Celebrating 5 Amazing Black Women Making History Today

Every February we celebrate Black History Month, a month to honour and remember Black civil rights leaders, artists, politicians, athletes, and more who have made significant contributions to Canada’s history. A month to unify Canadians by educating ourselves about our past, continuing to break down misconceptions and stereotypes, and by celebrating Black history that is being made today!

The 2022 theme for Black History Month is: February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day. A theme aiming to raise awareness and recognize the daily contributions that Black Canadians make to Canada. In keeping with the theme, we’ve decided to celebrate Black History Month by showcasing 5 Canadian Black women, whose accomplishments are making history today and taking us leaps forward in our mission of dismantling systemic racism. So, without further adieu…

Jean Augustine

We wouldn’t be able to start a list of powerful Black Canadian women without the Honourable Jean Augustine, who is the reason we recognize February as Black History Month in Canada! Dr. Augustine immigrated to Canada in 1960. In 1971, her capacities and work ethics were recognized by political leaders and she was appointed Canada's Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, making her the first Black woman in Cabinet. In 1993, she went on to become the first Black woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons, where she successfully advocated to acknowledge February as Black History Month in 1993! While she’s retired from her political career, her impact continues to be felt through the multiple scholarship funds she supports for single mothers pursing post-secondary education and with her work at the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment.

Eugenia Duodu Addy

The importance of scientists, their work, and scientific communication is increasingly apparent in today’s day and age. As CEO of Visions of Science, Dr. Eugenia Duodu Addy is using her education and experience in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to encourage and pave the way for future Black students in STEM! Throughout her undergraduate and doctorate program, she noticed the lack of credit given to Black people for their impactful contributions, the lack of representation in her classes, and experienced firsthand the barrier that racism poses for Black people in STEM.  Dr. Addy became determined to make a change, provide a safe space and create opportunities for Black students in STEM, and she does just that through her work with Visions of Science, providing support for over 1500 students in often overlooked neighborhoods.

Kayla Grey

Kayla Grey is an award-winning journalist who is making history as the first Black woman to anchor a national sports show in Canada! She made her debut on TSN’s SPORTCENTRE in 2018 hosting a flagship sports-highlight show.  She has made numerous appearances on other TV shows as well, including; The Social, The Marilyn Dennis Show, ETalk, and CP24 Breakfast. Providing the much-needed representation in the media while validating and fueling the dreams of thousands of young girls watching her surpass expectations and break down barriers.

Cheryl Thompson

Dr. Cheryl Thompson is an Assistant Professor at X University and accomplished author whose interests and passion to learn about Black history in Canada led to the publication of her first book; Beauty in a Box: Detangling the Roots of Canada’s Black Beauty Culture. Her first book analyzes media materials to see their role in the culture development and the politics of Black women’s hair. Last year she published her second book; Uncle: Race, Nostalgia, and the Cultural Politics of Loyalty, examining the historical morphing of “Uncle Tom” from literary character to racial metaphor. She’s now working on her third book about Canada’s history of blackface as performance and anti-Black racism. Dr. Thompson continues to use her skills and abilities to raise awareness on Black history and to tell the stories that need to be heard.

Catherine Addai

Catherine Addai is a self-taught fashion designer, CEO and lead stylist of Toronto-based clothing label, Kaela Kay! After 10 years working in the health industry, Addai made the switch to entrepreneurship when her mother gave her a sewing machine and she created a few pieces for herself and some friends. That’s how Kaela Kay started out! Kaela Kay clothes are African-inspired fashionwear, described as ‘modern, eclectic, classy and sometimes with a sexy flare’.  She’s inspired by her Ghanaian roots and creates clothes with prints native to Ghana, fashioned to modern North American attire. She uses her platform to uplift women and has built a team of #bossbabes working for Kaela Kay!

Five amazing Black women! Did we mention, all these women have achieved their successes and are making a change right here, in Toronto? With powerful AND empowering women like these five breaking down barriers and forging new paths right here in our city, the potential for women is limitless!