List of Black Canadians facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This is a list of amazing Black Canadians who have made a big difference in many areas like sports, arts, politics, and more! These individuals have achieved great things and inspired many people across Canada.

Awesome Achievers in Canadian History

Trailblazers Who Paved the Way

Lincoln Alexander: He was the first Black Member of Parliament in Canada. He also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, which is like a representative of the King in the province.
Marie-Joseph Angélique: A historical figure from the 1700s, known for a significant event in Montreal's history.
Viola Desmond: A brave beautician and civil rights activist. She is famous for challenging racial segregation in Nova Scotia. She is also the first Canadian woman to be shown on Canadian money!
James Douglas: An important early governor of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. He played a key role in the development of these areas.
Rose Fortune: She was the first female police officer in Canada, a true pioneer in law enforcement.
William Hall: The first Nova Scotian and first Black person to receive the Victoria Cross, Canada's highest military honour for bravery.
Josiah Henson: A former slave whose life story is believed to have inspired the famous novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Violet King Henry: She made history as the first Black female lawyer in Canada.
Ray Lewis: The first Canadian-born Black person to win an Olympic medal. He was an incredible track athlete.
Daurene Lewis: She was the first Black woman mayor in North America, leading the town of Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia.
Elijah McCoy: A brilliant inventor whose work was so good, it's said to be the origin of the phrase "the real McCoy."
Willie O'Ree: He broke barriers as the first Black hockey player in the National Hockey League.
Mary Ann Shadd: An inspiring figure, she was the first female newspaper publisher in North America.
Robert Sutherland: The first Black lawyer in Canada.
Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré: She was the first Black judge appointed in Quebec's history.

Sports Stars and Athletic Heroes

Olympic Medalists and Record Breakers

Donovan Bailey: A super-fast sprinter who was the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter sprint at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Phil Edwards: A track athlete who won multiple Olympic medals for Canada.
Daniel Igali: An Olympic gold medalist in wrestling at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Robert Esmie: An Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Glenroy Gilbert: Another Olympic gold medalist from the 4x100 relay team in Atlanta 1996.
Mark McKoy: An Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Bruny Surin: Also an Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Damian Warner: An amazing Olympian, known for his skills in the decathlon.

Hockey Legends and NHL Players

Herb Carnegie: A star in the Quebec professional hockey league, known for his incredible talent.
Anson Carter: A well-known NHL star.
Grant Fuhr: A Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender and the first Black hockey player to win the Stanley Cup.
Jarome Iginla: A Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, NHL All-Star, and Olympic gold medalist in ice hockey.
Georges Laraque: A former NHL player known for his strong presence on the ice.
Mike Marson: The second Black player in NHL history.
Tony McKegney: Another notable NHL player.
Darnell Nurse: A current NHL player.
P. K. Subban: A very popular NHL ice hockey defenceman.
Wayne Simmonds: An NHL player, currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Joel Ward: A former NHL player.
Kevin Weekes: A former NHL goalie.
Peter Worrell: A former NHL player.

Basketball Stars and NBA Players

Joel Anthony: An NBA basketball player.
RJ Barrett: A talented NBA player with the New York Knicks.
Anthony Bennett: The first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
Rick Fox: A former NBA player and actor.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A rising NBA player.
Cory Joseph: A current NBA player.
Jamaal Magloire: A former NBA player.
Andrew Nicholson: A former NBA player.
Kia Nurse: A professional basketball player, known for her skills on the court.
Tristan Thompson: An NBA player.
Andrew Wiggins: An NBA player with the Golden State Warriors.

Soccer Players and Footballers

Tajon Buchanan: A professional soccer player.
Jonathan David: A professional footballer for Lille OSC.
Alphonso Davies: A professional footballer for FC Bayern Munich, known for his incredible speed and skill.
Dwayne De Rosario: A well-known Canadian soccer player.
Charmaine Hooper: A soccer player who retired as a leader in appearances and goals for the Canadian women's national team.
Atiba Hutchinson: A professional footballer for Besiktas J.K..
Cyle Larin: A professional footballer playing for Besiktas J.K..
Jayde Riviere: A professional soccer player.
Paul Stalteri: A former professional soccer player.

Other Sports Heroes

Donovan "Razor" Ruddock: A professional boxer.
George Dixon: The first Black world boxing champion in any weight class.
Ferguson Jenkins: A baseball star and the first Canadian elected to the (US) Baseball Hall of Fame.
Russell Martin: A well-known MLB player.
Nate Burleson: A former NFL player.
Rueben Mayes: A former NFL player.
John Ware: A former slave who became a famous cowboy in Alberta.

Artists and Entertainers

Singers and Musicians

AHI: A talented singer-songwriter.
Toya Alexis: An R&B/pop singer and Canadian Idol season 1 finalist.
Jully Black: A powerful R&B/pop singer.
Divine Brown: An R&B/soul singer and musical theatre performer.
Measha Brueggergosman: A renowned opera singer.
Daniel Caesar: A popular R&B and soul singer.
Keshia Chanté: An R&B singer and TV host.
Deborah Cox: A famous R&B singer.
Fefe Dobson: A pop punk singer.
Melanie Fiona: An R&B singer.
Jully Black: A powerful R&B/pop singer.
Molly Johnson: A celebrated rock and jazz vocalist.
Oliver Jones: A legendary jazz pianist.
K'Naan: A hip-hop musician and singer, known for his inspiring songs.
k-os: A popular hip-hop musician.
Maestro: A hip-hop musician, the first Canadian rapper to have a Top 40 hit in Canada.
Oscar Peterson: One of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.
Shad: A hip hop musician known for his clever lyrics.
Tamia: A well-known R&B singer and actress.
The Weeknd: A globally famous R&B singer-songwriter.

Actors and Comedians

Lovell Adams-Gray: An actor.
Oluniké Adeliyi: An actress.
Aisha Alfa: An actress and comedian.
Thom Allison: An actor.
Shamier Anderson: An actor.
Trey Anthony: A playwright known for Da Kink in My Hair.
Clark Backo: An actress.
Cle Bennett: An actor.
Tyrone Benskin: An actor and director.
Lisa Berry: An actress.
Ardon Bess: An actor from shows like Trailer Park Boys.
Cory Bowles: An actor from Trailer Park Boys.
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman: An actor.
Aisha Brown: An actress and comedian.
Rae Dawn Chong: An actress from The Color Purple.
Roger Cross: An actor from shows like 24.
Riele Downs: A young actress.
Arlene Duncan: An actress and singer from Little Mosque on the Prairie.
Irdens Exantus: An actor.
Melyssa Ford: A professional model and actress.
Patrice Goodman: An actress.
Anais Granofsky: An actor from Degrassi.
Quancetia Hamilton: An actress.
Kevin Hanchard: An actor.
Adrian Holmes: An actor.
Kimberly Huie: An actress.
Ayisha Issa: An actress.
Stephan James: A talented actor.
Clark Johnson: An actor from Homicide: Life on the Street.
Jordan Johnson-Hinds: An actor.
Marlon Kazadi: An actor.
Jonathan Langdon: An actor.
Karen LeBlanc: An actress.
Andrea Lewis: An actress from Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Nicole Lyn: An actress.
Kandyse McClure: An actress from Battlestar Galactica.
Brandon Jay McLaren: An actor from Power Rangers S.P.D..
Andrew Moodie: An actor and playwright.
Vanessa Morgan: An actress and singer.
Thamela Mpumlwana: An actor.
Oluniké Adeliyi: An actress.
Cara Ricketts: An actress.
Jackie Richardson: A jazz, blues, and gospel singer and actress.
Kim Richardson: A pop, jazz, blues, and gospel singer.
Martin Roach: An actor.
Chris Robinson: An actor and comedian.
Karen Robinson: An actress.
Percy Rodriguez: A well-known actor.
Alison Sealy-Smith: An actress.
Sagine Sémajuste: An actress.
Shailyn Pierre-Dixon: A young actress.
Makyla Smith: An actress.
Ordena Stephens-Thompson: An actress.
Cree Summer: An actress, singer, and comedian.
Tamara Taylor: An actress from Bones.
Yanic Truesdale: An actor from Gilmore Girls.
Christian Vincent: An actor.
Bahia Watson: An actress and playwright.
Benjamin Charles Watson: An actor.
Genelle Williams: An actress.
Nigel Shawn Williams: An actor.
Tonya Lee Williams: A longtime actress on The Young and the Restless.
Maurice Dean Wint: An actor.
Hannan Younis: An actress and comedian.

Filmmakers and Directors

Alfons Adetuyi: A film director and producer.
Robert Adetuyi: A film director and screenwriter.
Cameron Bailey: A film critic and artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Miryam Charles: A filmmaker.
Marilyn Cooke: A filmmaker.
Hubert Davis: An Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker.
Alison Duke: A film producer.
Karena Evans: A director.
Kelly Fyffe-Marshall: A writer and filmmaker.
Alicia K. Harris: A filmmaker and screenwriter.
Sasha Leigh Henry: A filmmaker and screenwriter.
Jennifer Holness: A film and television writer and producer.
Little X: A director.
Yasmine Mathurin: A documentary filmmaker.
Stella Meghie: A film director and screenwriter.
Charles Officer: A film director.
Henri Pardo: A filmmaker.
Carmine Pierre-Dufour: A filmmaker.
RT!: A director.
Frances-Anne Solomon: A film producer, director, and distributor.
David (Sudz) Sutherland: A director.
Thyrone Tommy: A filmmaker.
Clement Virgo: A director.
Stephen Williams: A director.
Chris Strikes: A filmmaker.

Leaders and Public Servants

Politicians and Government Officials

Wayne Adams: The first Black MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) in Nova Scotia.
Zanana Akande: A former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister.
Jean Alfred: The first Black Canadian member of the National Assembly of Quebec.
Jill Andrew: A politician.
Dominique Anglade: A politician.
Granville Anderson: A politician.
Uzoma Asagwara: A politician.
Yvonne Atwell: Nova Scotia's first Black female MLA.
Jean Augustine: A former Member of Parliament, Black Canadian Cabinet Minister, and former deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.
Vivian Barbot: A Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament.
Emery Barnes: The first Black Speaker of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly.
Frank Baylis: A politician.
Kettly Beauregard: A politician.
Frantz Benjamin: A Montreal city councillor.
Wanda Thomas Bernard: A social worker, educator, and senator.
Rima Berns-McGown: A politician.
Margarett Best: An Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and Cabinet Minister.
Lindsay Blackett: A Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the province's first Black cabinet minister.
Leonard Braithwaite: A politician.
Rosemary Brown: A British Columbia legislator and the first Black woman to run for the leadership of a political party in Canada.
Sharon Burey: A senator.
Madwa-Nika Cadet: A politician.
Celina Caesar-Chavannes: A politician.
Mary Anne Chambers: A former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister.
Ulrick Chérubin: The mayor of Amos, Quebec, one of the first Black mayors in Quebec.
Bernadette Clement: The mayor of Cornwall, Ontario.
Anne Cools: Canada's first Black senator.
Michael Coteau: An Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament.
Alvin Curling: An Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and Speaker of the Legislature of Ontario.
Rob Davis: A former city councillor in Toronto.
James W. Douglas: A British Columbia MLA.
Christian Dubé: A politician.
Ali Duale: A politician.
Emmanuel Dubourg: A Quebec Liberal Party MNA.
Gordon Earle: A former NDP Member of Parliament.
Greg Fergus: A politician.
Mayann Francis: A former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs: A merchant and member of Victoria City Council in the 1860s.
Audrey Gordon: A politician.
Stephen Gough: A Nova Scotia MLA.
Matthew Green: A politician.
Twila Grosse: A politician.
Suzy Hansen: A politician.
Faisal Hassan: A politician.
Andrea Hazell: A politician.
Mitzie Hunter: A politician.
Marci Ien: A politician and former journalist.
Tony Ince: A politician.
Ovid Jackson: A former Member of Parliament and former mayor of Owen Sound.
Yolande James: A Quebec Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities.
Marlene Jennings: A politician.
Rawlson King: A municipal politician in Ottawa.
Maka Kotto: An author and actor elected to Canadian Parliament.
Kaycee Madu: An Alberta MLA.
Marie-Françoise Mégie: A politician.
Don Meredith: A politician.
Firmin Monestime: The mayor of Mattawa, Ontario; the first Black mayor in Canada.
Amber Morley: A Toronto city councillor.
Jamie Moses: A politician.
Jamaal Myers: A Toronto city councillor.
Donald Oliver: The first Black senator from Nova Scotia.
Percy Paris: A politician.
Annamie Paul: A politician and leader of the Green Party of Canada, the first Black leader of a federal party in Canada.
Burr Plato: A town councillor for Niagara Falls in the late 1800s.
Micheline Rawlins: The first Black woman appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice.
George Rogers: A former mayor and current MLA in Alberta.
Calvin Ruck: A senator.
Beverley Salmon: A politician.
Mark Saunders: The former chief of the Toronto Police Service.
David Shepherd: A politician.
Angela Simmonds: A politician.
Michael Thompson: A current Toronto city councillor.
Charmaine Williams: A politician.
Bill White: A musician and political candidate.
Jack White: A union activist.
Kevin Yarde: A television meteorologist and politician.

Journalists and Broadcasters

Elamin Abdelmahmoud: A CBC Radio host.
Ismaila Alfa: A radio host.
David Amber: A sportscaster.
Andrea Bain: A journalist and talk show host.
Carrie Best: An activist and humanitarian, and the first Black journalist in Nova Scotia.
Kim Brunhuber: A journalist.
Jojo Chintoh: A longtime Citytv reporter.
Ify Chiwetelu: A CBC Radio host.
Desmond Cole: A journalist.
Arisa Cox: A television personality.
Rita Deverell: A broadcaster and journalist, and founder of Vision TV.
Nathan Downer: A television journalist.
Dwight Drummond: A television journalist.
Rosey Edeh: A TV reporter and former meteorologist.
Tyrone Edwards: A television host.
Natasha Eloi: A science reporter.
Matt Galloway: A CBC Radio host.
Malcolm Gladwell: A famous journalist and author.
Adrian Harewood: A CBC Radio journalist and host.
Hal Johnson: A television health and fitness personality.
Mark Jones: A sportscaster for ESPN and ABC.
Paul Jones: A sportscaster and radio voice for the Toronto Raptors.
Spider Jones: A journalist and former boxer.
Jemeni: A singer and broadcaster.
Kay Livingstone: An actress, broadcaster, and activist.
Tracy Moore: A journalist.
Kathleen Newman-Bremang: A writer and broadcaster.
Lana Ogilvie: A fashion model and TV hostess.
Amanda Parris: A broadcaster and writer.
Michaela Pereira: A journalist.
Juliette Powell: A television host and the first Black Miss Canada (1989).
Cabbie Richards: A radio personality.
John Saunders: A sports journalist for ESPN and ABC.
Denis Simpson: An actor and children's television host.
Sylvia Sweeney: A television broadcaster and former basketball player.
Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe: A radio personality.
Asha Tomlinson: A journalist.
Nerene Virgin: A CBC anchor and co-star of Today's Special.
Michael Williams: A MuchMusic VJ.
Odario Williams: A broadcaster and musician.
Marcia Young: A CBC Radio broadcaster and host.
Tony "Master T" Young: A MuchMusic personality.

Writers and Thinkers

Authors and Poets

Randell Adjei: A poet.
Lillian Allen: A dub poet.
Ryad Assani-Razaki: A writer.
Edem Awumey: A writer.
Malcolm Azania: A writer and activist.
Jacqueline Beaugé-Rosier: A writer.
Bertrand Bickersteth: A writer.
Shane Book: A writer.
D. M. Bradford: A poet.
Lawrence Ytzhak Braithwaite: A dub poet and novelist.
Dionne Brand: A celebrated author.
Myriam J. A. Chancy: A writer.
David Chariandy: A writer.
Cheril N. Clarke: A writer.
Austin Clarke: A novelist.
George Elliott Clarke: A poet and playwright.
Michèle Pearson Clarke: A writer.
Lucretia Newman Coleman: A writer.
Wayde Compton: A poet.
Afua Cooper: A poet and historian.
Archie Crail: A writer.
Adebe DeRango-Adem: A poet.
Orville Lloyd Douglas: A poet, writer, and journalist.
Amatoritsero Ede: A writer.
Aida Edemariam: A writer.
Esi Edugyan: A talented novelist.
Francesca Ekwuyasi: A writer and artist.
Jonathan Emile: A poet and composer.
Gérard Étienne: A writer.
Cheryl Foggo: A writer.
Cecil Foster: A novelist and sociologist.
Fil Fraser: A writer.
Chantal Gibson: A poet.
Robert Joseph Greene: A writer.
Lawrence Hill: A well-known novelist and memoirist.
Nalo Hopkinson: A science fiction author.
Dionne Irving: A writer.
Richard Iton: An academic and writer.
Aisha Sasha John: A writer.
El Jones: A writer.
Kaie Kellough: A writer.
Dany Laferrière: A writer, elected to the Académie française.
Didier Leclair: A writer.
Canisia Lubrin: A writer.
Yolanda T. Marshall: A children's book author.
Marie-Sœurette Mathieu: A writer.
Robyn Maynard: A writer.
Suzette Mayr: A writer.
Tawiah M'carthy: A writer and actor.
Berend McKenzie: A writer.
Katherine McKittrick: A writer.
Tessa McWatt: A novelist.
Nega Mezlekia: A writer.
Kim Katrin Milan: A writer.
Andrew Moodie: A playwright.
Harrison Mooney: A journalist and memoirist.
Annmarie Morais: A writer.
Dwayne Morgan: A spoken word artist.
Sheila Murray: A writer.
Téa Mutonji: A writer.
Blaise Ndala: A writer.
Cecily Nicholson: A poet.
David Nandi Odhiambo: A writer.
Tolu Oloruntoba: A poet.
Gabriel Osson: A writer.
Kayla Perrin: A writer.
Anthony Phelps: A Haitian-Canadian writer.
M. NourbeSe Philip: A poet, novelist, and essayist.
Althea Prince: A writer.
Zalika Reid-Benta: A writer.
Jael Richardson: A writer.
Rodney Saint-Éloi: A poet.
Liselle Sambury: A writer.
Robert Edison Sandiford: A writer.
Charles R. Saunders: A writer.
Jasmine Sealy: A writer.
Djanet Sears: A playwright.
Olive Senior: A poet and short story writer.
Makeda Silvera: A novelist.
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard: A theatre director and playwright.
Kai Thomas: A writer.
Louise Uwacu: A writer.
Rinaldo Walcott: A professor and Canada Research Chair.
Syrus Marcus Ware: An artist, activist, and professor.
Ken Wiwa: A journalist and author.
Ian Williams: A poet and novelist.
Mary Matilda Winslow: The first Black female graduate of the University of New Brunswick.
D'bi Young: A dub poet.

Community Builders and Activists

People Making a Difference

Bromley Armstrong: A dedicated community activist.
Carrie Best: An activist and humanitarian.
Rosemary Brown: A strong advocate for social change.
Matthew Bullock: A fugitive from the US who became a symbol of freedom in the 1920s.
Alcenya Crowley: An educator and activist.
Buddy Daye: A former boxer and activist in Nova Scotia.
Viola Desmond: A civil rights activist.
Joseph Drummond: A civil rights activist.
Harry Gairey: A community activist.
Kamala-Jean Gopie: An activist and political candidate.
Marlene Green: A community activist, educator, and NGO field worker.
Stanley G. Grizzle: A judge and community activist.
Wilson A. Head: A sociologist and human rights activist.
Penny Hodge: An activist.
Jennifer Hosten: A diplomat and former High Commissioner to Grenada.
Janaya Khan: An activist.
Rocky Jones: A politician and activist.
Lesra Martin: Involved in freeing Rubin Carter, he became a crown attorney and speaker.
Beverly Mascoll: An entrepreneur and community leader.
Howard McCurdy: A Member of Parliament and activist.
Shadrach Minkins: An American-born fugitive slave who settled in Montreal.
Rev. Richard Preston: An anti-slavery activist and founder of the African Baptist Association of Nova Scotia.
Charles Roach: A Canadian civil rights lawyer and activist in the Black community in Toronto.
Ralph Thomas: An activist and former amateur boxer.
Carol Wall: A social activist and labour leader.
Aileen Williams: An activist and founding member of the Canadian Women's Negro Association (CANEWA).
Paul Winn: A human rights activist and former television personality.

Images for kids

Viola Desmond, a civil rights activist and the first Canadian woman on a Canadian banknote.
Donovan Bailey.jpg

Donovan Bailey, an Olympic gold medalist in the 100m sprint.
Jarome Iginla.jpg

Jarome Iginla, a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and Olympic gold medalist.
Alphonso Davies.jpg

Alphonso Davies, a professional footballer for FC Bayern Munich.
Oscar Peterson, one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.
The Weeknd.jpg

The Weeknd, a globally famous R&B singer-songwriter.
Lincoln Alexander, the first Black Member of Parliament in Canada.
Michaëlle Jean.jpg

Michaëlle Jean, former Governor General of Canada.