Notable

Black Canadians
Includes:
- 17 Biography Posters
- 3 Research Templates
- 3 writing templates
- Class Art Project
 Donovan Bailey
Donovan Bailey is an
Olympic medal
winning sprinter;
winning gold at the
1996 games. He held
the world record
for the 100 metre.
He also held the title
of “The World’s
Fastest Man.”
© Teaching in the East
 Carrie Best
Carrie was born in Nova
Scotia. She was arrested
at the Roseland Theatre
for sitting in the whites-
only seating. She also
founded The Clarion, the
first Black owned and
published newspaper. TO
add to her
accomplishments, Carrie
had a successful radio
show.
© Teaching in the East
 Jully Black
Jully is a singer,
songwriter,
actress, and TV
personality. She is
known as Canada’s
Queen of R&B. Jully
is also a Juno
Award-winning
artist.
© Teaching in the East
 Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard

Senator Wanda Thomas

Bernard is a highly
regarded Nova Scotian
educator, social worker,
researcher, and community
activist. She became the
first African Nova Scotian
woman to serve in the
Senate Chamber. She is also
the first African-Canadian
to be promoted as a full
time professor at
Dalhousie University.
© Teaching in the East
 George Elliott Clarke

George Elliott Clarke

is a poet and
playwright, and the
current Canadian
Parliamentary Poet
Laureate. He was
born in Nova Scotia.

© Teaching in the East

 Viola Davis Desmond
Viola Davis Desmond was
an African-Canadian who
ran her own beauty
parlour and beauty
college in Halifax. She was
also arrested at the
Roseland Theatre for
refusing to sit in the
balcony, which was
designated for Blacks.
Instead, she sat on the
ground floor, which was
for Whites only.
© Teaching in the East
 Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean was
born in Haiti in 1957,
and immigrated to
Canada in 1968. On
September 27, 2005,
Michaëlle Jean
became the 27th
Governor General
and Commander-in-
Chief of Canada.
© Teaching in the East
 Josiah Henson
Josiah Henson was born
into slavery in 1789 in
Maryland. He was sold
three times before he
was 18 years old. He
ended up escaping with
his wife and four children
to Canada. He then
formed a community
where he taught other
formerly slaves how to
be successful farmers.
© Teaching in the East
 Ferguson Arthur Jenkins

Ferguson Arthur
Jenkins was born
on December 13,
1942, in Ontario. He is
considered to be
one of the most
talented pitchers to
ever play baseball.

© Teaching in the East

 Elijah McCoy
Elijah McCoy was
born in Ontario to
parents who
escaped slavery.
He invented and
patented the
portable ironing
board. He held more
than 50 patents.
© Teaching in the East
 Willie O’Ree
Willie O’Ree is from
New Brunswick. He
became the first
Black player in
the NHL. He played
for the Boston
Bruins and was
known for his speed
and checking
abilities.
© Teaching in the East
 Portia White
Portia White was
from Halifax. She was
a professional opera
singer. Portia White
went on to have
international success,
performing more than
100 concerts, including
a performance
before Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II.
© Teaching in the East
 Rose Fortune
Rose Fortune relocated to
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
after escaping slavery.
Rose then developed a
business transporting
luggage from the ferry
docks to hotels and homes.
Over time, she became
known as the first female
police officer in Canada – an
unofficial title she earned
by keeping order and
guarding property at the
town’s wharves.
© Teaching in the East
 Devon Clunis

Devon Clunis moved

to Winnipeg from
Jamaica at age 12. In
November 2012, he
became the first
Black Chief of
Police in Canada.

© Teaching in the East

 George Dixon
George Dixon was born
in Africville, Nova Scotia.
George was a
Canadian professional
boxer. He became the
first ever black athlete
to win a World
Championship in any
sport. He was also the
first Canadian-born
boxing champion.
© Teaching in the East
 Daurene Elaine Lewis
Daurene Elaine
Lewis was born in
1943. She was
a Canadian politician
and educator. She
was the first black
female mayor in
Canada, when
elected mayor of
Annapolis Royal.
© Teaching in the East
 Rocky Johnson
Rocky Johnson was a
Canadian professional
wrestler. He won
the World Tag Team
Championship with his
partner, to become the
first black champions
in WWE history. He was
also the father of actor
and former WWE
wrestler Dwayne “The
Rock” Johnson.
© Teaching in the East
 Biography of:
Pick a notable Black Canadian to research.

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© Teaching in the East
 Making a Difference
Map and label where notable Black Canadians made a difference across Canada.

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 Timeline of:
Complete the timeline below of a notable Black Canadian, highlighting important events and
accomplishments.

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 A letter to:
Write a letter to a notable Black Canadian. What would you say? What would you ask?

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© Teaching in the East
 Change Maker:
Explain how this person made a difference.

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© Teaching in the East
 Show Your Understanding!
In the space below, share your understanding of what you’ve learned
using pictures, words, and drawings.

© Teaching in the East

 Symbol Quilt:A Class Project
Pick a notable
Black
Canadian.
Design the
square with
pictures,
words, and
designs that
represents
and
symbolizes
that person.
Cut out the
square and
combine with
others to
create a quilt.

© Teaching in the East