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Welcome to East York Historical Society

Welcome to East York Historical Society

Welcome to East York Historical SocietyWelcome to East York Historical SocietyWelcome to East York Historical Society

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BLACK WOMEN IN TORONTO

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Women in front of YWCA’s Ontario House, 698 Ontario Street ca. 1912

 

In the early 20th century, the Ontario House provided many young single Black women an affordable and safe living space. 

(Photographer: William James City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1244, Item 71.22)    

Stanley G. Grizzle

Stanley George Sinclair Grizzle, CM, OOnt, (born 18 November 1918 in Toronto, ON; died 12 November 2016 in Toronto, ON). 

Stanley Grizzle had an illustrious career as a railway porter, soldier, civil servant, citizenship judge, labour union activist and activist for the rights of Black Canadians.  Grizzle was named to the Order of Canada in 1990, inducted into the Canadian Labour Hall of Fame in 1994, and named to the Order of Canada in 1995. (Source:  The Canadian Encyclopedia) 

Herbert Henry Carnegie

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Herb Carnegie CM, O.Ont, OMC (November 8, 1919 – March 9, 2012)

Herbert H. Carnegie was one of the first Black Canadian hockey players and philanthropist. As a member of the Black Aces, he was part of the first all-Black line in hockey (outside the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes). Following his retirement from hockey, he became a successful businessman and started a hockey school, the Future Aces.   In 1987, he established the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation.    Carnegie was named to the Order of Ontario in 1996, inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and named to the Order of Canada in 2003.

Portia May White

  Portia White, contralto, teacher (born 24 June 1911 in Truro, NS; died 13 February 1968 in Toronto, ON).  

Portia White was the first Black Canadian concert singer to win international acclaim. After a performance at Toronto's Eaton Auditorium in 1941, she was proclaimed one of the best classical singers in Canada.  White was named a “person of national historic significance” by the Government of Canada in 1995.  (Source:  The Canadian Encyclopedia)