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February Black Canadian Calendar

  • Known for: Businessman; cabman; saloon operator; livery stable and stagecoach operator
  • Notable facts: Date of death: Feb. 1, 1873; George was born in Kingston, Ontario to enslaved parents Mink and Nancy Mink. He received government contracts to carry mail on one of his stagecoach routes as well as to transport people. George and his brother James (born c. 1792-Sept. 13, 1868) won contracts to transport prisoners between the Kingston Penitentiary and the Don Jail. Mink’s Bridge on County Road 1 east of Napanee is named for the family, who lived nearby.
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  • ​Known for: Sports journalist
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 2, 1955; date of death: Aug. 10, 2016; worked for ESPN and ABC for over 30 years.
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  • ​Known for: Art; Black Future Month 3016: 4th Annual Afrofuturism Art Exhibition
  • Notable facts: Event was part of the annual Black History Month Program at OCAD University. The Black Future Month 3016 Art Exhibition was the longest consecutive annual Black art exhibit in Toronto. The overarching theme of the 4th Annual Afrofuturism Art Exhibition was exploring the infinite ways of beings in the far-off distant future as envisioned by Black people over the spectrum of a thousand years from 2016.
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  • Reference 1, Reference 2
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  • ​Known for: Business owner
  • Notable facts: Date of death: Feb. 6, 1895; escaped Kentucky on Jul. 3, 1831; started Toronto's first taxicab company with spouse Thornton Blackburn.
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  • ​Known for: Jazz and soul music vocalist​
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 7, 1975​; her album Nina won a Juno Award in 2011 for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
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  • ​Known for: Professional soccer player 
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 9, 1990; first graduate of Toronto FC Academy to play for the Canadian National Team. 
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  • ​Known for: Mother and son enslaved in Toronto by Peter and Elizabeth Russell
  • Notable facts: Peggy and Jupiter were advertised for sale Feb. 10, 1806; owned by Peter Russell, the administrator of Upper Canada.
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  • Reference 1, Reference 2
For hands on educator resources, go to shopETFO.

Download the 365 Black Canadian Curriculum
  • ​Known for: Business owner
  • Notable facts: Opened business, T by Daniel tea bar on Feb. 13, 2014; served tea to Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at an undisclosed location in Ontario on Jun. 30, 2017. 
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  • Reference 1, Reference 2
For hands on educator resources, go to shopETFO.

Download the 365 Black Canadian Curriculum
  • ​Known for: Singer; songwriter; record producer
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 16, 1990; winner of two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album. 
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  • ​Known for: Airman 
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 17, 1909; first Black airman, enlisted Jun. 11, 1936. 
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  • ​Known for: Lieutenant Governor
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 18, 1946; appointed Nova Scotia's 31​st Lieutenant Governor (Sept. 7, 2007-Apr. 12, 2012).
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  • ​Known for: Boxing
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 19, 1928; Date of death: Dec. 13, 1996; Canada’s Heavyweight Boxing Champion (Jun. 14, 1952 - Nov. 2, 1955); inducted into Canada’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 1978. 
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  • Reference​ 1, Reference 2
For hands on educator resources, go to shopETFO.

Download the 365 Black Canadian Curriculum
For hands on educator resources, go to shopETFO.

Download the 365 Black Canadian Curriculum
  • ​Known for: Barber; musician
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 22, 1909; date of death: 1991.
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  • Known for: Miltary officer
  • Notable facts: Date of death: Feb. 24, 2013; retired as a Major in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was Canada’s first Black jet fighter pilot and an A1 flying instructor. Peters was the Canadian Armed Forces’ first human rights officer and an adviser to the United Nations.
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  • ​Known for: Steel pan musician; composer; arts educator
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 25; an Ontario Arts Council artist in residence.
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  • ​Known for: Business owner
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: ​1812; date of death: Feb. 26, 1890; escaped Kentucky with his wife Lucie Blackburn on Jul. 3, 1831; operated Toronto's first taxi company called "The City."
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  • ​Known for: Politician
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Feb. 27, 1943; elected Jun. 2, 1997; was the first Black Member of Parliament elected from Nova Scotia.
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  • Known for: Police officer
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: 1907; date of death: Feb. 28, 1989; in Sept. 1942, Parker became the first Black constable to be employed by the Windsor Police Department. In Jul. 1951, Parker became the first African Canadian to achieve the rank of detective in Canada.​
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