Racial separate schools (Canada) facts for kids
Racial separate schools existed in some provinces of Canada from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. They were established by statute and did not have constitutional status.
Indigenous peoples
The federal government adopted a policy of mandatory education of First Nations children, by amendments to the Indian Act in 1894. This resulted in the system of residential schools.
British Columbia
In 1914, the Vancouver City Council adopted a resolution which required children of Chinese descent to be barred from public schools.
In July 1922, the Victoria School District passed a motion extending the segregation of Chinese students (previously in effect until grade 4) all the way to grade 7. This prompted a year-long school strike by the Chinese community of Victoria.
New Brunswick
In 1842 and 1843 in New Brunswick, provincial legislation was enacted to recognise Black schools, as a means to segregate Black and white students.
Nova Scotia
From 1836 in Nova Scotia, provincial legislation allowed for the establishment of separate schools for "Blacks or People of Colour". In 1870, the Halifax City Council enacted a by-law to exclude students of African descent from the common schools in the city. Black students continued to be barred from attending the public school in Halifax County until the 1960s, and as late as 1959 school buses would not stop to pick up students in Black neighbourhoods. By 1960, there would still be seven formal Black school districts and three additional exclusively Black schools in Nova Scotia. The last Black schools in Nova Scotia closed in 1983.
Ontario
From 1850 in Upper Canada in the Province of Canada, provision was made for the establishment of separate schools for the black community. In 1886, Ontario clarified its law, so that such establishment could only occur after an application had been made by at least five Black families in the community.
In Ontario, separate schools for Black students continued until 1891 in Chatham, 1893 in Sandwich, 1907 in Harrow, 1917 in Amherstburg, and 1965 in North Colchester and Essex. The laws in Ontario governing black separate schools were not repealed until the mid-1960s, and the last segregated schools to close were in Merlin, Ontario in 1965.
See also
- Racism in Canada
