skip to content

September Black Canadian Calendar

  • ​Known for: Farmer; food justice advocate
  • Notable facts: Co-founded the Afri-Can Foodbasket on Sept. 1, 1995; executive director of Afri-Can Foodbasket. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2
Sept1BCC_AnanLololi-(1).png
 
  • ​Known for: Singer; songwriter
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 3, 1970; date of death: Nov. 22, 2009; lead singer for the band Jacksoul. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference
For hands on educator resources, go to shopETFO.

Download the 365 Black Canadian Curriculum
  • ​Known for: Varnish manufacturer; alderman
  • Notable facts: On Sept. 5, 1883, James Dunn filed a lawsuit against the school board to allow his daughter to attend the white segregated high school; his case was unsuccessful. He was the first Black alderman in Windsor, elected in 1887. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Politician; teacher; principal
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: 1937; Ontario NDP member of provincial parliament (MPP) from Sept. 6, 1990 to Aug. 31, 1994; the first Black woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the first Black woman to serve as a cabinet minister in Canada. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Manager; founding member
  • Notable facts: Manager of Continuing Education, St. Clair College, Windsor Campus; founding member and former president of the Essex County Black Historical Society; recipient of the ERCA John R. Park Homestead Award for Conservation 2016; recipient of the Literary Arts Leadership Award at the 2016 Windsor Endowment for the Arts. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Minister
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 8, 1908; date of death: Jul. 25, 1998; first ordained Black woman minister in Canada. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Veterinarian; owner of Elrose Hooves and Paws
  • Notable facts: Elected first Black president of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association on Sept. 9, 2016. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Politican; city councillor
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 10, 1980; first Black city councillor in Hamilton (Ward 3); elected Oct. 27, 2014. 
  • Link to photo​
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​​Known for: Musician; jazz pianist; organist; composer; arranger
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 11, 1934; received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 2005; in 1994 Jones was bestowed the National Order of Quebec, with rank of Chevalier (Knight).
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Politician;​ lawyer
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Oct. 23, 1923; the first African-Canadian elected to the provincial legislature as the Liberal member for Etobicoke, Ontario on Sept. 12, 1963; in 1999 he was the first Black lawyer elected to be a member of the Governing Council of the Law Society of Upper Canada. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Politician; member of the legislative assembly (MLA)
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 14, 1958; elected Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and Chair of Committees (May 23, 2012). 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • Known for: Construction Batallion during the First World War
  • Notable facts: No. 2 Construction Batallion was formed on Jul. 5, 1916 and officially disbanded on Sept. 15, 1920. A segregated all-Black unit of the Canadian military which served in WWI; honoured with a Canada Post Black History commemorative stamp in 2016. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Military officer
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 16, 1923; date of death: Aug. 19, 2016; promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1976, the first Canadian of African descent to receive such an appointment. Lt. Col. Jacobs headed the social works department for the entire Canadian military worldwide. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2
  • Known for: Protecting, preserving and promoting the history and culture of African Nova Scotians
  • Notable facts: On Sept. 17, 1983, the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia celebrated its official opening. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Boxer
  • Notable facts: Won the Middleweight Championship on Sept. 18, 1967; member of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Biologist; researcher
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 19, 1964; Dr. Daniel operates a lab where she focuses on cell, molecular and cancer biology. Her research has contributed greatly towards developing treatment for malignant tumours; honoured at the John C. Holland Gala Awards in 2005 for her professional achievements. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Professor
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 20, 1965; appointed Director of Women and Gender Studies Institute at the University of Toronto on Jul. 1, 2014. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Writer; journalist; cultural analyst
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 22, 1982; freelance writer; journalist; cultural analyst who has written for The National PostNow TorontoHuffington Post CanadaThe Ottawa Citizen and The Globe and Mail
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Professional football player; coach
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 23, 1929; date of death: Feb. 23, 2017; became Canadian Football League's first Black quarterback on Aug. 29, 1951 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Musician
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 24, 1933; date of death: Oct. 11, 2008; legendary North American jazz artist.
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Farmer; cowboy
  • Notable facts: Date of death: Sept. 13, 1905; John Ware arrived in Alberta on Sept. 25, 1882. Several places in southern Alberta are named after him including Mount Ware, Ware Creek and John Ware Ridge. Calgary is home to John Ware Junior High and at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, the John Ware Building houses the Four Nines Cafeteria. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Registered nurse
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 26, 1926; first Black graduate of the St. Joseph Hospital's Nursing School in Guelph in 1950. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Governor General
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 6, 1957; The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean was sworn in as Governor General on Sept. 27, 2005, becoming Canada's first Black Governor General. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Actor; teacher; lecturer
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 28, 1864; date of death: Mar. 14, 1935; born in London, Ontario; the son of formerly enslaved parents who escaped to Canada; gained role in the show The Green Pastures in 1929; received the NAACP's 1930 Spingarn Medal for Distinguished Achievement; in 2003 a park was named after him in London, Ontario. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2
  • ​Known for: Report
  • Notable facts: A report and practice framework, developed to improve outcomes for African Canadian children and families who come into contact with the child welfare system was launched.
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1, Reference 2
  • Known for: Athlete
  • Notable facts: Date of birth: Sept. 30, 1940; date of death: Dec. 7, 1982; ran the hundred metres in 10.0 seconds (hand timed) and became the first Canadian to officially hold a world track record; the Harry Jerome Awards were established in 1983. 
  • Link to photo
  • Reference 1Reference 2