Kay Livingstone facts for kids
Kathleen "Kay" Livingstone (born October 13, 1919 – died 1975) was a very important Canadian. She was a social activist, an actor, and a radio host. A social activist is someone who works hard to make society better for everyone. In 1973, because of her efforts, the first National Congress of Black Women of Canada was formed. This group helps support and empower Black women across Canada.
Kay Livingstone was born Kathleen Jenkins in London, Ontario. Her parents, James and Christina Jenkins, were also very active in their community. Her father was an assistant judge, and her parents started a newspaper called Dawn of Tomorrow. This newspaper was created for the Black community. Kay loved music and studied it at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She also studied public speaking at the Ottawa College of Music.
During World War II, Kay worked for the Canadian government in Ottawa. In 1942, she married George Livingstone, and they had five children. While living in Ottawa, she started her own radio show called The Kathleen Livingstone Show. Later, when her family moved to Toronto, she continued to host radio programs for different stations, including one connected to the CBC.
Founding the Canadian Negro Women's Association
In 1951, Kay Livingstone started a social club in Toronto. It was first called The Dilettantes. Soon after, it was renamed the Canadian Negro Women’s Club. Later, it became known as the Canadian Negro Women’s Association (CANEWA). Kay Livingstone was the first president of CANEWA, serving from 1951 to 1953.
CANEWA did many important things. One of their main goals was to help Black students stay in school. They did this by offering scholarships. CANEWA also organized the Calypso Carnival, which later grew into the famous Caribana festival. Caribana is a large annual festival that celebrates Caribbean culture in Toronto.
Acting and Community Leadership
Kay Livingstone was also a talented actor. She performed in both amateur and professional plays. People at the time called her "one of Canada’s leading Black actresses."
Beyond her acting and radio work, Kay Livingstone held many leadership roles. She was president of the United Nations Association in Canada, which promotes the goals of the United Nations in Canada. She also served as a regional chair for the National Black Coalition. This group worked to improve the lives of Black Canadians. She was also a moderator for Heritage Ontario and a member of the Appeal Board of Legal Aid. Legal Aid helps people who cannot afford a lawyer get legal help.
Just before she passed away suddenly in 1975, Kay Livingstone was working as a consultant for the Canadian Privy Council. The Privy Council advises the King or Queen on important matters. She was helping to organize a big meeting for women from visible minority groups. Kay Livingstone is known for being the first person to use the term "visible minority" in Canada. This term refers to people who are not Indigenous and are not white.
Kay Livingstone's Lasting Legacy
After Kay Livingstone's death, another important Black Canadian woman, Carrie Best, created the Kay Livingstone Visible Minority Women's Society. This society continued Kay's work.
Today, there is an award named after her, the Kay Livingstone Award. This award is given to Black women in Canada. It encourages them to keep working to improve the lives of other women of colour and their families.
In 2011, the Canadian government officially recognized Kay Livingstone. They named her a Person of National Historic Significance. This means she made a very important contribution to Canada's history. A special plaque was put up in 2017 near her home in Toronto to mark this honor.
In November 2017, the Canadian postal service announced that Kay Livingstone would appear on a postage stamp. This stamp was part of a series celebrating Black History Month, which happens every February. The stamp was officially released on February 1, 2018, in London, Ontario, her birthplace.
