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Lincoln Alexander Day

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Published: Thursday, 21 January 2021 08:44

Earlier this week, we shared messaging about Martin Luther King Jr Day – a holiday in the United States, celebrating the life and impact of Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, January 21, in Canada is Lincoln Alexander Day.

Lincoln Alexander became the first black Member of Parliament in Canada when he was elected in 1968 (he went on to serve for twelve years!).
He became Canada’s first Black Cabinet Minister, upon his appointment as the federal Minister of Labour (1979-1980) and he topped these remarkable achievements by becoming Canada’s first Black Lieutenant Governor when he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1985-1991).

Alexander went on to hold many important positions outside of his political career, including being the first chairman of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

“[The General] said, ‘. . . you have got a hell of a job because [racism] is all over the place.’ And he is right. But because it is all over the place doesn’t give you the right to sit back and say, ‘well, we can’t try to eradicate it, lessen it.’ I think we have to be in the forefront, and let these people know that it is evil, it is terrible.”

You can learn more about Lincoln Alexander here: https://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/.../25280-canada-1-150-lincoln...

Black Lives Matter.