A statue of Lincoln MacCauley Alexander, Canada’s first Black Member of Parliament and the primary Black particular person to carry a viceregal place in Canada, was unveiled at Queen’s Park final Sunday.
The son of Caribbean immigrants, Alexander who was born in Toronto, served within the Royal Canadian Air Drive within the Second World Struggle. He grew to become a lawyer and represented a Hamilton driving as an MP between 1968 and 1980.
Alexander additionally served as Ontario’s lieutenant governor from 1985 to 1990. He died in 2012 on the age of 90.
Ted Arnott, speaker of the Legislative Meeting of Ontario, famous on the unveiling of the bust, that Alexander “impressed 1000’s of younger Canadians along with his life story and his instance of overcoming discrimination, pursuing excellence, and dealing for a greater Canada.”
“He met a variety of adversity and obstacles however by no means allow them to stand in his method,” mentioned his granddaughter, Erika Alexander who additionally spoke on the unveiling.
“He by no means wished his race to be an element. He wished his path to be decided by his character, however all the time acknowledged he needed to work tougher,” she advised the gathering.
The bust, sculpted by Toronto artist Quentin VerCetty, was commissioned by the LINC Bust Committee. Funding for the challenge was offered by the Black Alternative Fund, the RBC Basis and particular person donors.
Ontario formally proclaimed January 21 as “Lincoln Alexander Day” in 2013, and it was acknowledged nationwide in 2015.
