Notable facts: Dec. 2 is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery; Black slaves were freed in Canada as a result of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 (Aug. 28, 1833), which took effect Aug. 1, 1834.
Notable facts: On Dec. 4, 1950, the Central Citizens' Association for the Advancement of Coloured People was established in Windsor by Lyle Browning, Walter Perry, Charles Nall and Alton Parker. The community organization advocated for the hiring of Blacks in city jobs, fought against racial discrimination in housing and public facilities and fostered collectivity in the Black community.
Notable facts: On Dec. 5, 1995, the House of Commons passed a resolution by MP Jean Augustine to declare February, Black History Month in Canada; promoted by the Ontario Black History Society and other organizations and individuals, the first Black History Month in Canada was declared on Feb. 1, 1996.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 6, 1928; date of death: Aug. 19, 2016; founder of Tilda's Tropical Delights, the first Black-owned business in Hamilton Farmers' Market; in 2002, Miss Tilly was awarded an honorary doctorate from McMaster University. In 2006, she was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction "for her role as a community leader and successful entrepreneur." In 1997, Miss Tilly started a scholarship fund to provide financial support to students attending post-secondary education at McMaster and in Jamaica.
Notable facts: Date of death: Dec. 9, 2001; one of the first Black pilots in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). He served during World War II and flew on operations with the RCAF in Europe in an integrated front line squadron, the first Black airman to do so.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 10, 1932; retired university science professor; politician and civil rights activist; the first African-Canadian Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party; Order of Ontario Recipient; Order of Canada recipient.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 11, 1992; debuted in Major League Baseball in 2014 with the Toronto Blue Jays, the sixth Ontario-born Blue Jays player.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 13, 1923; date of death: 2005; first Black surgeon in Canada. He was an accomplished pianist, scholar, athlete and sculptor.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 15, 1929; date of death: 1998; football player; politician. Elected Speaker of the Legislature in 1994 (first Black to hold this position).
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 16, 1993; cast to play two historical African Americans- civil rights activist John Lewis and Olympian Jesse Owens; nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the Canadian Screen Awards in 2012.
Known for: judge, first Black Chief Justice of Ontario
Notable facts: appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario in 2003, elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2012, appointed as Chief Justice of Ontario on December 19, 2022.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 20; the first and only Black female career firefighter with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service (hired May 2009).
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 21, 1942; date of death: Jan. 1, 2000; Calgary Transportation Director; architect of Calgary's first C LRT train, the Oliver Bowen; the maintenance facility building is named after him.
Notable facts: Date of birth: 1928; date of death: Jul. 16, 2011; on Dec. 23, 1991, he was the first Black appointed as Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 26, 1923; played with the Harlem Globetrotters; inducted into the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 1981; inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 28; first recipient of the Peel Elementary Occasional Teacher Local (PEOT) Outstanding Achievement Award for her work in developing curriculum that gives voice to the African Canadian experience. On Nov. 1, 2017, at a meeting held in Toronto, she was elected president of the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS).
Notable facts: Date of birth: Dec. 29, 1959; Ottey was the number one ranked high jumper in the world in 1982 and the twenty three times indoor and outdoor national champion in the men's high jump event. Ottey is now the owner and director of OT Fitness Educational Services Inc. in Scarborough.
