February marks Black History Month! It’s a time to recognize the accomplishments of Black Canadians, past and present. So, to celebrate, we’re highlighting a few extraordinary Black Canadians who have made a positive impact in Canada and around the world.
Glenn Copeland
Glenn Copeland (who professionally goes by his given name, Beverly Glenn-Copeland) is an influential singer, composer and transgender activist. Born in Philadelphia, Copeland moved to Montreal in 1961 to study classical music at McGill University.
As one of the first Black students at the university and one of the few (possibly only) openly queer students at the time, he faced isolation and discrimination. The Assistant Dean of Women (this was before he came out as a trans man) targeted him directly, attempting to have him expelled. Eventually, for his own well-being, he left the university.
He made a career for himself in television, appearing as a regular on Mr. Dressup and working on Sesame Street as a writer. In 1986, Copeland released Keyboard Fantasies, an electronic new age album which only sold about 200 copies but is now considered a classic.
Today, his albums have been discovered by new generations of music lovers. This resurgence allowed him to embark on his first world tour at the age of 74 in 2018. He has continued to release new music and tour and was the subject of the documentaries Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story and the upcoming See You Tomorrow.
Image from Them article, Beverly Glenn-Copeland Is Ever New
Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow is a model, inclusive beauty activist and founder of Cay Skin, a skincare company that focuses on products for all skin tones. As someone with the autoimmune disorder and skin condition, vitiligo, she’s passionate about self-acceptance and inclusivity and has made a positive impact in fashion and beauty.
The idea for her skincare company was inspired by a traumatic photoshoot in the Bahamas. The crew, wanting to avoid the white cast left by sunscreen, told her to skip reapplication. She did, resulting in a severe sunburn that permanently altered the pattern of her vitiligo.
Harlow decided to create the products she needed but couldn’t find— products that would have protected her on that shoot. She started with a sunscreen, using gentle ingredients that would protect her skin without leaving a white cast. She raised over $6.5 million in funds to start her company, becoming one of 100 Black women at that time to have raised over $1 million in venture capital funds.
In 2023, she received the Global Citizen Award from The United Nations Association in Canada. The award recognizes individuals who have “demonstrated generosity, creativity, and leadership, applying their talents to address challenges within their local communities, across the country, and around the world.”
Images from Cay Skin Website
Aurora James
Aurora James is an activist, author and fashion designer based in Toronto. She is also the founder of the nonprofit, Fifteen Percent Pledge.
15% of the US population is black and James wanted to see that represented on retail shelves. She invites businesses (including Nordstrom, Macy’s and Vogue) to take the pledge – dedicating at least 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands.
Companies aren’t the only ones who can participate. Your spending power has the potential to make a positive difference. By taking your own pledge and reviewing your current spending, you can redirect 15% of your monthly budget to Black-owned businesses.
Fifteen Percent Pledge also offers grants and awards for Black entrepreneurs and has a directory of Black–owned businesses.
Fil Fraser
Fil Fraser got his start in broadcasting with his high school’s radio station. That first job led to storied career for the groundbreaking Black Canadian broadcaster.
After landing his first formal broadcasting role at CKFH in Toronto in 1951 he went on to become the program director of Canada’s first on-air educational television station, the co-anchor of CBC Edmonton’s supper hour news and public affairs program and eventually the host of his own show (The Fil Fraser Show on ITV Television).
In addition to his television career, he worked in PR, held governmental roles, founded the Regina Weekly Mirror newspaper, started his own production company, wrote several books and taught at multiple universities.
Fraser also served on the board of many organizations and as Chief Commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the director and vice-chair of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights in Edmonton.
In 1990, he was appointed to the Order of Canada for his services to broadcasting and was awarded an Honorary D. Litt. degree by the University of Alberta in 2008.
Addena Sumter-Freitag
Addena Sumter-Freitag is an award-winning storyteller, poet, actor and playwright. She draws from her experience growing up as a 7th generation African-Canadian in the North End of Winnipeg as a backdrop for her work.
Her one-woman play, Stay Black & Die, centres on the main character Penny as she experiences racism and sexism in 1950s and 1960s Winnipeg. The play won Best Production at the Montreal Fringe Festival and was later published by Commodore Books.
Sumter-Freitag’s book, Back in the Days, is a collection of poetry and stories that capture her childhood. Atef Laouyene described it as “a riveting, multi-voiced, and multi-generational family portrait, one that mirrors the collective lived experiences of racialized Black minorities both in the US and in Canada.”
Outside of her literary work, she spent 12 years living in the Northwest Territories as a community development worker and served for four years as a board member for Status of Women Canada.
Images from Wattle and Daub Books and Addena Sumter-Freitag’s online shop
Beyond Black History Month
While it’s important to celebrate the accomplishments of Black Canadians during Black History Month, we also encourage you to spend some time year-round learning about even more Black changemakers and trailblazers.
A great way to learn about these stories and understand the history of Black communities is to check out CBC Gem’s Black Stories Collection (for free with commercials!). It’s full of documentaries, TV shows, movies and short films that celebrate Black communities.
By understanding the lived experiences of Black communities and the barriers they have and continue to experience, we can unlearn racist thoughts and behaviours and disrupt racism when we encounter it.
