Key Moments in Canadian Black History
Written by Black Hot Fire Network Team on March 2, 2026
The Government of Canada’s annual Black History Month campaign, since 1996, encourages all Canadians to learn more about Black history in Canada. This month provides an opportunity to reflect on significant events that have shaped Black communities in Canada, events that predate the very name “Canada.”
1600s
The first person of African heritage known to have arrived in what is now Canada was Mathieu Da Costa, who arrived in 1604 with French explorers Pierre Du Gua De Monts and Samuel de Champlain. Da Costa, a multilingual interpreter, facilitated communication with the Mik’maq people. In 1628, Olivier LeJeune was recorded as the first enslaved African to live in New France. Later, in 1689, King Louis XIV of France authorized colonists to enslave Pawnee Native Americans and Africans to address labor shortages.
1700s
Between 1749 and 1782, many people of African descent brought to Nova Scotia were enslaved by English and American settlers. By 1750, approximately 400 enslaved and 17 free Black people resided in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Articles of Capitulation, which ceded New France to Britain in 1760 during the Seven Years’ War, permitted the continuation of enslavement. Despite this, by 1767, 104 free Black people lived in Nova Scotia.
During the War of American Independence (1775-1783), the British offered freedom to enslaved Africans who joined their side. This led to approximately 10% of the United Empire Loyalists arriving in the Maritimes being Black. These Black Loyalists established settlements in Nova Scotia, including Birchtown, Brindley Town, Preston, Southville, and Old Tracadie Road. They faced discrimination, received smaller land plots, and were often expected to work for lower wages. Consequently, around 1,200 Black Loyalists resettled in Sierra Leone in 1790 with the assistance of the Sierra Leone Company.
In 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe introduced An Act to Prevent the further Introduction of Slaves and to limit the Term of Contracts for Servitude in Upper Canada (now Ontario). This act freed enslaved people over 25 and prohibited the importation of enslaved people into Upper Canada. This legislation, along with court decisions in Nova Scotia, contributed to the decline of slavery in Canada and made it a destination for those seeking freedom.
1800s
Historic Black communities were established across Canada throughout the 1800s. Some communities arose due to war, and approximately 30,000 Black people arrived in Canada via the Underground Railroad between 1800 and 1865.
The Act on the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the British Empire received Royal Assent in 1807. During the War of 1812, Black Canadians and their communities often supported the British Empire, with the Coloured Corps participating in the Battle of Queenston Heights. Black veterans received land grants in Oro Township in 1815, though the land’s suitability for agriculture proved challenging. Other communities, such as Amherstburg, Chatham, and Windsor, also grew during this period.
Nova Scotia’s Black communities were also revitalized during and after the War of 1812. Approximately 2,400 Black people from Georgia and the Chesapeake region resettled in Nova Scotia after supporting the British war effort. They established communities with African Baptist churches and organizations like the African Friendly Society and the African Abolition Society.
The Act on the Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire abolished enslavement in most British colonies, including Canada, in 1833.
In the early 1850s, The Voice of the Fugitive (founded in 1851) and The Provincial Freeman (founded in 1853) were established as abolitionist newspapers. The latter was owned and published by Mary Ann Shadd, the first Black woman in North America to publish a newspaper.
In 1858, approximately 400 Black Californian families migrated to Victoria and Salt Spring Island on Vancouver Island, seeking better opportunities.
By 1879, Black communities began immigrating to Alberta from Oklahoma, facing racial oppression in the United States. However, they encountered attempts to restrict Black immigration in Canada.
1900s
In the first half of the 20th century, Black Canadians resisted segregation, leading to the passage of laws in some provinces that promoted fair employment practices and created human rights commissions.
Viola Desmond, a Halifax businesswoman, challenged racial segregation in 1946, paving the way for the Canadian civil rights movement. In 2018, she became the first Black person and the first Canadian woman to be featured on a regularly circulating Canadian banknote.
Willie O’Ree broke the color barrier in the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1958 when he played for the Boston Bruins.
Lincoln Alexander became the first Black Member of Parliament in 1968 and later served as the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991. He will be featured on the $20 bill.
2000s
The 21st century has seen the rise of Black activism and social movements utilizing social media. The United Nations proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) to promote recognition, justice, and development. The Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum in 2020, leading to widespread protests and calls for systemic change.
In 2023, the House of Commons unanimously designated August 1 as Emancipation Day.
Greg Fergus was elected Speaker of the House of Commons in October 2023, and previously co-founded and co-chaired the Parliamentary Black Caucus.
These events reflect ongoing efforts to acknowledge, preserve, and celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians, highlighting the importance of Black History Month in fostering awareness and understanding.
