Black History: Ligoure & Peterson

Dr. Clement Ligoure

• First black doctor in Nova Scotia.
• Provided medical assistance after the Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917.
• He worked tirelessly and was the only doctor in the district.
• He treated those turned away from the hospital and those scattered around the area.
• He worked day and night, even through a blizzard.
• After four days, he obtained two nurses to assist him, and later, eight more nurses.
• He treated over 51 cases related to the explosion and its aftermath.
• Never charged anyone for his services and consistently did relief work.
• He only got ½ hours sleep
• Hundreds were treated for free due to his efforts following the explosion.
• Born in 1887 and passed away in 1922.

Oscar Peterson

• Canada’s renowned jazz prodigy.
• Born in the 1960s in Little Burgundy, also known as Harlem North.
• Little Burgundy had a significant Black community due to factors like prohibition, the Great Depression, racism, and unemployment.
• Many were promised work on railroads.
• Work as railway porters for the Canadian Pacific Railway was a respected job at the time, but meant extended periods away from family.
• Jazz gained popularity in Montreal due to prohibition in the U.S., as Montreal became a hub for nightlife.
• He came from a musically gifted family.
• Faced discrimination while playing in traditionally white-only clubs, despite his talent.
• Business owners had the right to refuse service, leading to discrimination.
• Black people were welcomed in schools, jazz clubs, and churches in Montreal.
• Sister Daisy Sweeney served as his first piano teacher and mentored other jazz musicians.
• Sweeney was involved in the United Union Church and taught music at the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
• The NCC offered a racism-free space for Black people for social, recreational, and educational activities.
• Lil Burgundy clubs struggled to obtain permits despite jazz's popularity.
• Rockhead's Paradise hosted jazz legends and provided a platform for emerging musicians like Oscar Peterson during the 1930s-1950s.
• The jazz legacy remains in Little Burgundy through street names, parks, and murals.

Henry and Mary Bibb

• Henry Bibb was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1815; his parents were Mildred Jackson and Senator John Bibb.
• He escaped to Detroit in 1840 and became an anti-slavery orator and writer.
• Mary Bibb, born in 1820, was raised by free Black parents in a Quaker community in Rhode Island.
• She graduated from Massachusetts State Normal School in 1843 and became a teacher.
• They married in Ohio in 1848 after meeting at an abolitionist meeting in NYC in 1847
• Henry published his autobiography, ‘Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave,’ in 1849.
• The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 led them to move to Sandwich (Windsor).
• They founded a school for Black children, where Mary taught.
• They launched a newspaper called “Voice of the Fugitive,” the first in Ontario published by people of African descent.
• They supported freedom seekers with food, clothing, housing, and job assistance.
• They played a key role in the Refugee Home Society, which aided former slaves in buying homes, land, or farms in Essex County.
• Henry lived from 1815-1854, and Mary lived from 1820-1877.

Donald H. Oliver

• Born on November 16, 1938, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
• Son of Clifford and Helena Oliver.
• Graduated from Wolfville High School, Acadia University, and Dalhousie Law School.
• Awarded five honorary Doctor of Civil Law degrees from Canadian universities.
• Practiced law for 23 years
• Taught at three universities.
• Appointed to the Senate of Canada on September 7, 1990.
• Brian Mulroney noted that Oliver was the first Black man appointed to the Senate of Canada who would champion equality.
• Served as chair of six standing committees in the Senate and was unanimously elected Speaker Pro Tempore.
• Served over 25 years in charitable communities, as President and Chair for organizations such as the Children's Aid Society.
• Actively contributed to the arts, including chairing the Neptune Theatre and serving on the Board of the Art Gallery of NS.
• Honorary life director of both organizations.
• Worked to break down barriers of anti-Black systemic racism in Canadian institutions for over 50 years.
• Received the Governor General’s Commemorative Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals, and the Canada 150 Medal.
• Awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia.
• Married to Linda (née MacLellan), with one daughter.
• Enjoys reading, travel, golf, skiing, gardening, and entertaining.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary

• First woman and first Black woman to own and operate a newspaper in North America.
• Eventually attended Howard University in her 60s, after initially being denied due to its all-Black male status.
• Sued the university for sexism after earning her degree.
• Organized the Colored Women's Progressive Franchise Org to help Black women invest and become financially independent.

Olivier Le Jeune

• Designated as a National Historic Person in 2022
• First documented person of African descent to permanently reside in Canada.
• His life provides insight into the experiences of enslaved people.
• Born on the coast of Guinea or Madagascar and sold into slavery as a child.
• Arrived in Quebec City during the English occupation (1629-1632).
• Sold again and later given to Guillaume Couillard.
• Learned French from Jesuit Paul le Jeune and was baptized a Catholic in 1633.
• Enslavement and baptism played a role in severing ties with his African identity.
• He was reduced to personal property.
• Baptism contributed to the dehumanization, stripping enslaved people of their identities and connections to African communities.
• Transported to Europe before being given to one of the Kirke Brothers.
• Sold for 50 ecus to Le Baillif, a French clerk working for the English, between 1629-32.
• Given to Guillaume Couillard de Lespinay when the English returned Quebec to France in July 1632.
• His story highlights the plurality of the past from the beginnings of the French colony.
• Acknowledging Olivier Le Jeune underscores that slavery existed in Canada for almost 200 years.
• He was afraid he would lose his identity if he was baptized
• Baptized as Olivier on May 14, 1633, named after Olivier le Tardif.
• Accused of slander in 1638 for alleging that Nicolas de Saint-Aignan Marsolet received a letter from Le Baillif, considered a traitor.
• Found guilty of slander, sentenced to 24 hours in iron chains, and required to seek Marsolet's forgiveness.
• Died on May 10, 1654, in his thirties; burial record notes him as a servant.

Robert Nathaniel Dett

• Born on October 11, 1882, in Drummondville (Niagara), Ontario; died on October 2, 1943, in Battle Creek, Michigan.
• Canadian-born pianist, composer, music director, and writer.
• Dedicated to promoting African music in the U.S.
• Incorporated African American spirituals into his works.
• Influenced by his grandmother's singing of spirituals.
• His family moved to Niagra Falls, New York in 1893
• His mother taught him passages from the bible and poems by william shakespeare and alfred lord tenson
• Started playing piano at an early age and played in hotels and clubs to pay for teachers.
• Attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio (1903-1908) and continued studies in other schools.
• Taught at African American colleges before becoming music director at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Virginia in 1913.
• Founded the Hampton Choir, which performed concerts, made recordings, played at the White House, and toured Europe in 1930.
• Composed choral works such as "Listen to the Lamb" (1914) and "Gently Lord, O Gently Lead Us" (1924).
• He left the institute in 1932.
• Published his first work, "After the Cake Walk," in 1900.
• Best known piano pieces include "Magnolia" (1912) and "In the Bottoms" (1913).
• His last piano suite, "Eight Piano Vignettes," was completed between 1941-1943.
• Published poetry, "The Album of a Heart" (1911), and edited "Religious Folk Songs of the Negro" (1927) and "The Dett Collection of Negro Spirituals" (1936).
• Served as music director of the United Service Organizations (USO).

Kadeisha Buchanan

• Soccer player.
• Played in Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020, Rio 2016, and Toronto 2015.
• Born on November 5, 1995, in Toronto; hometown is Brampton.
• Played 600 minutes to lead the team as Canada won gold at Tokyo 2020.
• Played well in defense at her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 to win a bronze medal.
• Coached John Herdman called her the "Christine Sinclair of Defense" before the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
• Named 2013-2014 Canadian U20 Player of the Year and helped Canada to quarterfinal berth at 2014 FIFA U20 World Cup.
• Won the FIFA Women's World Cup Young Player Award in 2015 as Canada advanced to quarterfinals on Canadian soil.
• Helped Canada to fourth place victory at the Pam Am games in Toronto that summer
• Nominated for the FIFA Ballon D’or.
• Named Canadian Female Player of the Year in 2015, ending Sinclair's 11-year run. And again in 2017 and 2020.
• Scored her 3rd senior international goal in 2016, helping Canada finish second at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier.
• She also scored her first international goal at the 20219 FIFA Womens World Cup which was the game winner in their 1-0 victory against cameroon
• At her third World Cup in 2023, Canada failed to advanced past the group stage
• Represented Canada many times after earning her senior cap in 2013.
• Named tournament's top player at the 2016 Algarve Cup and helped Canada win silver and bronze in 2017 and 2019.
• In 2024 she helped in canada’s runner up finish at the SheBelieves Cup
• Played for West Virginia University.
• Most decorated player in school soccer history.
• Won the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy as the top college soccer player.
• Led the Mountaineers to the Big 12 Championship and the NCAA final, where she was awarded tournament defensive MVP.
• Named Big 12 Athlete of the Year and nominated for a 2017 ESPY Award as the best female college athlete.
• Turned pro in 2016, joining French club Olympique Lyon.
• Helped Lyon to 4 consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2017-2020) and a fifth in 2022.
• Won 1 Feminine League Title and 3 Coupes de France.
• Moved to Chelsea in the English Super League in 2022.
• She grew up competing in soccer, basketball, volleyball, track and field
• Graduated with a degree in criminology.
• Enjoys watching TV and is affiliated with Common Goal.
• Her nickname is Kiesha

Angela James

• Born on December 22, 1964, in Toronto.
• The "Wayne Gretzky of women's hockey."
• Dominant force in women’s hockey during the 1980s-90s.
• Led the team to 4 championships in 1990,1992.1994,1997
• One of the first three women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• One of the first openly gay players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and also the 2nd black player after Grant Fuhr.
• Appointed to the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021 and made an officer in 2022.
• Grew up in poverty with her single mother in Flemingdon Park, Toronto.
• Suffered from insults and racism.
• Became the first superstar of modern women's hockey.
• Played road hockey with boys due to a lack of girls' ice hockey teams.
• Joined a boys' house league at age 8 after her mother threatened to sue.
• Became the league's top scorer but was later excluded due to being a girl only.
• Joined a girls' hockey program in Don Mills.
• Started playing senior women's hockey with the Newtonbrook Saints at 13.
• Led her team to college championships at Seneca College and was the leading scorer in the league for three seasons.
• Scored 50 goals while playing defense in the 1984-85 season.
• Known as a tough and talented player, compared to Mark Messier of the NHL.
• Scored 11 goals in 5 games at the first world championship in women's hockey in 1990, leading the Canadian team to a gold medal.
• Competed in 1992 and 1994 and 1997
• Controversially left off the team for the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
• She finished her competitive hockey career in 2000 after scoring 22 gaols and 22 points in 27 games for the North York/Beatrice Aeros of the National Womens Hockey League in the 1999-2000 season
• Named Athlete of the Year in college twice in 1984-85.
• Became a member of the Seneca College Varsity Hall of Fame.
• Inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
• One of the first women inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008.
• The Angela James Bowl was awarded to the highest-scoring player in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (2008-2019).
• Inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
• Entered the Hockey Hall of Fame as one of the first two women in 2010.
• Recognized by the Toronto YWCA with the Women of Distinction Award for Sport in 2012.
• The Angela James Arena was named after her.
• Has three kids.

Overview of Dr. Clement Ligoure, the first Black doctor in Nova Scotia. Information on Oscar Peterson, Canada’s renowned jazz prodigy, and the Black community of Little Burgundy.