and animal feed. To earn more money, Thomas sang with a choir in the winter, while Henrietta managed the store.

John C. Holland was the fifth of thirteen children. His father wanted his sons to do well in school and help with the family business. He also encouraged them to get after-school jobs. John chose to sell copies of the local newspaper, The Hamilton Spectator, on a street corner.

As an eleven-year-old, John had to protect his selling spot from other newsboys. This is where he first experienced racial discrimination. But it also helped him develop a strong belief in a higher power and a deep commitment to his church and community.

Working Life and Ministry

John was known as the smartest in his family. From a young age, he decided he wanted to go to university and become a minister. In 1901, he married Josephine Idenia Johnson from Oakville. They worked hard to save enough money for John to go to college.

Holland worked as a janitor and waiter at Westinghouse Electric. Even though his bosses liked and respected him, he could not get better jobs because of his race.

Around 1916 or 1917, Holland started working for the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway. He stayed there for over thirty years. He began as a janitor but was promoted within two years to a porter. Then he became an attendant on a Pullman car, and finally, he worked on the special VIP car used by the railway president.

By this time, Holland had four children. Since he could not attend university full-time, he studied to become a minister through correspondence courses. This meant he learned from home by mail. He became an ordained minister in 1925 through the Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.

A Lasting Legacy

Even before he became a minister, Holland was very active at St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church. He supervised the Sunday school, taught classes, sang in the choir, and filled in as a substitute pastor. When the church became the non-denominational Stewart Memorial Church in 1937, Holland became its main minister. He retired eleven years later so he could spend all his time helping others and improving Hamilton.

Church members remembered Holland as a very kind, gentle, and caring man. He always tried to support and guide anyone who needed help. He was also known for reaching out to people outside the church who were struggling with poverty and racial discrimination. Ray Lewis, a famous athlete, said that Holland acted as if he was responsible for every person in Hamilton.

Holland was also very good at convincing people. For example, he single-handedly convinced Stelco and other local steel mills to change their rule of not hiring Black people. He also talked to Hamilton's mayor and business leaders to raise money for Stewart Memorial Church. He made sure the church had a steady income by starting a monthly "Visitor's Night."

In 1954, Holland was named Hamilton's first "Citizen of the Year." He passed away three months after receiving this award.

In 2003, Holland was honored again when he was added to Hamilton's Gallery of Distinction. Journalist and actress Nerene Virgin is Holland's great-niece.

The John Christie Holland Awards

In 1996, a committee was formed during Hamilton's 150th anniversary celebration. This committee wanted to recognize the important contributions of African Canadians to the city's social, cultural, and economic life. The committee all agreed to name their awards after John Christie Holland.

Some of the people who received the award in 2009 were Janoi Edwards, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Kyle Ferriera, Ruwa Banaga, Patricia Wright, Rosemary Sadlier, and Natsha Cunningham. Some other famous past winners include Michael Lee-Chin, the Honorable Lincoln Alexander, and Jean Augustine.