List Of Black Canadians
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This is a list of notable
Black Canadians Black Canadians (also known as Caribbean-Canadians or Afro-Canadians) are people of full or partial sub-Saharan African descent who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin, though ...
, inclusive of
multiracial Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-ethn ...
people who are of partially Black African descent.


A

*
Elamin Abdelmahmoud Elamin Abdelmahmoud is a Sudanese Canadian writer, culture and politics commentator, and podcast host based in Toronto, Ontario. He is best known as a culture writer for BuzzFeed and as host of ''Pop Chat'' and co-host of ''Party Lines'' with Ros ...
, CBC Radio host * Wayne Adams, first black MLA in Nova Scotia, Liberal *
Lovell Adams-Gray Lovell Adams-Gray is a Canadian actor.Tamara Shephard"Second Jen’s multicultural cast resonates with actor Lovell Adams-Gray" ''Toronto Star'', August 2, 2018. He is best known for the role of Dru Tejada in '' Power Book II: Ghost'', and his ...
, actor *
Oluniké Adeliyi Oluniké Adeliyi (born January 5, 1977) is a Canadian actress. She appeared in the 2010 horror film ''Saw 3D'' and starred as Leah Kerns in the television series '' Flashpoint''. Early life Adeliyi was born in Brampton, Ontario, of Jamaican-Nig ...
, actress *
Alfons Adetuyi Alfons Adetuyi is a Canadian film and television director and producer."Greater Sudbury's cinematic family". '' Sudbury Star'', April 25, 2009. A partner in the film and television production firm Inner City Films with his brothers Tom, Amos and Rob ...
, film director and producer *
Robert Adetuyi Robert Adetuyi is a Canadian screenwriter and film director who works in Hollywood. Born in Sudbury, Ontario,"Interview with Robert Adetuyi", ''Sudbury Star'', January 24, 2007. Adetuyi is a graduate of York University, where he studied communicat ...
, film director and screenwriter *
Randell Adjei Randell Adjei is a Canadian poet who was named in April 2021 as the first Poet Laureate of Ontario. Primarily a spoken word poet, Adjei published his debut book ''I Am Not My Struggles'' in 2018. He is also the founder and creative director of ...
, poet * Ohenewa Akuffo, wrestler * AHI, singer-songwriter *
Zanana Akande Zanana Lorraine Akande (born ) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1994 who represented the downtown Toronto riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick. She ser ...
, former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister *
Philip Akin Philip Akin (born April 18, 1950) is a Canadian actor. Akin has had roles in major American films such as '' The Sum of All Fears'', ''S.W.A.T.'', and '' Get Rich or Die Tryin. He has also done much voice work, including voicing the character ...
, director *
Lincoln Alexander Lincoln MacCauley Alexander (January 21, 1922 – October 19, 2012) was a Canadian lawyer who became the first Black Canadian member of Parliament in the House of Commons, the first Black federal Cabinet Minister (as federal Minister of Labou ...
, first black Member of Parliament in Canada, former
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario The lieutenant governor of Ontario (, in French: ''Lieutenant-gouverneur'' (if male) or ''Lieutenante-gouverneure'' (if female) ''de l'Ontario'') is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the , who operates distinctly within the province bu ...
*
Toya Alexis Toya Alexis (born July 16, 1980) is a Canadian vocalist and actress from Ajax, Ontario. Career Alexis won a "Rising Star" contest and sang at the Apollo Theater. In 2001 she appeared, as LaToya Lesmond, as a contestant on season one of ''Po ...
, R&B/pop singer and ''
Canadian Idol ''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show ''Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore ...
'' season 1 finalist *
Aisha Alfa Aisha Alfa is a Canadian comedian and actress, best known for her recurring role as teacher Ms. Grell in the ''Degrassi'' franchiseBrad Oswald, "The farce is with her". ''Winnipeg Free Press'', January 27, 2014. and her appearances as a reporter on ...
, actress and comedian *
Ismaila Alfa Metro Morning is CBC Radio One's local morning program in Toronto, airing on CBLA-FM. The program airs from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. weekday mornings, and has frequently been Toronto's highest-rated radio program in its timeslot. The program is ...
, radio host *
Thom Allison Thom Allison is a Canadian actor.Richard Ouzonian, "Mad about the boy". ''Toronto Star'', September 29, 2000. He is best known for his regular recurring role as Pree in the television series ''Killjoys'',S. E. Fleenor"Killjoys' Pree is a gender-t ...
, actor *
Jean Alfred Jean Alfred, Ph.D. (March 10, 1940 – July 20, 2015) was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He was a member of the National Assembly of Quebec as a member of the Parti Québécois from 1976 to 1981. Alfred was born in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, to Orac ...
, first black Canadian member of the
National Assembly of Quebec The National Assembly of Quebec (officially in french: link=no, Assemblée nationale du Québec) is the legislative body of the province of Quebec in Canada. Legislators are called MNAs (Members of the National Assembly; french: link=no, déput ...
*
Lillian Allen Lillian Allen (born 5 April 1951) is a Canadian dub poet, reggae musician, writer and Juno Award winner. Biography Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, she left that country in 1969, first moving to New York City, where she studied English at the Ci ...
, dub poet *
Archie Alleyne Archie Alleyne (January 7, 1933 – June 8, 2015) was a Canadian jazz drummer.a l l i e, R&B singer * David Amber, sportscaster *
Kimora Amour Kimora Lee Simmons (née Perkins) is an American model, business woman, fashion designer, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, TV personality, philanthropist and author. Early life Kimora Lee Perkins was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Stephen M. ...
, drag entertainer *
Ammoye Shernette Amoy Evans, known by the stage name Ammoye, is a Jamaican-Canadian reggae musician,Richard Johnson"Ammoye’s happy about Sorry" '' Jamaica Observer'', February 20, 2017. most noted as a six-time Juno Award nominee for Reggae Recordin ...
, reggae singer * Prince Amponsah, actor *
Aba Amuquandoh Aba Amuquandoh (born 1994-1996) is a Canadian actress and comedian, best known for her work on the sketch comedy series '' This Hour Has 22 Minutes''. She first joined the show in the 2020 season, both as a writer and as a supporting performer in s ...
, comedian *
Anastarzia Anaquway Jermaine Aranha (born 21 January 1982), better known by the stage name Anastarzia Anaquway, is a Bahamian drag queen and television personality based in Toronto, Canada. She is the only Bahamian to featured in the ''Drag Race'' television fran ...
, drag entertainer *
Ezzrett Anderson Ezzrett "Sugarfoot" Anderson (February 10, 1920 – March 8, 2017) was an all-star professional Canadian football player. Biography Anderson graduated from Kentucky State and turned pro in 1945 and 1946 with the Hollywood Bears in the Pacific Co ...
, CFL player * Granville Anderson, politician * "Hollywood Jade" Anderson, dancer and choreographer *
Osborne Perry Anderson Osborne Perry Anderson (July 27, 1830 – December 11, 1872) was an African-American Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist and the only surviving African-American member of John Brown (abolitionist), John Brown's John Brown's Raid on Har ...
, resident of the Chatham-Kent area; involved in the raid at Harper's Ferry * Ricky Anderson, athlete and writer *
Shamier Anderson Shamier Anderson (born May 6, 1991) is a Canadian actor. He is known for playing U.S. Deputy Marshal Xavier Dolls on the television series ''Wynonna Earp (TV series), Wynonna Earp'' and ''Invasion (2021 TV series), Invasion.'' Background Ander ...
, actor * Virnetta Anderson, first Black Canadian city councillor in Calgary *
Jill Andrew Jill Andrew is a Canadian politician who has represented Toronto—St. Paul's in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since June 7, 2018 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). Education Andrew attended Humber College, where ...
, politician *
Marie-Joseph Angélique Marie-Josèphe dite Angélique (died June 21, 1734) was the name given to a Portuguese-born black slave in New France (later the province of Quebec in Canada) by her last owners. She was tried and convicted of setting fire to her owner's home, bu ...
, executed for setting fire to Montreal *
Dominique Anglade Dominique Anglade (born January 31, 1974) is a business woman and a Canadian politician who served as the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition of Quebec from May 11, 2020 to December 1, 2022.Antoni Narestant"Dominiqu ...
, politician *
Georges Anglade Georges Anglade (July 18, 1944 – January 12, 2010) was a Haitian–Canadian geographer, professor, writer and politician. Early life and education Anglade was born in Port-au-Prince. In 1965, he received a law degree and a diploma in Social ...
, academic *
Joel Anthony Joel Vincent Anthony (born August 9, 1982) is a Canadian former professional basketball player who played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won two champio ...
, NBA basketball player with the
Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Li ...
* Tafari Anthony, rhythm and blues singer *
Trey Anthony Trey Anthony (born 1983) is a British-born Canadian playwright, actor, and producer, best known for her award-winning play and television series '' Da Kink in My Hair''. As a producer, she worked for the Women's Television Network and the Urban Wo ...
, playwright (''Da Kink in My Hair'') *
Océane Aqua-Black Océane Aqua-Black is the stage name of Thierry Boily-Simard, a Canadian Drag (entertainment), drag performer who competed on Canada's Drag Race (season 2), season 2 of ''Canada's Drag Race.'' Career Océane Aqua-Black competed on Canada's Drag ...
, drag entertainer *
Bromley Armstrong Bromley Lloyd Armstrong, (February 9, 1926 – August 17, 2018) was a Canadian civil rights leader. He was active in the nascent civil rights era in Canada, beginning with his arrival in 1947. Armstrong was a committed union activist who worked t ...
, community activist * Christine Armstrong, film editor *
Tré Armstrong Tré Armstrong (born August 17, 1978) is a Canadian actress, choreographer and dancer. Early life and education Her early dance schooling at age five in ballet, tap and jazz dance techniques is what has shaped her into who she is today. Car ...
, actress and choreographer *
Uzoma Asagwara Uzoma Asagwara is a Canadian politician and retired basketball player. Since 2019, they have represented the Union Station electoral district in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.Bryce Hoye"Meet the rookies: Manitobans elect 13 first-time ...
, politician *
Brandon Ash-Mohammed Brandon Ash-Mohammed is a Canadian stand-up comedian, whose debut comedy album ''Capricornication'' was released in 2020. A Black Canadian of Trinidadian heritage, he is an alumnus of the comedy school at Humber College. He also has some Muslim ...
, stand-up comedian * Ryad Assani-Razaki, writer * James Atebe, politician * Yvonne Atwell, Nova Scotia's first black female MLA, NDP *
Jean Augustine Jean Augustine (born September 9, 1937) is a Grenada-born Canadian politician. She was the first Black Canadian woman to serve as a federal Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament. From 1993 to 2006, Jean Augustine was a Liberal member ...
, former Member of Parliament, black Canadian
Cabinet Minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ‘prime minister’, ...
, former deputy
Speaker of the House of Commons Speaker of the House of Commons is a political leadership position found in countries that have a House of Commons, where the membership of the body elects a speaker to lead its proceedings. Systems that have such a position include: * Speaker of ...
* Edem Awumey, writer * Malcolm Azania, writer and activist


B

*
B-Kool Carl Badwa (born February 24, 1968), better known as his stage name B-Kool and today as Don Carlito, is a Canadian rapper. Early life and career Badwa began his music career in 1984 when he joined Get Loose Crew. Awards In 1990, B-Kool shared ...
, rapper *
Clark Backo Clark Backo is a Canadian actress. She is most noted for her recurring role as Rosie, Wayne's love interest, in the television series ''Letterkenny''. She has also appeared in the television series '' Remedy'', ''Shoot the Messenger'', '' 21 Thun ...
, actress *
Njacko Backo Njacko Backo is a musician, poet, writer, composer, performer, and choreographer from Cameroon. He was born in 1958 and raised in a very musical family. He spent most of his childhood in a village called Bazou in western Cameroon where he was intr ...
, musician *
Backxwash Ashanti Mutinta, known professionally as Backxwash, is a Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer based in Montreal, Quebec. She is most noted for her 2020 album ''God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It'', which won the 2020 Polaris Music ...
, rapper *
Cameron Bailey Cameron Bailey is a Canadian film critic and festival programmer, who is the CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Biography Born in London, England to parents from Barbados,Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...
*
Donovan Bailey Donovan Bailey (born December 16, 1967) is a retired Jamaican-Canadian sprinter. He once held the world record for the 100 metres. He recorded a time of 9.84 seconds to win the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. He was the first Canadian ...
, first Canadian to win an
Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
gold medal in the 100m sprint ( 1996 Atlanta) * James Baley, musician and dancer *
Tynomi Banks Sheldon McIntosh, known professionally as Tynomi Banks, is a Canadian drag queen. A staple of Toronto's queer nightlife scene since the 2010s, Tynomi Banks performed in drag for over a decade before competing on the first season of the realit ...
, drag entertainer * Barbada de Barbades, drag entertainer *
Vivian Barbot Vivian Barbot (born July 7, 1941) is a Canadian teacher, activist, and politician. She is a former president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec, a former Member of Parliament and former vice-president of the Bloc Québécois. She was the ...
,
Bloc Québécois The Bloc Québécois (BQ; , "Québécois people, Quebecer Voting bloc, Bloc") is a list of federal political parties in Canada, federal political party in Canada devoted to Quebec nationalism and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty movement, Que ...
member of parliament for the riding of Papineau *
Emery Barnes Emery Oakland Barnes (December 15, 1929 – June 1, 1998) was a Canadians, Canadian professional Canadian football, football player and politician. Background Born in Louisiana and raised in Oregon, Barnes was a gifted athlete, and was an ...
, first black Speaker of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly and
CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
defensive end *
RJ Barrett Rowan Alexander "RJ" Barrett Jr. (born June 14, 2000) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected third overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the New York Knicks ...
, NBA player with the
New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associat ...
*
Rowan Barrett Rowan Alexander Barrett Sr. (born November 24, 1972) is a Canadian former professional basketball player. At a height of 1.98 m (6'6") tall, he played at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He was the top scorer in the 2002 Israel Ba ...
, former professional basketball player *
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is a Canadian orchestral conductor.Eric Volmers"Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser's journey from teacher to professional conductor takes him home to the CPO" ''Calgary Herald'', February 8, 2019. He is best known for creating and ...
, conductor *
Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo (born 8 February 1967) is an Ivoirian-born Canadian poet and journalist. She has won the Trillium Book Award and been nominated for the Ottawa Book Award. Biography She was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and rais ...
, poet *
Frank Baylis Frank Baylis (born November 15, 1962) is a Canadian businessperson and politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Pierrefonds—Dollard in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election. He did not run for reelecti ...
, politician *
Gary Beals Gary Beals (born October 25, 1982) is a Canadian singer who is best known for being runner up in the first season of the reality television series '' Canadian Idol''. He is a resident of Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia and named "Best Halifamous Per ...
, pop singer and ''
Canadian Idol ''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show ''Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore ...
'' season 1 first runner-up * Jacqueline Beaugé-Rosier, writer * Kettly Beauregard, politician *
Shawn Belle Shawn James Robert Belle (born January 3, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche. Playi ...
, NHL prospect *
Frantz Benjamin Frantz Benjamin is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2018 provincial election.Anthony Bennett, NBA player (first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft) * Cle Bennett, actor *
Tyrone Benskin Tyrone Benskin (born 29 December 1958) is an English-Canadian actor, theatre director and politician. He was elected Member of Parliament in the Jeanne-Le Ber riding, in Montreal, Quebec, in the 2011 Canadian federal election and served as an M ...
, actor and director; Member of Parliament; national vice president of
ACTRA The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) is a Canadian trade union representing performers in English-language media. It has 25,000 members working in film, television, radio, and all other recorded media. The org ...
*
Wanda Thomas Bernard Wanda Thomas Bernard (born August 1, 1953) is a Canadian senator. She was formerly a social worker and educator from East Preston, Nova Scotia. Bernard is the first Black Canadian to have an academic tenure position and become a full profess ...
, social work, educator, senator *
Rima Berns-McGown Rima Michelle Berns-McGown is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election. She represented the riding of Beaches—East York as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party. She ...
, politician *
Lisa Berry Lisa Berry (born November 6, 1979) is a Canadian actress, seen regularly on television with appearances in '' The Colony'', '' Northpole: Open for Christmas'', ''Combat Hospital'', '' Bad Blood'', '' Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments'', '' ...
, actress *
Ardon Bess Ardon Bess (born 1941) is a Canadian actor best known for appearing in a Heritage Moment television commercial about the 1958 Springhill mining disaster portraying survivor Maurice Ruddick. Early life and education Bess was born in Kingstown, ...
, actor (''
Trailer Park Boys ''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary sitcom television series created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer pa ...
'', ''
King of Kensington ''King of Kensington'' is a Canadian television sitcom which aired on CBC Television from 1975 to 1980.Mary Jane Miller, ''Turn Up the Contrast: CBC Television Drama since 1952''. UBC Press, 2011. . pp. 134-144. Synopsis Al Waxman starred as Lar ...
'') *
Carrie Best Carrie Mae Best, ( Prevoe; March 4, 1903 – July 24, 2001) was a Canadian journalist and social activist. Biography Carrie was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She was the daughter of James and Georgina Aubergine Prevoe. In 1925, she ...
, activist and humanitarian, first black journalist * James Calbert Best, diplomat and public servant *
Margarett Best Margarett R. Best is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2007 to 2013 who represented the riding of Scarborough—Guildwood. She was a cabinet minister in the government ...
, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and Cabinet Minister *
Salome Bey Salome Bey (October 10, 1933 – August 8, 2020)While ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' gives her year of birth as 1939, other sources say she was born in 1933 or 1944. was an American-born Canadian singer-songwriter, composer, and actress who liv ...
,
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
,
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...
and
gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
singer (US citizen, Canadian permanent resident) * Tim Biakabutuka, former NFL player *
Henry Bibb Henry Walton Bibb (May 10, 1815 in Shelby County, Kentucky – August 1,1854 in Windsor) was an American author and abolitionist who was born a slave. Bibb told his life story in his narrative ''The Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb: An American ...
, author and abolitionist * Bertrand Bickersteth, writer *
Charlie Biddle Charles Reed Biddle, (July 28, 1926 – February 5, 2003) was an American-Canadian jazz bassist. He lived most of his life in Montreal, organizing and performing in jazz music events. Early life and education Biddle was born and grew up in ...
(Sr.), one of Canada's greatest bassists * Sonya Biddle, actress and politician * Jully Black, R&B/pop singer *
Lindsay Blackett Lindsay Blackett (born February 8, 1961) is a Canadian politician and was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-North West as a Progressive Conservative. Early life Blackett was born Febru ...
, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the province's first black cabinet minister *
Shane Book Background Shane Book born in 1970, grew up in Canada and Ghana. Shane Book is a Canadian poet and writer. He is known for his work in contemporary poetry. His poetry often explores themes related to identity, history, and the human experience. ...
, writer *
Walter Borden Walter Marven Borden, (born July 20, 1942) is a Canadian actor, poet and playwright. He is originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.Boslen Boslen is the stage name of Corben Nikk Bowen,Mitch Mosk"Introspective, Cinematic, & Dark”: Boslen Dives into the Vulnerable Depths of Debut Album ‘Dusk to Dawn’" ''Atwood Magazine'', October 4, 2021. a Canada, Canadian rapper based in Vancou ...
, rapper *
Cory Bowles Cory Bowles (born August 27, 1973) is a Canadian actor, director and choreographer. He is best known for his portrayal of Cory in the series ''Trailer Park Boys''. Life and career Bowles was born in Montreal, Quebec and raised in Truro, Nova Sc ...
, actor (''
Trailer Park Boys ''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary sitcom television series created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer pa ...
'') *
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman (born October 21, 1984) is a Canadian actor, model, and television personality. He is known for appearances in films and television, most notably as Jay in the Lifetime dark comedy-drama series ''Unreal'' (2015–2018) and ...
, actor * George Boyd, playwright * David Bradford, peot * Lawrence Ytzhak Braithwaite, dub poet and novelist *
Dionne Brand Dionne Brand (born 7 January 1953) is a Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. She was Toronto's third Poet Laureate from September 2009 to November 2012. She was admitted to the Order of Canada in 2017
, author *
Fred Brathwaite Fredrick Brathwaite (born November 24, 1972) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. Brathwaite played as a goaltender, and spent his career with the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL ...
,
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
goalie *
Leonard Braithwaite Leonard Austin Braithwaite (October 23, 1923 – March 28, 2012) was a Canadian lawyer and former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a member of the Liberal Party from 1963 to 1975. He was th ...
, politician *
Rella Braithwaite Rella Aylestock Braithwaite (January 29, 1923 – July 23, 2019) was a Canadian author. She was born in Mapleton, Ontario, a descendant of Black pioneers who settled in the Queen's Bush area, and was educated in Listowel, Ontario. In 1946, Brait ...
, historian and journalist *
Wendy Motion Brathwaite Wendy Motion Brathwaite is a Canadian musician, writer and activist from Toronto, Ontario. She is most noted as cowriter with Charles Officer of the screenplay for the 2020 film ''Akilla's Escape'', for which they won the Canadian Screen Award for ...
, writer and musician *
Garnet Brooks Garnet Brooks (September 4, 1936 – July 21, 2009) was a Canadians, Canadian tenor and Vocal pedagogy, vocal pedagogue who performed with opera companies and orchestras across North America and Europe. Birth Garnet Brooks was born on Septemb ...
, opera singer * Phyllis Simmons Brooks, educator *
Shelton Brooks Shelton Brooks (May 4, 1886September 6, 1975) was a Canadian-born African American composer of popular music and jazz. He was known for his ragtime and vaudeville style, and wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century. ...
, popular music and jazz singer, songwriter, and pianist and vaudeville and musical theatre performer who wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century * Aisha Brown, actress and comedian *
Divine Brown Divine Brown (born September 9, 1974), previously known as Divine Earth Essence, is a Canadian Juno Award-winning R&B and soul singer and theatre performer. Early life Brown was born in Toronto, Ontario to Jamaican parents. She first began h ...
, R&B/
soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
singer and musical theatre performer *
Denham Brown Denham Washington Brown (born January 6, 1983) is a Canadian former professional basketball player. High school Brown attended Bathurst Heights Secondary School in Toronto, and led the school's AAA basketball team to the Ontario provincial champ ...
, professional basketball player in Europe *
Luther Brown Luther Brown is a Canadian choreographer/artistic director. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Toronto, Ontario, he is best known as a hip hop dance choreographer for movies, television and commercials. Brown is a regular choreographer ...
, dancer and choreographer * Rosemary Brown, British Columbia legislator; first black woman to run for the leadership of a political party in Canada (the federal
New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; french: Nouveau Parti démocratique, NPD) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * t ...
) *
Measha Brueggergosman Measha Brueggergosman (née Gosman; June 28, 1977) is a Canadian soprano who performs both as an opera singer and concert artist. She has performed internationally and won numerous awards. Her recordings of both classical and popular music ha ...
,
opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...
singer *
Kim Brunhuber Kim Barry Brunhuber is a Canadian journalist and author. He serves as a weekend anchor on CNN International hosting the European breakfast edition of ''CNN Newsroom''. He has previously served as anchor and reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting ...
, journalist and writer * Matthew Bullock, fugitive from the US who became a cause celebre in the 1920s * Millicent Burgess, educator *
Nate Burleson Nathaniel Eugene Burleson (born August 19, 1981) is a Canadian-born television host, American football commentator, and former wide receiver. He played college football for the University of Nevada, Reno and was drafted into the National Footb ...
, NFL player *
Tajon Buchanan Tajon Trevor Buchanan (born February 8, 1999) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge and the Canada national team. Club career Early career Buchanan was born and raised in Bram ...
, soccer player * Sharon Burey, senator


C

*
Dayana Cadeau Dayana is a given name. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Dayana (pronunciation d̪ ɪ ɑ ɴ ɑ, Language Hebrew, the Judge) variant of the given name Diana * Dayana Cadeau (born 1966), Haitian-born Canadian American professi ...
, professional bodybuilder *
Cadence Weapon Roland "Rollie" Pemberton, better known by his stage name Cadence Weapon, is a Canadian-American rapper based in Toronto, Ontario. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Pemberton released his first album, ''Breaking Kayfabe'', in 2005 with positi ...
, rapper * Madwa-Nika Cadet, politician *
Daniel Caesar Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds (born April 5, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Caesar, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After independently building a following through the release of two critically acclaimed EPs, ''Praise Break'' (201 ...
, R&B and soul singer *
Celina Caesar-Chavannes Celina R. Caesar-Chavannes (born June 24, 1974) is a Canadian politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Whitby in the House of Commons of Canada from 2015 to 2019. Elected as a Liberal in the 2015 federal electi ...
, politician * Shawna Cain, Christian R&B singer *
Herb Carnegie Herbert Henry Carnegie, CM, O.Ont, OMC (November 8, 1919 – March 9, 2012) was a Canadian ice hockey player of Jamaican descent. After his playing career was over, he became a successful businessman working in the investment industry. In 1954 ...
, star of Quebec professional hockey league *
Anson Carter Anson Horace Carter (born June 6, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for eight teams, most notably with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. He was la ...
,
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
star *
Rubin Carter Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (May 6, 1937 – April 20, 2014) was an American-Canadian middleweight boxer, wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for murder, until released following a petition of habeas corpus after almost 20 years in prison. In ...
, former boxer and activist *
Jazz Cartier Jahmarie Wishart Adams (born March 19, 1993), known professionally as Jazz Cartier, is a Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his mixtapes, ''Marauding in Paradise'' and ''Hotel Paranoia''. He has twice been a long lis ...
, rapper *
Demo Cates Demetrius (Demo) Cates is an American-Canadian musician. He is most noted as a two-time Juno Award nominee for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year, receiving nominations at the Juno Awards of 1985 for "Memories of Moments" and at the Juno Awards of 198 ...
, musician *
Mary Anne Chambers Mary Anne Veronica Chambers, (born September 8, 1950) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada, and is the recently named Chancellor of the University of Guelph. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 until 2007, and s ...
, former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister *
Myriam J. A. Chancy Myriam J. A. Chancy (born 1970) is a Haitian-Canadian-American writer and a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. , she is the Hartley Burr Alexander Chair of Humanities at Scripps College of the Claremont Consortium. As a wri ...
, writer *
Keshia Chanté Keshia Chanté Harper (born June 16, 1988) is a Canadian singer, television host, actress, songwriter and philanthropist. As a teenager, Chanté gained recognition with the release of her singles "Unpredictable", "Bad Boy" and "Does He Love Me" " ...
, R&B singer and co-host of
BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los A ...
's ''
106 & Park ''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rated ...
'' *
David Chariandy David Chariandy is a Canadian writer. His parents immigrated to Canada from Trinidad in the 1960s. He was born in Scarborough, Ontario. His father is from South Asian descent, whereas his mother is African. They were both working class immigra ...
, writer *
Gregory Charles Gregory Charles, OC (born February 12, 1968) is a Quebec performing artist of Trinidadian and French Canadian origin. Biography Charles' father Lennox was a black anglophone of Trinidadian origin; his mother was a white francophone Canadian. Cha ...
, pop and gospel singer * Nuela Charles, singer *
Tanika Charles Tanika Charles is a Canadian soul and rhythm and blues singer, who released her full-length debut album ''Soul Run'' in 2016. Formerly based in Edmonton, Alberta,"Heart and soul; Musician Tanika Charles gets personal". ''Ottawa Citizen'', May 12, ...
, soul and rhythm and blues singer * Charmaine, rapper *
Sean Cheesman Sean Cheesman is a Canadians, Canadian dancer and choreographer, best known as a judge and choreographer for television dance competitions such as ''So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series), So You Think You Can Dance'', ''So You Think You Can D ...
, dancer and choreographer * Ulrick Chérubin, mayor of
Amos, Quebec Amos is a town in northwestern Quebec, Canada, on the Harricana River. It is the seat of Abitibi Regional County Municipality. Amos is the main town on the Harricana River, and the smallest of the three primary towns — after Rouyn-Noranda and ...
, one of the first black mayors of any city in Quebec *
Jojo Chintoh Jojo Chintoh (born 1944) is a Ghanaian-Canadian television journalist who worked as a feature and documentary reporter for Citytv in Toronto until 2009–10. Biography Born in Ghana, Chintoh moved to Canada in 1969. He became editor of several ...
, longtime
Citytv Citytv is a Canadian television network owned by the Rogers Sports & Media subsidiary of Rogers Communications. The licence of the original Citytv station, granted the callsign of CITY-TV by the CRTC on November 25, 1971 to Cable Television Ass ...
reporter * Ify Chiwetelu, CBC Radio host *
Choclair Kareem Blake (born March 27, 1975), better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He was one of the most successful Canadian rappers in Canada in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Choclair has been nominated for six Juno Awards, winn ...
, rapper *
Rae Dawn Chong Rae Dawn Chong (born February 28, 1961) is a Canadian-American actress. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1978 musical drama film ''Stony Island (film), Stony Island'', and in 1981 starred in the fantasy film ''Quest for Fire (film), ...
, actress (''
The Color Purple ''The Color Purple'' is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction.
'') *
Jillian Christmas Jillian Christmas is a Canadian poet from Vancouver, British Columbia.Tom Sandborn"Book review: Jillian Christmas’s poems to break your heart, break open the world" ''Vancouver Sun'', May 16, 2020. Her work focuses on anti-colonial narratives, fa ...
, poet *
Jarvis Church Gerald Eaton (born November 22, 1971) is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and music producer, also known by his stage name Jarvis Church. Career Eaton is the lead singer for the R&B-pop group The Philosopher Kings, which reached its peak popula ...
, singer (
The Philosopher Kings The Philosopher Kings are a Canadian band. The band was most commercially successful in the late 1990s and have been nominated for five Juno Awards, winning one in 1996 for "Best New Group". Most of the band members, current and former, have also ...
and solo) and music producer (
Nelly Furtado Nelly Kim Furtado (; ; born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful Canadian artists. She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired deb ...
) * Clairmont the Second, rapper * Austin Clarke, novelist (''The Polished Hoe'', ''Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack'') *
Cheril N. Clarke Cheril N. Clarke (born September 24, 1980) is a Canadian-born contemporary author and playwright of gay and lesbian romance, drama and comedy. Life Though born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Clarke's family moved to Miami, Florida when she was s ...
, writer *
George Elliott Clarke George Elliott Clarke, (born February 12, 1960) is a Canadian poet, playwright and literary critic who served as the Poet Laureate of Toronto from 2012 to 2015 and as the 2016–2017 Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate. His work is known larg ...
, poet and playwright (''Whylah Falls'', ''George and Rue'') * Kevin Clarke, activist and politician * Michèle Pearson Clarke, writer *
Edith Clayton Edith Clayton, née Drummond (September 6, 1920–October 8, 1989) was a Canadian basket maker. Life and work The daughter of James Alexander Drummond and Selena Irene Sparks, who were descendants of Black Loyalists who left the United St ...
, basket maker *
Bernadette Clement Bernadette Clement (born May 17, 1965) is a Canadian politician, who was appointed to the Canadian Senate as an independent Senator on June 22, 2021. She was previously mayor of Cornwall, Ontario, having been elected in the 2018 Ontario municipal ...
, mayor of Cornwall, Ontario *
Sebastian Clovis Sebastian James Clovis (born September 1, 1979) is a Canadian television personality and former Canadian Football League player, who played free safety for the BC Lions in their Grey Cup championship 2006 season. He is currently known as an HGT ...
, Canadian Football League player and HGTV host *
Tristan Clovis Tristan Clovis (born August 25, 1982) is a former a Canadian football safety. He played CIS Football at McMaster before being drafted by the Canadian Football League, playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for three seasons including their Grey ...
, Canadian Football League player *
Devon Clunis Devon Clunis is a Canadian law enforcement officer, who was the chief of the Winnipeg Police Service from 2012 until his retirement in 2016. He was the first Black Canadian ever appointed as a police chief in Canada.Winnipeg Police Service The Winnipeg Police Service is the police force of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. History When Winnipeg became a city, in 1873, an election was held to select the city's new mayor and aldermen. Those appointed decided to hire city o ...
and Canada's first black Canadian chief of police * Caroline Cole, vice-president, Business Development Bank of Canada *
Desmond Cole Desmond Cole (born April 9, 1982) is a Canadian journalist, activist, author, and broadcaster who lives in Toronto, Ontario. He was previously a columnist for the ''Toronto Star'' and has written for ''The Walrus'', '' NOW Magazine'', ''Torontoi ...
, journalist *
Lucretia Newman Coleman Lucretia Newman Coleman (1856 – July 31, 1948) was an African-American writer born in British North America to a fugitive slave. Fluent at the end of the nineteenth-century, her works were praised by her contemporaries of the African-American n ...
, writer *
Donté Colley Donté Colley is a Canadian Creator. Early in his life Donté Colley was born in Toronto, Ontario, on May 16, 1997. He grew up in Toronto, and showed an early interest and talent in dance. He attended Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Sca ...
, dancer * Wayde Compton, poet *
Anne Cools Anne Clare Cools (born August 12, 1943) is a Canadian retired senator and the longest serving member of the Senate of Canada. As a social worker, Cools was a pioneer in the protection of women from domestic violence, running one of the first dome ...
, Canada's first black
senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
*
Afua Cooper Afua Cooper (born 8 November 1957) is a Jamaican-born Canadian historian. In 2018 she is an associate professor of sociology at Dalhousie University. She is an author and dub poet. As of 2018 she has published five volumes of poetry.
, poet and historian * Amanda Cordner, actress *
Lisa Michelle Cornelius Lisa Michelle Cornelius is a Canadian actress. She is most noted for her role in the web series ''Band Ladies'', for which she was a Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Lead Performance in a Digital Program or Series at the 9th Canadian Screen A ...
, actress *
Michael Coteau Michael Joseph Coteau is a Canadian politician who serves as the Member of Parliament for Don Valley East in the House of Commons of Canada. From 2011 to 2021, he was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the ...
, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament *
Arisa Cox Arisa Cox (born December 7, 1978) is a Canadian television and radio personality, best known as the host of ''Big Brother Canada''.Deborah Cox Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before ...
, R&B singer *
Archie Crail Archie Crail (born 1944 in Paarl, South Africa)"Can't feel safe, even in Saskatchewan". ''Windsor Star'', February 3, 1995. is a South African-Canadians, Canadian writer. He was a shortlisted nominee for the Governor General's Award for English-la ...
, writer *
Laura Creavalle Laura Cordelia Creavalle is a Guyanese-born Canadian/American professional female bodybuilder. Early life and education Laura Creavalle was born in 1959 in British Guiana. She migrated to Canada at the age of 13. She attended both Industrial Hig ...
, professional bodybuilder *
Roger Cross Roger Cross (born October 19, 1969) is a Jamaican-born Canadian actor who has made numerous appearances in several films and television series, mostly on productions shot in Canada. He is known for his work as CTU Agent Curtis Manning in the ...
, actor ('' 24'') * Alcenya Crowley, educator and activist * Vera Cudjoe, actress, producer, and educator; founder of Black Theatre Canada *
Alvin Curling Alvin Curling (born November 15, 1939) is a Jamaican-born Canadian politician. He was Canada's envoy to the Dominican Republic from 2005 to 2006. A former politician in Ontario, Canada, he was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario unt ...
,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
Member of Provincial Parliament and Speaker of the Legislature of Ontario *
Ayesha Curry Ayesha Disa Curry (née Alexander; born March 23, 1989) is a Canadian-American actress, cookbook author, and cooking television personality and the wife of basketball player Stephen Curry. After guest roles in several television shows and movies ...
, celebrity chef and television personality


D

* Ola Dada, stand-up comedian *
Samuel Dalembert Samuel Davis Dalembert (born May 10, 1981) is a Haitian-Canadian former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Seton Hall University. During his active NB ...
,
NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
player *
Trevor Daley Trevor Daley (born October 9, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL and also serves as a hockey operations advisor for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played ...
, NHL player with the Dallas Stars *
Jonathan David Jonathan Christian David (born January 14, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lille. Born in the United States to Haitian parents, David was raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and represents the Ca ...
, professional footballer for
Lille OSC Lille Olympique Sporting Club (), commonly referred to as LOSC, LOSC Lille or simply Lille, is a French professional football club based in Lille, Hauts-de-France that competes in Ligue 1, the top flight of French football. Lille has played its ...
*
Alphonso Davies Alphonso Boyle Davies (born November 2, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a left-back or winger for club Bayern Munich and the Canada national team. He is regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world due to hi ...
, professional footballer for
FC Bayern Munich Fußball-Club Bayern München e. V. (FCB, ), also known as FC Bayern (), Bayern Munich, or simply Bayern, is a German professional sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional men's football team, which play ...
*
Delos Davis Delos Rogest Davis, (August 4, 1846–13 April 1915) was the third black lawyer in Canada and the first black King's Counsel. Davis is widely and erroneously considered to be the first Black lawyer in Canada, but Robert Sutherland (who was ...
, third black lawyer in Canada and first black
King's Counsel In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel ( post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of a queen, is a lawyer (usually a barrister or ...
in the UK *
Hubert Davis Hubert Ira Davis Jr. (born May 17, 1970) is an American college basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's team. Before his coaching career, Davis played for North Carolina from 19 ...
,
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-nominated documentary filmmaker * Rob Davis, former
York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
and
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
city councillor *
Nigel Dawes Nigel Alexander Dawes (born February 9, 1985) is a Canadian- Kazakhstani professional ice-hockey winger for Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Phoenix ...
,
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
player with the New York Rangers *
Desirée Dawson Desirée Dawson is a Canadian singer, songwriter and baritone ukulele player, from White Rock, British Columbia. She is best known as the winner of CBC Music's Searchlight talent contest in 2016. Following her Searchlight win Dawson performed ...
, musician *
Buddy Daye Delmore William "Buddy" Daye (1928 – October 1995) was a Canadian professional boxer and community activist. Early life Born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Daye moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia as a young man. Daye was a merchant mariner for a shor ...
, former boxer and activist in Nova Scotia *
Jonathan de Guzman Jonathan may refer to: *Jonathan (name), a masculine given name Media * ''Jonathan'' (1970 film), a German film directed by Hans W. Geißendörfer * ''Jonathan'' (2016 film), a German film directed by Piotr J. Lewandowski * ''Jonathan'' (2018 ...
, soccer player *
Julian De Guzman Julian Bobby de Guzman (born March 25, 1981) is a Canadian soccer executive and former professional player and coach. De Guzman was the first Canadian to play in the Spanish La Liga. While playing in Spain, he was voted 2007–08 Deportivo La ...
, soccer player *
Dwayne De Rosario Dwayne Anthony De Rosario OOnt (born May 15, 1978) is a Canadian former professional soccer player, who played as a forward or as an attacking midfielder. De Rosario last played for the Mississauga MetroStars of the Major Arena Soccer League. ...
* David Defiagbon, boxer *
Simone Denny Simone Andrea Denny is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is best known as a vocalist with the dance music groups Love Inc. and Widelife, appearing most prominently on the hit dance singles " Broken Bones", " You're a Superstar" and "All Thin ...
, house music vocalist *
Viola Desmond Viola Irene Desmond (July 6, 1914 – February 7, 1965) was a Canadian civil and women's rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946, she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refu ...
, beautician and civil rights activist, first Canadian woman to be depicted on Canadian currency *
Robert Nathaniel Dett Robert Nathaniel Dett (October 11, 1882 – October 2, 1943), often known as R. Nathaniel Dett and Nathaniel Dett, was a Black Canadian-American composer, organist, pianist, choral director, and music professor. Born and raised in Canada until ...
, composer *
Rita Deverell Rita Shelton Deverell, CM (born 1945 to Versie and Hugh Shelton) is a Canadian television broadcaster and social activist, who was one of the founders of the Canadian television channel Vision TV. She also served as news director for the Aborigin ...
, broadcaster and journalist, founder of
Vision TV VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic. VisionTV is currently owned by ZoomerMedia, a company ...
*
Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
, hip-hop musician ("Mr. Metro") *
Alpha Yaya Diallo Alpha Yaya Diallo is a Guinean-born Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter. He incorporates Guinea's rich musical tradition into his original compositions. Diallo has won two Juno Awards, shared a third, and was nominated another three times. ...
, musician *
Paul Dillett Paul Dillett (1965 in Montreal, Quebec) is a retired Canadian IFBB professional bodybuilder and current owner and CEO of the World Beauty Fitness & Fashion Inc. He resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Biography Paul ...
, retired IFBB bodybuilder and businessman * George Dixon, first black world
boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...
champion in any weight class *
Fefe Dobson Felicia Lily Dobson (born February 28, 1985) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Born in Toronto, Ontario, she began performing as a teenager, during which time she received and refused an offer from Jive Records for a recording contract. Dobso ...
, pop punk singer *
Shirley Dorismond Shirley Dorismond is a Canadian politician and former union leader and nurse, who represents the electoral district of Marie-Victorin in the National Assembly of Quebec. She is a member of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), winning a 2022 by ...
, politician * James Douglas, early governor of
Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are o ...
and
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
*
James W. Douglas James William Douglas (June 1, 1851 – November 7, 1883) was a Canadian who represented Victoria City (provincial electoral district), Victoria City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1875 to 1878. He was born in Victoria, Br ...
, British Columbia MLA * Orville Lloyd Douglas, poet, writer, and journalist * Stan Douglas, installation artist * Zabrina Douglas, comedian * Nathan Downer, television journalist *
Nigel Downer Nigel Downer is a Canadian actor and comedian.Del Cowie"Nigel Downer: More than a Bit Playa" CBC News, February 21, 2020. He is most noted as the co-creator and co-star with Kris Siddiqi of the web series ''Bit Playas'', for which they won the Cana ...
, actor and comedian * Ray Downey, former boxer who medalled in the 1988 Olympics *
Riele Downs Riele Downs (born July 8, 2001) is a Canadian actress. She began her career as a child actress, playing Faith in the 2013 film ''The Best Man Holiday''. She went on to co-star as Charlotte on the Nickelodeon television series '' Henry Danger'' f ...
, actress *
Drake Drake may refer to: Animals * A male duck People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name * Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * ...
, rapper and actor ('' Degrassi: The Next Generation'') * Dream Warriors, hip hop duo *
Dwight Drummond Dwight Drummond (born September 22, 1968) is a Canadian television journalist who currently hosts ''Canada Tonight'' on CBC News Network. He previously worked as the anchor of ''CBC Toronto News with Dwight Drummond'' at CBLT, CBC Television's st ...
, television journalist *
Ali Duale Ali Duale is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election."Record number of Black MLAs elected to Nova Scotia Legislature"
CBC News CBC News is a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on the corporation's English-language operations, namely CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC News Network, and CBC.ca. ...
Nova Scotia, August 18, 2021. * Christian Dubé, politician *
Emmanuel Dubourg Emmanuel Dubourg (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician, chartered accountant and teacher from Quebec. He was the Member of National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Viau from 2007 until 2013. On November 25, 2013 he was elected ...
, Quebec Liberal Party MNA for Viau *
Rob Ducey Robert Thomas Ducey (born May 24, 1965) is a Canadian former professional baseball outfielder who played for six teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ducey is currently a hitting coach for the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseba ...
, former Major League Baseball player * Alison Duke, film producer * Arlene Duncan, actress, singer (''
Little Mosque on the Prairie ''Little Mosque on the Prairie'' is a Television in Canada, Canadian television sitcom created by Zarqa Nawaz and produced by WestWind Pictures, originally broadcast from 2007 to 2012 on CBC Television, CBC. Filmed in Toronto, Ontario, and Indian ...
'')


E

*
Chuck Ealey Charles "Chuck" Ealey (born January 6, 1950) is a former American Canadian football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He became the first black quarterback to win the ...
, Canadian Football League player *
Gordon Earle Gordon S. Earle (born February 27, 1943) is a Canadian politician. Earle is a member of the New Democratic Party and a former member of the House of Commons of Canada, representing the riding of Halifax West from 1997 to 2000. Earle is the f ...
, former NDP Member of Parliament for
Halifax West Halifax West (french: Halifax-Ouest) is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1979. Its population in 2021 was 111,944. Demographics ''From the 2016 census'' E ...
* Amatoritsero Ede, writer *
Rosey Edeh Rosey Edeh (born August 16, 1966) is a Canadian television personality, who was a news anchor for ''Global News at Noon'' on Global Toronto and senior reporter for ''ET Canada''. She is currently C.E.O. of Micha Muse Media and has directed her de ...
, ''
ET Canada ''ET Canada'' (previously referred to as ''Entertainment Tonight Canada'') is a Canadian entertainment news television series, using the same format as the American entertainment newsmagazine ''Entertainment Tonight''. ''ET Canada'' is a broadcas ...
'' reporter and former
MSNBC MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and political ...
meteorologist A meteorologist is a scientist who studies and works in the field of meteorology aiming to understand or predict Earth's atmospheric phenomena including the weather. Those who study meteorological phenomena are meteorologists in research, while t ...
*
Aida Edemariam Aida Edemariam is an Ethiopian-Canadian journalist based in the UK, who has worked in New York, Toronto and London. She was formerly deputy review and books editor of the Canadian ''National Post'', and is now a senior feature writer and editor a ...
, writer *
Esi Edugyan Esi Edugyan (born 1978) is a Canadian novelist.Donna Bailey Nurse"Writing the blues" ''Quill & Quire'', July 2011. She has twice won the Giller Prize, for her novels '' Half-Blood Blues'' and '' Washington Black''. Biography Esi Edugyan was born ...
, novelist * Phil Edwards, track athlete * Tyrone Edwards, television host * Efajemue, jazz percussionist *
Francesca Ekwuyasi Francesca Ekwuyasi is a Nigerian-Canadian writer and artist.Jade Nauss"Francesca Omolara Ekwuyasi moves from Penance to reconciliation" '' The Coast'', November 28, 2019. She is most noted for her debut novel ''Butter Honey Pig Bread'', which was ...
, writer and artist *
Jade Elektra Jade Elektra (born Alphonso King Jr.) is a Black queer and HIV activist, drag queen, singer, recording artist (DJ Relentless), and stage performer originally from Tampa, Florida, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jade is openly living with HIV and ...
, drag performer and HIV/AIDS educator *
Natasha Eloi Natasha Eloi (born in Hammersmith, England) is a Canadian television personality and videographer. She is most often seen on the Space channel as a space, science and technology reporter and on ''The Circuit'' as the resident toy expert. She al ...
, science reporter for
Space Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider ...
channel * Emanuel, rhythm and blues singer *
Ray Emery Raymond Robert Emery (''né'' Nichols; September 28, 1982 – July 15, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for eleven seasons, between 2003 and 2015. Emery was chosen 99th over ...
, NHL goalie * Jonathan Emile, poet, composer and entrepreneur * Tyler Ennis, NBA player with the
Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...
* Robert Esmie, Olympic gold medalist 4x100 relay (Atlanta 1996) * Gérard Étienne, writer *
Karena Evans Karena Evans (born December 17, 1995) is a Canadian director and actress. She garnered recognition for directing the music videos for Drake's 2018 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart-topping singles, "God's Plan", "Nice for What", and "In My Feelings". ...
, director * Irdens Exantus, actor f


F

* Famous, rapper *
Perdita Felicien Perdita Felicien (born August 29, 1980) is a Canadian retired hurdler. Felicien is the 2003 World champion in the 100 metres hurdles and 2004 World indoor champion in the 60 metres hurdles. She also won silver medals at the 2007 World Champions ...
, track athlete *
Greg Fergus Gregory Cristophe Fergus (born May 31, 1969) is a Canadian Liberal politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Hull—Aylmer in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election. Early life Fergus’ grandfather immigra ...
, politician *
Dominique Fils-Aimé Dominique Fils-Aimé is a Canadian singer from Quebec, whose album ''Stay Tuned!'' was shortlisted for the 2019 Polaris Music Prize and won the Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020. Born and raised in Montrea ...
, blues, jazz and rhythm and blues singer *
Melanie Fiona Melanie Fiona Hallim (born July 4, 1983) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario.Farley Flex Farley Flex (born Farley Fridal, August 9, 1962) is a Media Consultant, music promoter, artist manager, and motivational speaker. He is best known for being a judge on the reality television series '' Canadian Idol''. Early life He was born in L ...
, music promoter and ''
Canadian Idol ''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show ''Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore ...
'' judge *
Cheryl Foggo Cheryl Dawn Foggo is a Canadian author, documentary film director, screenwriter and playwright. Biography Born in Calgary, Alberta in 1956, she is descended from Black Oklahomans who settled in Maidstone, Saskatchewan in 1910. She also had ance ...
, writer *
Melyssa Ford Melyssa Savannah Ford (born November 7, 1976) is a Canadian Media Personality, media personality, actress, and former video vixen. She attended York University and studied in the field of forensic psychology. She is often referred to as Jessica ...
, professional model and actress *
Rose Fortune Rose Fortune (March 13, 1774 – February 20, 1864) was a child born in or around Philadelphia of runaway slaves. Her parents became Black Loyalists during the American Revolutionary War when they pledged to be loyal to the British Army in exc ...
, first female police officer in Canada *
Cecil Foster Cecil Foster (born September 26, 1954) is a Canadian novelist, essayist, journalist, Public intellectual and scholar. He is Chairman of the Department of Transnational Studies at the University of Buffalo. Early life and education Foster was b ...
, novelist and sociologist and biologist *
Rick Fox Rick may refer to: People *Rick (given name), a list of people with the given name *Alan Rick (born 1976), Brazilian politician, journalist, pastor and television personality *Johannes Rick (1869–1946), Austrian-born Brazilian priest and mycol ...
,
NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
player *
Mayann Francis Mayann Elizabeth Francis, (born February 18, 1946) was the 31st Lieutenant Governor of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Early life and education Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and raised in Whitney Pier, she is the daughter of Archpriest ...
, former
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia The lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia () is the viceregal representative in Nova Scotia of the , who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada, as well as the other Commonwealt ...
and former director and CEO of the
Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) was established in Nova Scotia, Canada in 1967 to administer the Nova Scotia ''Human Rights Act''. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is the first commission in Canada to engage ...
*
Fil Fraser Felix Blache-Fraser (August 19, 1932 – December 3, 2017) was a Black Canadian broadcaster, non-fiction author, film producer, film festival founder, public servant, and educator in Alberta. Broadcasting and journalism Born in Montreal in 1932, ...
, writer *
Grant Fuhr Grant Scott Fuhr (born September 28, 1962) is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League and former goaltending coach for the Arizona Coyotes, who is best remembered for a decade of stellar play for the Edmonton Oilers i ...
, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender (
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
), first black hockey player to win the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
*
Kelly Fyffe-Marshall Kelly Fyffe-Marshall is a Canadian filmmaker best known for her 2020 two-part short film '' Black Bodies'', which won the Changemaker Award at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, and won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Live Actio ...
, writer and filmmaker


G

*
Matt Galloway Matt Galloway (born 1970/1971) is a Canadian radio personality, who debuted in January 2020 as the host of '' The Current'' on CBC Radio One. Previously, he was the host of '' Metro Morning'' on the network's Toronto station CBLA-FM from 2010 to ...
, CBC Radio host * Harry Gairey, community activist *
Robyn Gayle Robyn Krista Gayle (born 31 October 1985) is a former Canadian soccer player who was both a CONCACAF champion and Olympic bronze medal winner. She played her club career in Canada and the United States, including two years with the Washington S ...
, former soccer player * Kendall Gender, drag entertainer *
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs Mifflin Wistar Gibbs (April 17, 1823 – July 11, 1915) was an American-Canadian politician, businessman, and advocate for Black rights. He became the first Black person elected to public office in British Columbia on November 16, 1866, upon win ...
, merchant and member of
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...
City Council in the 1860s * Chantal Gibson, poet *
Glenroy Gilbert Glenroy John Gilbert (born August 31, 1967 in Trinidad & Tobago) is a Canadian former track and field athlete, winner of the gold medal in 4×100 metres relay at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and head coach of Athletics Canada. Biography Born in ...
, Olympic gold medalist 4x100 relay (Atlanta 1996) *
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shaivonte Aician Gilgeous-Alexander ( ; born July 12, 1998), also known by his initials SGA, is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played one year of col ...
– NBA player *
Malcolm Gladwell Malcolm Timothy Gladwell (born 3 September 1963) is an English-born Canadian journalist, author, and public speaker. He has been a staff writer for ''The New Yorker'' since 1996. He has published seven books: '' The Tipping Point: How Little T ...
, journalist * George Godfrey, former boxer originally from Prince Edward Island * Patrice Goodman, actress *
Gary Goodridge Gary Henry Goodridge (born January 17, 1966), nicknamed "Big Daddy", is a Trinidadian-Canadian former heavyweight kickboxer and mixed martial artist fighting out of Barrie, Ontario. Prior to kickboxing and MMA, he was also one of the top ranked ...
, former
mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...
and
kickboxer Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general ...
* Kamala-Jean Gopie, activist and political candidate * Audrey Gordon, politician *
Stephen Gough Stephen Peter Gough (born 13 May 1959), popularly known as the "Naked Rambler", is a British pro-nudity activist and former Royal Marine. In 2003 and 2004, he walked the length of Great Britain naked, but was arrested when he did it again in 200 ...
, Nova Scotia MLA *
Dirk Graham Dirk Milton Graham (born July 29, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League. He was honored in 1991 as the Frank J. Selke Trophy winner ...
, first NHL captain of African descent *
Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre (born February 2, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and current studio analyst for the Columbus Blue Jackets on Bally Sports Ohio. He was drafted in the seventh round, 179th overall, by the St. L ...
, former NHL defenseman, currently playing in Europe *
Anais Granofsky Anais Granofsky (born May 14, 1973) is a Canadian actress, screenwriter, producer and director. She is best known for portraying Lucy Fernandez in the ''Degrassi Junior High'' and ''Degrassi High'' series. Early life Granofsky was born in Spring ...
, actor (''
Degrassi ''Degrassi'' is a Canadian television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler in 1979. It is centred on a multigenerational teen drama about an ensemble cast of teenagers attending the namesake Toronto school as they navigate their ad ...
'') * Marlene Green, community activist, educator, and NGO field worker * Matthew Green, politician * Robert Joseph Greene, writer * Stanley G. Grizzle, judge, community activist


H

*
Wes Hall Sir Wesley Winfield Hall (born 12 September 1937) is a Barbadian former cricketer and politician. A tall, strong and powerfully built man, Hall was a genuine fast bowler and despite his very long run up, he was renowned for his ability to bow ...
, businessman and ''Dragons' Den'' investor * William Hall, first Nova Scotian, third Canadian and first black person to be awarded the
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
* Quancetia Hamilton, actress *
Sherman Hamilton Sherman Hamilton (born April 23, 1972) is a retired Canadian professional basketball player. Hamilton was a longtime member of the Canadian men's national basketball team. He is currently a basketball analyst for Sportsnet and NBA TV Canada. Car ...
, basketball player and sportscaster *
Kevin Hanchard Kevin Hanchard (born July 4, 1974) is a Canadian actor, best known for his roles as Det. Arthur Bell in ''Orphan Black'' and Inspector Sematimba in ''The Expanse''. Hanchard currently appears as Superintendent Joseph Donovan in ''Hudson and Rex. ...
, actor *
Suzy Hansen Suzy Hansen (born 1978) is an American writer. Her book ''Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-America World'' was a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Early life and education Hansen was born in Wal ...
, politician *
Adrian Harewood Adrian Harewood is a Canadian television and radio journalist, and the anchor of CBOT's ''CBC News: Ottawa at 5/5:30/6'' and ''CBC News: Late Night'' in Ottawa. An Ottawa native, Harewood attended Ashbury College, a private school in Rockcliffe ...
,
CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...
journalist and host *
Winnie Harlow Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young (born July 27, 1994), known professionally as Winnie Harlow, is a Canadian fashion model and public spokesperson on the skin condition vitiligo. She gained prominence in 2014 as a contestant on the 21st cycle of th ...
, model * Alicia K. Harris, filmmaker *
Faisal Hassan Faisal Ahmed Hassan is a Canadian politician, who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2018 until his defeat in the 2022 Ontario general election. He represented the riding of York South—Weston as a member of the Ontario N ...
, politician *
Haviah Mighty Haviah Mighty (born December 17, 1992) is a Canadian rapper from Brampton, Ontario. She rose to prominence in 2016 as a member of the hip hop group the Sorority, before releasing several EPs on her own, most notably ''Flower City'', in 2017. He ...
, rapper * Wilson A. Head, sociologist and human rights activist *
Violet King Henry Violet Pauline King Henry (October 18, 1929 – March 30, 1982) was the first black woman lawyer in Canada, the first black person to graduate law in Alberta and the first black person to be admitted to the Alberta Bar. She was also the first wom ...
, first black female lawyer in Canada *
Josiah Henson Josiah Henson (June 15, 1789 – May 5, 1883) was an author, abolitionist, and minister. Born into slavery, in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, he escaped to Upper Canada (now Ontario) in 1830, and founded a settlement and laborer's scho ...
, former slave, believed to have been the inspiration for the novel ''
Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U. ...
'' *
Dan Hill Daniel Grafton Hill IV (born 3 June 1954) is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major international hits with his songs "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try", a duet with Vonda Shepard, as well as a number of other charting ...
, pop singer-songwriter * Daniel G. Hill, sociologist and first head of the
Ontario Human Rights Commission The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) was established in the Canadian province of Ontario on March 29, 1961, to administer the Ontario Human Rights Code. The OHRC is an arm's length agency of government accountable to the legislature through ...
*
Lawrence Hill Lawrence Hill (born January 24, 1957) is a Canadian novelist, essayist, and memoirist. He is known for his 2007 novel '' The Book of Negroes,'' inspired by the Black Loyalists given freedom and resettled in Nova Scotia by the British after the ...
, novelist and memoirist *
Darryl Hinds Darryl Hinds is a Canadian actor and sketch comedian, best known as a cast member of Royal Canadian Air Farce's annual New Year's Eve specials in the 2010s."Brampton's Darryl Hinds will add comedic excellence to Air Farce's New Year's eve special". ...
, actor and comedian *
Penny Hodge Penelope "Penny" Hodge (1920 – July 5, 2016) was a Canadian office worker and Activism, activist. Life and career The daughter of Martin Anderson, a Baptist preacher, and Alfaretta Berry, a teacher, she was born Penelope Anderson in Digby, ...
, activist *
Mark Holden Mark Ronald Holden (born 27 April 1954) is an Australian singer, actor, TV personality, record producer, songwriter, and barrister. He was a pop star in the 1970s and had four top 20 hit singles, "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" (May 1976 ...
, actor (''
Cyberpunk 2077 ''Cyberpunk 2077'' is a 2020 action role-playing video game developed by CD Projekt Red and published by CD Projekt. Set in Night City, an open world set in the ''Cyberpunk'' universe, players assume the role of a customisable mercenary know ...
'', '' Captain Phillips'', '' Deep State'') *
Adrian Holmes Adrian Holmes (born March 31, 1974) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his work on the Bravo television series '' 19-2'', for which he won a Canadian Screen Award in 2017. He is also known for playing the role of Uncle Phil in the ''Fresh Pr ...
, actor *
Jennifer Holness Jennifer Holness is a Jamaican-born Canadian film and television director, producer and screenwriter. She operates Hungry Eyes Media Inc., along with her business partner and husband Sudz Sutherland."At Home with Jennifer Holness & Sudz Sutherland" ...
, film and television writer and producer *
Nicole Holness Nicole Holness (born April 13, 1984) is a TV host and R&B singer. Between 2002 and 2005, she was part of the Canadian girl group X-Quisite alongside Melanie Fiona and Nirvana Savoury. In 2006, Holness was chosen as one of the original seven co- ...
, singer and broadcaster *
Charmaine Hooper Charmaine Elizabeth Hooper (born January 15, 1968) is a Canadian retired soccer player. A four-time winner of the Canadian Players of the Year award and member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, Hooper played on the Canada women's national socc ...
,
soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
player; retired as leader in appearances and goals for the women's national team *
Nalo Hopkinson Nalo Hopkinson (born 20 December 1960) is a Jamaican-born Canadian speculative fiction writer and editor. Her novels ('' Brown Girl in the Ring'', ''Midnight Robber'', '' The Salt Roads'', ''The New Moon's Arms'') and short stories such as thos ...
,
science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
author *
Jennifer Hosten Jennifer Hosten (born 31 October 1947) is a Grenadian radio announcer, development worker, diplomat, author, model and beauty queen who won the Miss World 1970 contest, representing Grenada. She became the first black woman and the first woman ...
, Canadian High Commissioner to Grenada and diplomat * Frederick Langdon Hubbard, chair of the Toronto Transit Commission *
William Peyton Hubbard William Peyton Hubbard (January 27, 1842 – April 30, 1935), a Toronto alderman from 1894 to 1914, was a popular and influential politician, nicknamed Cicero for his oratory; he was one of the first politicians of African descent elected to offic ...
, former Toronto alderman, controller and acting mayor * Jada Shada Hudson, drag entertainer *
Kimberly Huie Kimberly Huie is a Jamaican-born Canadian actress,"An `exotic in the land of blondes' wants to move the masses She covets meaty roles exposing disturbing sides of the human psyche". ''Toronto Star'', March 12, 1995. best known for her lead roles ...
, actress *
Mitzie Hunter Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter (born September 14, 1971) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was first elected in a by-election on August 1, 2013 and later re-elected in the elections ...
, politician * Nate Husser, rapper *
Atiba Hutchinson Atiba Hutchinson (born 8 February 1983) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and captains both Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Canada national team. While playing in Denmark he won the Danish Super Liga Player o ...
, professional footballer for Besiktas J.K. *
Junior Hoilett David Wayne Hoilett Jr. (born 5 June 1990), known as Junior Hoilett, is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Reading and the Canada national team. After impressing in a youth tournament, Hoile ...


I

*
Israel Idonije Israel Idonije (born November 17, 1980) is a retired Nigerian-Canadian defensive end in the National Football League and actor. Idonije was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns out of the University of Manitoba. A draft pi ...
, defensive end for the NFL's
Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...
*
Marci Ien Marci Ien (born July 29, 1969) is a Canadian politician serving as the minister for women and gender equality and youth since October 26, 2021. A member of the Liberal Party, Ien represents Toronto Centre in the House of Commons. Previously, s ...
, politician, former
CTV News CTV News is the news division of the CTV Television Network in Canada. The name ''CTV News'' is also applied as the title of local and regional newscasts on the network's owned-and-operated stations (O&Os), which are closely tied to the national ...
journalist *
Daniel Igali Baraladei Daniel Igali (born February 3, 1974 in Eniwari, Bayelsa State, Nigeria) is a Canadian freestyle wrestler who is an Olympic gold medallist. He lives in Surrey, British Columbia. Wrestling career As captain of the Nigerian wrestling tea ...
, Olympic gold medalist in wrestling (
Sydney 2000 The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
) *
Jarome Iginla Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla (; born July 1, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He played over 1500 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Br ...
, Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, NHL All-Star and Olympic gold medalist ( Salt Lake 2002,
Vancouver 2010 )'' , nations = 82 , athletes = 2,626 , events = 86 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , opening = February 12, 2010 , closing = February 28, 2010 , opened_by = Governor General Michaëlle Jean , cauldron = Catriona Le May DoanNancy GreeneWayne Gretz ...
) *
Tony Ince Tony Ince (born 1958) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election, representing the electoral district of Cole Harbour for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party where he defeated the in ...
, politician *
Orin Isaacs Orin Isaacs is a television and film music composer/producer, best known as the musical director, bandleader and bassist on Mike Bullard's late-night talk shows ''Open Mike with Mike Bullard'' and ''The Mike Bullard Show''. Orin is also known as ...
, bandleader (''
Open Mike with Mike Bullard ''Open-Mike with Mike Bullard'' was a Canadian late-night talk show which was broadcast live from 1997 to 2003 on CTV and on The Comedy Network in primetime. It was hosted by comedian Mike Bullard and initially taped at a studio at the back of W ...
'', ''
The Mike Bullard Show ''The Mike Bullard Show'' was a Canadian late-night talk show which aired weeknights at 12:05 AM on Global from November 24, 2003 to March 11, 2004. The show was hosted by comedian Mike Bullard and taped at the Global Theatre in Toronto, Ontario. ...
''), musician and music producer *
Tajja Isen Tajja Isen (born June 29, 1991) is a Canadian writer, editor, and voice actress. Her first book, the essay collection Some of My Best Friends: Essays on Lip Service, was published in April 2022. As an actor, she is best known for voicing the tit ...
, actress/singer (''Atomic Betty'') *
Ayisha Issa Ayisha Issa is a Canadian actress and martial arts practitioner born in Montreal, Quebec. She has played a number of roles in both English- and French-language television series and films, such as ''Dark Matter'', ''Unité 9'', and '' Brick Mansion ...
, actress *
Richard Iton Richard Iton (September 14, 1961 – April 21, 2013) was a professor of African American studies at Northwestern University, known for his work on the ways black popular culture forged community and affected politics. Born in Montreal, Quebec, ...
, academic and writer


J

*
John Henry Jackson John Henry Jackson (1938 - December 11, 2018) was an American-Canadian football player and restaurateur.Morgan Campbell"John Henry Jackson was a quarterback, restaurateur and pioneer" ''Toronto Star'', December 13, 2018. Football career Born in C ...
, football player and restaurateurMorgan Campbell
"John Henry Jackson was a quarterback, restaurateur and pioneer"
''
Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...
'', December 13, 2018. *
Ovid Jackson Ovid L. Jackson, (born February 3, 1939, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana) is a Canadians, Canadian politician. He represented the federal riding of Bruce—Grey and Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound in the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons fo ...
, former Member of Parliament and former mayor of
Owen Sound Owen Sound ( 2021 Census population 21,612) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat of Grey County, it is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi and Sydenham Rivers on an inlet of Georgian Bay. The primary tourist attract ...
*
Sammy Jackson Sammy Jackson (August 18, 1937 – April 26, 1995) was an American actor, known particularly for his roles reflecting rural life, and a country music disc jockey, although he also played pop-standards during 1983 at Los Angeles's KMPC. He als ...
, jazz and rhythm and blues singer *
Angela James Angela Diane James (born December 22, 1964) is a Canadian former ice hockey player who played at the highest levels of senior hockey between 1980 and 2000. She was a member of numerous teams in the Central Ontario Women's Hockey League (COWHL) ...
, professional hockey player and
Hockey Hall of Fame , logo = Hockey Hall of Fame Logo.svg , logo_upright = 0.5 , image = Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto.jpg , caption = The Hall's present location on Yonge Street since 1992 , map_type = , former_name = , established = 1943 , location = 30 Y ...
inductee * Stephan James, actor *
Yolande James Yolande James (born November 21, 1977 in Montreal, Quebec) is a former Quebec provincial politician. She was the first black female MNA and the youngest, as well as the first black cabinet minister in Quebec history. A member of the Quebec Lib ...
, Quebec Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities *
Yazmeen Jamieson Yazmeen Alexis Jamieson (born 17 March 1998) is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Simcoe County Rovers FC in League1 Ontario. Born in Canada, she represents the Jamaica women's national team. Early life Jamieson was born to a Jama ...
, professional soccer player * Sterling Jarvis, actor and musician *
Yves Jarvis Yves Jarvis is the stage name of Jean-Sébastien Yves Audet,
, musician *
Michaëlle Jean Michaëlle Jean (; born September 6, 1957) is a Canadian stateswoman and former journalist who served from 2005 to 2010 as governor general of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation. She is the first Haitian Canadian and black person ...
, former broadcaster and former
Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm, t ...
, the first mixed race person in Canadian history appointed to that position * Schelby Jean-Baptiste, actress *
Jelleestone David Carty, known by his stage name Jelleestone, is a Canadian rapper."Rex's Jelleestone eyes U.S". '' Billboard'', August 4, 2001. Early life Originally from the Rexdale neighbourhood in the former city of Etobicoke (now Toronto),"Jellee has the ...
, rapper *
Jemeni Joanne Gairy, better known by her stage name Jemeni, is a singer, actress, writer, activist, broadcaster and community worker. She was born in Grenada and grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario and now lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She studied ...
, singer and broadcaster *
Ferguson Jenkins Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins CM (born December 13, 1942) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher and coach. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 to 1983 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and ...
, baseball star and first Canadian elected to the (US) Baseball Hall of Fame *
Jean Augustine Jean Augustine (born September 9, 1937) is a Grenada-born Canadian politician. She was the first Black Canadian woman to serve as a federal Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament. From 1993 to 2006, Jean Augustine was a Liberal member ...
, first black Canadian politicians *
Marlene Jennings Marlene Jennings (born November 10, 1951) is a former Canadian politician. She was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada, and represented the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine from 1997 to 2011. Jen ...
, politician *
Harry Jerome Harry may refer to: TV shows * ''Harry'' (American TV series), a 1987 American comedy series starring Alan Arkin * ''Harry'' (British TV series), a 1993 BBC drama that ran for two seasons * ''Harry'' (talk show), a 2016 American daytime talk show ...
, sprinter and first Canadian to hold an official track and field world record *
Aisha Sasha John Aisha Sasha John (born 16 September 1980) is a Canadian poet, artist, and singing dancer. Life John was born in Montreal, Canada, and studied at the University of Toronto and University of Guelph. Her first collection of poems, ''The Shining M ...
, writer *
Lyndon John X Lyndon John X, sometimes also credited as LJX, is a Canadian reggae and ska musician. He is most noted for his 2019 album ''The Warning Track'', which won the Juno Award for Reggae Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020. Of Grenadian ...
, reggae musician *
Ben Johnson Ben, Benjamin or Benny Johnson may refer to: In sports Association football * Ben Johnson (footballer, born 2000), English footballer * Ben Johnson (soccer) (born 1977), American soccer player Other codes of football *Ben Johnson (Australian foot ...
, Olympic sprinter disqualified in 1988 drug scandal * Chris Johnson, boxer *
Clark Johnson Clark Johnson (born September 10, 1954), is an American-Canadian actor and director who has worked in both television and film. He is best known for his roles as David Jefferson in ''Night Heat'' (1985–1988), Clark Roberts in ''E.N.G.'' (1989 ...
, actor ('' Homicide: Life on the Street'') * Hal Johnson, television health and fitness personality *
Kirk Johnson Kirk Cyron Johnson (born June 29, 1972) is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2010, and challenged once for the World Boxing Association, WBA heavyweight title in 2002. Amateur career Johnson represented Canada at ...
, boxer * Louisa Ann Johnson, merchant and church supporter *
Molly Johnson Margaret Leslie "Molly" Johnson, Order of Canada, OC is a Canadian Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter of pop and jazz. Biography Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff Schoo ...
, rock and
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
vocalist *
Rocky Johnson Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles; August 24, 1944 – January 15, 2020) was a Canadian professional wrestler. Among many National Wrestling Alliance titles, he was the first Black Georgia Heavyweight Champion as well as the NWA Televisio ...
, professional wrestler *
Taborah Johnson Taborah Johnson, also known as Tabby Johnson, is a Canadian singer and actress. She is the sister of actor Clark Johnson and rock and jazz singer Molly Johnson. She began her career in the Toronto production of '' Hair'' as a teenager. She was ...
, singer, actor and radio broadcaster *
Denham Jolly Brandeis Denham Jolly, OD, , LL.D (born August 26, 1935)
, broadcast executive *
El Jones El Jones is a poet, journalist, professor and activist living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was Halifax's Poet Laureate from 2013 to 2015. Biography She was born in Wales and grew up in Winnipeg. Her book, ''Live From the Afrikan Resistance!'' ...
, writer * Mark Jones, sportscaster for
ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
and
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
* Oliver Jones, jazz pianist * Paul Jones, sportscaster and
Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...
radio play-by-play voice *
Rocky Jones Burnley Allan "Rocky" Jones (August 26, 1941 – July 29, 2013) was an African-Nova Scotian and an internationally known political activist in the areas of human rights, race and poverty. He came to prominence first as a member of the Student ...
, politician and activist * Spider Jones, journalist and former boxer *
Clifton Joseph Clifton Joseph is a Canadian dub poet."Scat, rap, soca, soul, a dub poet sings it all". ''Toronto Star'', April 5, 1988. He is most noted for his 1989 album ''Oral/Trans/Missions'', from which the song "Chuckie Prophesy" was a shortlisted Juno Awar ...
, poet and broadcaster *
Cory Joseph Cory Ephram Joseph (born August 20, 1991) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the point guard position and is also the captain of the Canadian national team. ...
, NBA player * David Joseph, basketball coach and former college player *
Devoe Joseph Devoe Joseph (born June 21, 1989) is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for Stelmet Zielona Góra of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). He also represents Canada in international competition. High school Joseph attended ...
, professional basketball player *
Akiel Julien Akiel Julien is a Canadian actor. He is known for his role as LaTroy in the teen drama series ''The Next Step (Canadian TV series), The Next Step'', for which he was a Canadian Screen Award nominee for Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in ...
, actor * Junia-T, rapper * Marie-Ève Juste, film director


K

* K-Anthony, gospel singer *
K'Naan Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1 February 1978) ( so, Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, ar, كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ ''Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama''), better known by his stage name K'naan (), is a Somali-Canadian musician. He rose to prominence ...
, hip-hop musician and singer *
k-os Kevin Brereton (born February 20, 1972), better known by his stage name k-os (; "chaos"), is a Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. His given name may also be cited as Kheaven, a spelling he later adopted. The alias "k ...
, hip-hop musician * Adria Kain, R&B singer *
Evander Kane Evander Frank Kane (born August 2, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and San J ...
, professional ice hockey player * Tommy Kane, former NFL wide receiver * KAPRI, dance/pop singer *
Arielle Kayabaga Arielle Kayabaga is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2021 Canadian federal election. She represents the electoral district of London West as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. Biography Bor ...
, politician *
Kaytranada Louis Kevin Celestin (born August 25, 1992), known professionally as Kaytranada (stylized as KAYTRANADA, shortened as KAYTRA), is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. Celestin rose to prominence after releasing a series of mixtapes, remixes, ...
, musician * Marlon Kazadi, actor * Hisham Kelati, comedian *
Kaie Kellough Kaie Kellough (born 1975) is a Canadians, Canadian poet and novelist. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, raised in Calgary, Alberta, and in 1998 moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he lives. Writing Kellough has published three books of p ...
, writer * Janaya Khan, activist * Kiara (Dimitri Nana-Côté), drag entertainer *
Rawlson King Rawlson O'Neil King is a Canadians, Canadian politician, who was elected to Ottawa City Council in a by-election on April 15, 2019Nam Kiwanuka Namugenyi "Nam" Kiwanuka is a Ugandan-Canadian television personality and journalist. Kiwanuka came to Canada with her family in 1983, following the Ugandan Civil War. She was given the Christian name Mary. She was a VJ for MuchMusic from 1999 ...
, television host and journalist *
Maka Kotto Maka Kotto (born December 7, 1961) is a Cameroonian-born French-Canadian politician. Educated in France, Kotto immigrated to Quebec, Canada, where he was an educator before entering politics. Kotto was a Parti Québécois member of the National A ...
, author and actor from Quebec elected to Canadian Parliament in 2004 (Bloc Québécois) *
Pierre Kwenders Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi
''
Sonnet L'Abbé Sonnet L'Abbé, is a Canadian poet, editor, professor and critic. As a poet, L'Abbé writes about national identity, race, gender and language. Career L'Abbé has a PhD in English literature from the University of British Columbia, a master's d ...
, poet and critic *
Dany Laferrière Dany Laferrière (born Windsor Kléber Laferrière, 13 April 1953) is a Haitian-Canadian novelist and journalist who writes in French. He was elected to seat 2 of the Académie française on 12 December 2013, and inducted in May 2015. Life Bo ...
, writer, elected to the
Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
*
Artis Lane Artis Lane (born Artis Shreve) is a Black Canadian sculptor and painter. Her bronze bust of Sojourner Truth is on display in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. It was unveiled in 2009, and was the first statue ...
, sculptor and artist *
Sam Langford Samuel Edgar Langford (March 4, 1886 – January 12, 1956), known as the Boston Tar Baby, Boston Terror and Boston Bonecrusher, was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. Called the "Greatest Fighter Nobody Know ...
, former boxer *
Georges Laraque Georges Edy Laraque (; born December 7, 1976) is a Canadian sports commentator, politician, and former ice hockey player. Laraque retired from hockey in 2010 after the Montreal Canadiens bought out his contract. He is a commentator for TVA Sport ...
, NHL player * Tobi Lark, jazz, blues and gospel singer *
Cyle Larin Cyle Christopher Larin (; born April 17, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Belgian First Division A team Club Brugge and the Canada national team. After playing college soccer for the UConn Huskies, Lar ...
, professional footballer playing for Besiktas J.K. *
Mélissa Laveaux Mélissa Laveaux (born 9 January 1985) is an independent Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist of Haitian descent previously signed to No Format!. Her music has been described as a mix of roots, folk, and blues using her signature percussive f ...
, musician * Olivier Le Jeune, believed to have been the first slave purchased in what later became Quebec *
Karen LeBlanc Karen LeBlanc is a Canadian film, television and musical theatre actress. Early life LeBlanc grew up in Tottenham, Ontario to family from Nova Scotia. She attended the musical theatre program at Sheridan College. Career Starting with a minor rol ...
, actress *
Didier Leclair Didier Leclair (born Didier Kabagema, 1967 in Montreal) is a Canadian francophone fiction writer currently based in Toronto.Ranee Lee Ranee Lee, CM (born October 26, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York City) is an American jazz singer and musician who resides in Montreal, Quebec. She is also an actor, author, educator and television host. Referred as “''Montreal's Queen of Jazz,'' ...
, jazz singer *
Michael Lee-Chin Michael Lee-Chin, (born 3 January 1951) is a Jamaican-Canadian billionaire businessman, and philanthropist and the chairman and CEO of Portland Holdings Inc, a privately held investment company in Ontario, Canada. Lee-Chin was appointed to th ...
, business leader * Marie-Évelyne Lessard, actress *
Sandra Levy Sandra Elizabeth Levy (born 3 December 1965 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a former field hockey player, who represented Canada at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The Toronto, Ontario nativ ...
, Olympic field hockey player *
Alan Shane Lewis Alan Shane Lewis is a Canadians, Canadian comedian, actor and television host, best known as the co-host with Ann Pornel of ''The Great Canadian Baking Show'' since season 4. An alumnus of The Second City's Toronto company who appeared most notabl ...
, comedian and television host *
Andrea Lewis Andrea Desiree Lewis (born August 15, 1985) is a Canadian actress and singer known for her role as Hazel Aden in the long-running TV series '' Degrassi: The Next Generation''. Television and film Lewis appeared with Diahann Carroll in the biop ...
, actress ('' Degrassi: The Next Generation'') * Daurene Lewis, first black woman mayor in North America *
Glenn Lewis Glennon Ricketts Jr. (born March 13, 1975), professionally known as Glenn Lewis, is a Canadian neo soul singer–songwriter. Lewis earned a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 and has also won a Juno Award out of a total of six nominations. Early li ...
, R&B singer *
Lennox Lewis Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965) is a former professional boxer and boxing commentator who competed from 1989 to 2003. He is a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and the last heavyweight to hold ...
, professional boxer (Olympic gold medallist and three-time heavyweight champion) *
Leslyn Lewis Leslyn Lewis (born December 2, 1970) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Haldimand—Norfolk since 2021. A member of the Conservative Party, Lewis contested the party leadership in the 2020 ...
, politician *
Ray Lewis Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr. (born May 15, 1975) is an American former professional American football, football player who played as a Linebacker#Middle linebacker, middle linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens for his entire 17-year career in th ...
, first Canadian-born black person to win a medal in the Olympics *
Sharon Lewis Sharon M. Lewis is a Canadians, Canadian television personality and film director from Toronto, Ontario. She studied political science at the University of Toronto.John McKay, "Sharon Lewis finds activism experience a plus for new role as Counter ...
, journalist * Murray Lightburn, rock singer-songwriter (
The Dears The Dears are a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec. The band is led by the husband-and-wife duo of singer-guitarist Murray Lightburn and keyboardist Natalia Yanchak. History The band formed in 1995 and released their first album, ...
) *
Laura Mae Lindo Laura Mae Monique Lindo (born 1976) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Kitchener Centre as a member of the Ontario New Democrat ...
, politician *
Little X Julien Christian Lutz (born October 31, 1975), known professionally as Director X, is a Canadian filmmaker, commercial director, music video director, and television director. Having directed more than 100 music videos, he is widely known as a pr ...
, director *
Rich London Rich London (born Richard Davidson) is a rapper from Toronto, Ontario, currently signed to Soul Clap Records/Universal Music. Canadian hip hop legend Maestro Fresh Wes Wesley "Wes" Williams (born March 31, 1968) is a Canadians, Canadian rapp ...
, rapper *
Gilson Lubin Gilson Lubin is a stand-up comedian originally from Saint Lucia, West Indies. Living in Canada the comedian spent the past couple of years on the CTV programme MTV Live as a hosts/. Lubin's career has led to performances at Montreal's prestigio ...
, comedian * Canisia Lubrin, writer * Nicole Lyn, actress


M

*
Kaycee Madu Kelechi "Kaycee" Madu (born ) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has served as the deputy premier of Alberta and minister of skilled trades and professions since October 24, 2022. A member of the United Conservative Party (UCP), Madu has re ...
, Alberta MLA *
Maestro Maestro (; from the Italian ''wikt:maestro#Italian, maestro'' , meaning "wikt:master, master" or "teacher") is an honorific title of respect (plural: maestros or maestri). The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music ...
, hip-hop musician, first Canadian rapper to have a Top 40 hit in Canada *
Jamaal Magloire Jamaal Dane Magloire (born May 21, 1978) is a Canadian former professional basketball player who currently serves as basketball development consultant and community ambassador for the Toronto Raptors. He played 12 seasons in the National Basketbal ...
, NBA player *
Atlee Mahorn Atlee Anthony Mahorn (born 27 October 1965) is a three-time Canadian Olympic and four-time World Championship sprinter. He won Bronze medals in the 200 metres at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo and the 4 x 100 metre relay at the 1993 ...
, sprinter *
Ahdri Zhina Mandiela Ahdri Zhina Mandiela (born May 10, 1953) is a Toronto-based dub poet, theatre producer, and artistic director. She has gained worldwide acclaim for her books, music recordings, film, theatre and dance productions.
, director *
Egerton Marcus Egerton Marcus (born February 2, 1965) is a Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2007. As an amateur, he won the silver medal in the middleweight division at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Early life Egerton is the ...
, boxer *
Amanda Marshall Amanda Meta Marshall (born August 29, 1972) is a Canadian pop-rock singer. She has released three studio albums; the first was certified Diamond in Canada, with the latter two certified 3× Platinum and Platinum respectively. She is best known f ...
, pop singer-songwriter *
Mike Marson Michael Robert Marson (born July 24, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played six seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings. Hockey career Amateur As a youth, Mars ...
, second black player in NHL history *
Lesra Martin Lesra Martin (born April 11, 1963) is an American-Canadian lawyer, motivational speaker and writer. He is perhaps best known for helping to bring about the release of former boxer Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter. Background Martin was born into ...
,
crown attorney Crown attorneys or crown counsel (or, in Alberta and New Brunswick, crown prosecutors) are the prosecutors in the legal system of Canada. Crown attorneys represent the Crown and act as prosecutor in proceedings under the Criminal Code and vario ...
and speaker; in his youth was involved in freeing Rubin Carter * Russell Martin, MLB player * Boman "Bomanizer" Martinez-Reid, comedian and social media content creatorLiz Calvario
"Boman Martinez-Reid on His TikTok Success and How to Diversify Your 'For You' Page"
''
Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Para ...
'', June 26, 2020. *
Beverly Mascoll Beverly Mascoll (born Beverly Ashe, 1941-2001) was a Canadian businesswoman, fundraiser, community leader, and Member of the Order of Canada. Early life and career Beverly Ashe was born on October 29, 1942, in Fall River, Nova Scotia, to pare ...
, entrepreneur and community leader * Marie-Sœurette Mathieu, writer * Yasmine Mathurin, documentary filmmaker * Denise Matthews, former model, actress and lead singer of Vanity 6 turned evangelist *
Rueben Mayes Rueben A. Mayes (born June 6, 1963) is a Canadian former American football running back who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) from 1986 to 1993. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame for his contributions w ...
, former NFL player * Robyn Maynard, writer * Suzette Mayr, writer *
Alexis Mazurin Alexis Mazurin (April 18, 1978 – October 20, 2005) was a Canadian comedian and radio personality, best known as one of the original hosts of ''CBC Radio 3''. Born in Fort St. John, British Columbia, Mazurin grew up in Penticton, and later st ...
,
CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...
host *
Melchior Mbonimpa Melchior Mbonimpa (born 1955) is a Burundian-Canadian writer. He is most noted for his novel ''Les morts ne sont pas morts'', which won the Prix Christine-Dumitriu-Van-Saanen from the Salon du livre de Toronto in 2006.Tawiah M'carthy, writer and actor * Trent McClellan, comedian *
Kandyse McClure Candice McClure (born 22 March 1980), known professionally as Kandyse McClure, is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Anastasia Dualla in the SyFy series ''Battlestar Galactica'' and as Dr. Clementine Chasseur in the Netflix series ...
, actress (''
Battlestar Galactica ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series), original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel se ...
'') *
Elijah McCoy Elijah J. McCoy (May 2, 1844 – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-American engineer of African-American descent who invented lubrication systems for steam engines. Born free on the Ontario shore of Lake Erie to parents who fled enslavem ...
, origin of "the real McCoy", inventor *
Howard McCurdy Howard Douglas McCurdy (December 10, 1932 – February 20, 2018) was a Canadian civil rights activist, politician and university professor. Life and career Born in London, Ontario, McCurdy's great-great grandfather Nasa McCurdy was an agent ...
, Member of Parliament, first black male to run for the leadership of a political party (the federal
New Democratic Party The New Democratic Party (NDP; french: Nouveau Parti démocratique, NPD) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * t ...
) * Jay W. McGee, musician *
Yanna McIntosh Yanna McIntosh (born 1970), sometimes credited as Yanna MacIntosh, is a Jamaican-born Canadian television, movie and theatrical actress. Early life McIntosh attended the University of Toronto and the Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Ha ...
, actress *
Tony McKegney Anthony Syiid McKegney (born February 15, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1978–79 until 1990–91. He is the first black player in NHL history to score 40 goal ...
, NHL player *
Berend McKenzie Berend McKenzie is a Canadian actor and playwright. As an actor he is most known for playing Lance in the 2004 film, Catwoman. As a playwright Berend is most known for his controversial play, ''Nggrfg'' (Nigger fag, subtitled, ''Would You Say the ...
, writer * Katherine McKittrick, writer *
Mark McKoy Mark Anthony McKoy (born December 10, 1961) is a Canadian retired track and field athlete. He won the gold medal in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He also won the 60 metres hurdles title at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Cha ...
, Olympic gold medalist 110 m hurdles (Barcelona 1992) *
Brandon Jay McLaren Brandon Jay McLaren (born October 15, 1982) is a Canadian actor. He made his first screen appearance in the television series ''Just Cause'' (2002). He has been known for his main and supporting roles in shows such as ''Graceland'', ''Power Range ...
, actor (''
Power Rangers S.P.D. ''Power Rangers S.P.D.'' is the thirteenth season of the television series, ''Power Rangers'', and is based on the 28th Super Sentai series ''Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger''. The season shares its title with the Korean dub of ''Dekaranger'' in South ...
'') * Kairo McLean, reggae musicianKelsey Adams
"At just 13 years old, Kairo McLean is the youngest reggae nominee ever at the Juno Awards"
CBC Music CBC Music (formerly known as CBC FM, CBC Stereo and CBC Radio 2) is a Canadian FM radio network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It used to concentrate on classical and jazz. In 2007 and 2008, the network transitioned towards a ...
, April 29, 2022. *
Tessa McWatt Tessa McWatt FRSL is a Guyanese-born Canadian writer. She has written seven novels and is a creative writing professor at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom. In 2021 she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Lit ...
, novelist *
Stella Meghie Stella Meghie is a Canadian film director and screenwriter. She is known for her feature films ''Jean of the Joneses'' (2016), '' Everything, Everything'' (2017)'', The Weekend'' (2018), and '' The Photograph'' (2020). Meghie has also directed e ...
, film director and screenwriter * Marie-Françoise Mégie, politician *
Traci Melchor Traci Melchor is a Canadian television personality. She is known for her role as an entertainment reporter for CTV's series '' etalk'' and as a judge of the reality competition series ''Canada's Drag Race''. Melchor is also the former co-host o ...
, television personality *
Don Meredith Joseph "Dandy" Don Meredith (April 10, 1938 – December 5, 2010) was an American football quarterback, sports commentator, and actor. He spent all nine seasons of his professional playing career (1960–1968) with the Dallas Cowboys of the Na ...
, politician *
Mentallo Mentallo (Marvin Flumm) is a fictional supervillain, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. After having been fired for cause after attempting a covert S.H.I.E.L.D. takeover, he has since operated as both a freela ...
, professional wrestler *
Nega Mezlekia Nega Mezlekia (Amharic: ነጋ መዝለቂያ; born 1958) is an Ethiopian writer who writes in English. His first language is the Amharic language, but since the 1980s he has lived in Canada so speaks and writes in English. Nega was born in Jijig ...
, writer *
Kim Katrin Milan Kim Katrin (born March 9, 1984) is a Canadian American writer, multidisciplinary artist, activist, consultant, and educator. She was formerly credited as Kim Crosby and Kim Katrin Milan. She speaks on panels and keynotes conferences nationally,M ...
, writer *
Myst Milano Myst Milano is a Canadian rapper and DJ. Their debut album ''Shapeshyfter'' was released in 2021, and was longlisted for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize. Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Milano is a longtime DJ in Toronto's ball culture, ballroom co ...
, musician *
Rollie Miles Rollie is a nickname, often for Roland or Rolland, and occasionally a given name which may refer to: Rolands * Rollie Boutin (born 1957), Canadian retired ice hockey goaltender * Rollie Cook (born 1952), Canadian politician * Rollie Dotsch (1933- ...
, CFL player *
Shadrach Minkins Shadrach Minkins (c. 1814 – December 13, 1875) was an African-American fugitive slave from Virginia who escaped in 1850 and reached Boston. He also used the pseudonyms Frederick Wilkins and Frederick Jenkins.Collison (1998), p. 1. He is known fo ...
, American-born fugitive slave rescued from federal custody in Boston in 1851 who settled in Montreal * Chris Moise, Toronto city councillor *
Moka Only Daniel Denton (born November 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Moka Only, is a Canadian underground hip hop artist. He has won 3 JUNO Awards, 5 MuchMusic Video Awards, and has been nominated for 11 Western Canadian Music Awards. Origina ...
, rapper of the
Swollen Members Swollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting mainly of Madchild and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only (who was actually a member of the group for a short period of time in the ...
*
Firmin Monestime Saint-Firmin (S. F.) Monestime (December 16, 1909 – October 27, 1977) was a Haitian-Canadian politician and medical doctor, who was the first Black Canadian elected mayor of a Canadian municipality.
, mayor of Mattawa,
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
; first black mayor in Canada *
Andrew Moodie Andrew Moodie (born November 30, 1966) is a Canadian actor and playwright.Gaetan Charlebois and Anne Nothof"Moodie, Andrew" ''Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia'', November 16, 2021. He is most noted for his plays ''Riot'', which was a winner of the Floy ...
, actor and playwright *
Tanya Moodie Tanya may refer to: * Tanya (Judaism),an early work of Hasidic philosophy by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. * Tanya (name), a given name and list of people with the name * Tanya or Lara Saint Paul (born 1946) * List of Mortal Kombat characters#Tany ...
, actress based in the United Kingdom *
Roger Mooking Roger Mooking is a Trinidadian-Canadian chef, musician, and television host. Mooking is the host of the television series '' Man Fire Food'' (2012 to present). He is also the host and co-creator of ''Everyday Exotic''. Both programs aired on the ...
, chef * Tracy Moore, journalist * Annmarie Morais, writer *
Carlos Morgan Carlos Morgan is a Canadian soul and rhythm and blues singer.
, R&B/soul singer *
Dwayne Morgan Dwayne Morgan is a Canadian spoken word artist, motivational speaker and event organizer based in Toronto, Ontario. Morgan began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. He is the founder of Up From The Roots Entertainment, which was estab ...
,
spoken word Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
artist *
Vanessa Morgan Vanessa Morgan Mziray (born March 23, 1992), known professionally as Vanessa Morgan, is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Beatrix "Bird" Castro in the MTV teen drama series ''Finding Carter'', as Amanda Pierce in the Family teen ...
, actress and singer (from Ottawa) *
Amber Morley Amber Morley is a Canadian politician who has represented Ward 3 Etobicoke—Lakeshore on Toronto City Council since 2022. Background Prior to her election to council, Morley worked at the LAMP Community Health Centre, and as an administrative ...
, Toronto city councillor * MorMor, musician *
Paul S. Morton Paul Sylvester Morton (born July 30, 1950) is an American Baptist pastor. He is the senior pastor of Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and co-pastor of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Or ...
, pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church in New Orleans, a church with over 20,000 members *
Jamie Moses Jamie Moses (born 30 August 1955) is an English rock and pop singer and guitarist. He was formerly a member of The Brian May Band, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Mike & the Mechanics and Broken English. Biography The son of an American father (a ...
, politician *
Aaron Albert Mossell Aaron Albert Mossell II (1863 - February 1, 1951) was the first African-American to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Biography Aaron Albert Mossell II was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1863, the youngest of six children. ...
, first black person to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School *
Nathan Francis Mossell Nathan Francis Mossell (July 27, 1856 – October 27, 1946) was the first African-American graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1882. He did post-graduate training at hospitals in Philadelphia and London. In 1888, ...
, first black person to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School *
Joseph Motiki Joseph Frederick Motiki (born July 31, 1972) is a Canadian television host, actor, and performer. He is best known for hosting the TVOntario children's block '' The TVOKids Crawlspace'' and the Food Network game show ''Ice Cold Cash''. Early life ...
, television host * Thamela Mpumlwana, actor * Sheila Murray, writer * Téa Mutonji, writer * Jamaal Myers, Toronto city councillor


N

* Blaise Ndala, writer *
Haydain Neale Haydain Neale (September 3, 1970 – November 22, 2009) was a Canadian singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario. He was best known as the lead singer of Juno Award-winning band jacksoul. Neale also served on the faculty of the Humber College S ...
, R&B/soul singer ( Jacksoul) *
Ray Neufeld Raymond Matthew Neufeld (born April 15, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger originally from Winkler, Manitoba. He is currently working in the oil industry, but remains closely associated with minor and junior hockey a ...
, former NHL player *
Kathleen Newman-Bremang Kathleen Newman-Bremang is a Canadian writer and broadcaster, most noted as a journalist and editor for ''Refinery29'' and as a guest commentator on the CBC Radio One arts and culture magazine show '' Q''. She has also worked as a television produ ...
, writer and broadcaster *
Carlos Newton Carlos Newton (born August 17, 1976) is an Anguillian-born Canadian retired mixed martial artist. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and Pride FC Japan MMA Legend. Known as "The Ronin", he competed worldwide in the biggest MMA organizatio ...
, former mixed martial artist (
UFC Welterweight Champion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classe ...
) * Andrew Nicholson, NBA player *
Cecily Nicholson Cecily Nicholson is a Canadians, Canadian poet, arts administrator, independent curator, and activist. Originally from Ontario, she is now based in British Columbia. As a writer and a poet, Nicholson has published collections of poetry, contribut ...
, poet *
Darnell Nurse Darnell Nurse (born February 4, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nurse was selected by the Oilers seventh overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Dr ...
, NHL player *
Kia Nurse Kia Nurse (born February 22, 1996) is a Canadian basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. She is also a basketball analyst featured on TSN. Nurse has played for the Canada Women's National Basketball team. She was selected to pl ...
, professional basketball player *
Richard Nurse Richard Nurse (born March 13, 1966) is a Canadian former wide receiver who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the third round of the 1990 CFL Draft. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Nurse was ...
, former CFL player


O

*
Samuel Oghale Oboh Samuel Óghalé Oboh (born March 27, 1971) is a Canadian architect, manager, leader, former Vice President - Architecture at AECOM Canada Architects Ltd - a Fortune 500 Company and the 2015 President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Cana ...
, first person of African descent to be President of the 110-year old Royal Architectural Institute of Canada *
OBUXUM OBUXUM is the stage name of Muxubo Mohamed, a Somalian-Canadian electronic music producer. She is most noted for her album ''Re-Birth'', which was longlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize. She debuted with the EP ''H.E.R.'' in 2018. ''Re-Birt ...
, musician and record producer * David Nandi Odhiambo, writer *
Charles Officer Charles Officer (October 28, 1975 – December 1, 2023) was a Canadian film and television director, writer, actor, and professional hockey player. Background Charles Officer was born in Toronto, Ontario on October 28, 1972. He was born to a ...
, film director *
Kardinal Offishall Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall (), is a Canadian rapper, record producer, DJ, and record executive. Often credited as Canada's " hip hop ambassador", he is regarded as one of the country ...
, rapper *
Lana Ogilvie Lana Ogilvie is a Canadian fashion model. She was the first model of colour to be given a contract with the CoverGirl cosmetics brand, frequently being paired with Rachel Hunter. She appeared in the 1994 ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' a ...
, fashion model/TV hostess *
Thomas Antony Olajide Thomas Antony Olajide, sometimes also credited as Thomas Olajide, is a Canadian actor from Vancouver, British Columbia.
, actor *
Donald Oliver Donald H. Oliver (born November 16, 1938) is a Canadian lawyer, developer and politician. Appointed by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Oliver served in the Senate of Canada from 1990 until 2013. He was the first black male to sit in the S ...
, first black senator from Nova Scotia * Tolu Oloruntoba, poet *
Willie O'Ree Willie Eldon O'Ree (born October 15, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, best known for being the first Black player in the National Hockey League (NHL). O'Ree played as a winger for the Boston Bruins. O'Ree is referred t ...
, first black hockey player in the National Hockey League *
Gabriel Osson Gabriel Osson is a Haitian-Canadian writer and broadcaster, whose novel ''Le jour se lèvera'' won the Prix Alain-Thomas from the Salon du livre de Toronto in 2021.Milton Ottey Milton Bruce "Milt" Ottey (born December 29, 1959 in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica) is a retired Canadian high jumper. Ottey came to Canada at the age of 10 years. He attended and graduated from high school in the Toronto District School Board (T ...
, world champion high jumper * Ouri, electronic musician and DJ


P

*
Brenda Paris Brenda Mae Paris is a politician and activist in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is a prominent figure in Montreal's black community and has sought election to Montreal city council on two occasions. Early life and private career Paris was born in Mo ...
, activist and politician * John Paris Jr., hockey coach *
Percy Paris Percy Alonzo Paris is a Canadians, Canadian former politician from Nova Scotia. He represented the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party between 2006-2013. ...
, politician * Stuart Parker, leader of the
Green Party of British Columbia The Green Party of British Columbia, often simply called the BC Greens, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1983 and is based in Victoria. The party won its first seat in the Legislative Assembly of Br ...
1993 to 2000 *
Amanda Parris Amanda Parris is a Canadian broadcaster and writer. An arts reporter and producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, she hosts the CBC Television series '' Exhibitionists'', '' The Filmmakers'' and '' From the Vaults'', and the CBC Mus ...
, broadcaster and writer *
PartyNextDoor Jahron Anthony Brathwaite (born July 3, 1993), known professionally as PartyNextDoor (stylized as PARTYNEXTDOOR), is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. PartyNextDoor was the first artist signed to Drake's OVO Sound record label ...
, R&B singer *
Annamie Paul Annamie Paul (born November 3, 1972) is a Canadian activist, lawyer, and former politician who served as the leader of the Green Party of Canada from 2020 to 2021. She was the first Black Canadian and first Jewish woman to be elected leader of ...
, politician, leader of the
Green Party of Canada The Green Party of Canada (french: Parti vert du Canada) is a federal political party in Canada, founded in 1983 with a focus on green politics. The Green Party is currently the fifth largest party in the House of Commons by seat count. It el ...
, the first black leader of a federal party in Canada *
Michaela Pereira Michaela Pereira (born August 26, 1970) is a Canadian television personality best known as being a former anchor for KTLA in Los Angeles and for the KTTV FOX11 Los Angeles morning show, ''Good Day LA''. She announced on March 28, 2013, that she ...
, journalist * Kayla Perrin, writer *
Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...
, jazz pianist *
Anthony Phelps Anthony Phelps (born August 25, 1928) is a Haitian Canadian writer, whose novel ''La contrainte de l’inachevé'' was a Governor General's Literary Award nominee for French-language fiction at the 2007 Governor General's Awards. Born in Port-au- ...
, Haitian-Canadian writer *
M. NourbeSe Philip Marlene Nourbese Philip (born 3 February 1947), usually credited as M. NourbeSe Philip, is a Canadian poet, novelist, playwright, essayist and short story writer. Life and works Born in the Caribbean in Woodlands, Moriah, Trinidad and Tobago, W ...
, poet, novelist and essayist * Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, Islamic scholar and founder of the Islamic Online University *
Joseph Jomo Pierre Joseph Jomo Pierre, also credited as Joseph Pierre, is a Trinidadian-Canadian actor and playwright.Carmine Pierre-Dufour Carmine Pierre-Dufour is a Canadian film director and screenwriter from Quebec. She is most noted as co-director with Emilie Mannering of the short film '' Mahalia Melts in the Rain'', which was a shortlisted Canadian Screen Award nominee for Bes ...
, filmmaker (''
Mahalia Melts in the Rain ''Mahalia Melts in the Rain'' is a Canadian short drama film, directed by Émilie Mannering and Carmine Pierre-Dufour and released in 2018. The film stars Kaiyonni Banton-Renner as Mahalia, a young Black Canadian girl who feels self-conscious abo ...
'', '' Fanmi'') *
Shailyn Pierre-Dixon Shailyn Pierre-Dixon (born June 1, 2003) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her role as the young Aminata in the television miniseries '' The Book of Negroes'', for which she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress in a ...
, actress *
Burr Plato Burr Plato (–1905) was a Canadian political figure. Of African-American background, he was born into slavery in Logan County, today part of West Virginia. Burr succeeded in escaping enslavement and making his way to Canada in 1856 after an arduo ...
, town councillor for
Niagara Falls Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...
(1886-1901) *
Juliette Powell Juliette Powell American-born Canadian model, television host, producer and author. She was the Miss Canada titleholder in 1989, the contest's first Black Canadian winner. Early life Powell was born in Manhattan, New York in 1971 and moved to Mo ...
, television host, first black
Miss Canada Miss Canada is a beauty pageant for young women in Canada. It was founded in Hamilton in 1946. No title was awarded from 1993 through 2008. The trademark was purchased in 2009 by a Québec organization who produces the pageant under the name to ...
(1989) *Rev.
Richard Preston Richard Preston (born August 5, 1954) is a writer for ''The New Yorker'' and bestselling author who has written books about infectious disease, bioterrorism, redwoods and other subjects, as well as fiction. Biography Preston was born in Cambri ...
, anti-slavery activist and founder of African Baptist Association of Nova Scotia * Prevail, rapper of the
Swollen Members Swollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting mainly of Madchild and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only (who was actually a member of the group for a short period of time in the ...
*
Althea Prince Althea Prince (born 1945) is a Black Canadian author, editor and professor. Her novels and non-fiction essays are known for exploring themes of love, identity, the impact of migration, and finding a sense of belonging in Canada. She is the sister ...
, writer * Garth Prince, children's entertainerThandiwe Konguavi
"Film captures Edmonton music instructor's homecoming to Namibia"
CBC News CBC News is a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on the corporation's English-language operations, namely CBC Television, CBC Radio, CBC News Network, and CBC.ca. ...
Edmonton, July 29, 2019. *
Dwayne Provo Dwayne Provo (born October 7, 1970) is a Canadian athlete, school administrator, and politician. Early life Provo was born in North Preston, Nova Scotia (one of Canada's largest Black communities) and attended university at Saint Mary's Univers ...
, Canadian Football League player *
Jaime Peters Jaime Bryant Piet Peters (born 4 May 1987) is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a right wing-back. He represented Canada at various levels. He was a member of the U20 team at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Youth career ...


Q

*
Quanteisha Quanteisha Benjamin, often referred to as Q-Benjamin, is a Canadian R&B singer. Early life Quanteisha grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2008 she entered the local singing competition Bounce Showdown, held by contemporary hit radio station 91.7 ...
, R&B singer * Quddus,
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
VJ


R

*
Rob Rainford Rob Rainford (born November 30, 1966) is a Canadian chef, author of ''Rob Rainford's Born to Grill'' and former host of ''Licence to Grill'' (LTG) on the Food Network Canada, Destination America, Discovery Home (in the United States) and Asian F ...
, chef *
Micheline Rawlins Micheline A. Rawlins (born 1951) is a lawyer and judge in Ontario, Canada. She was the first black woman appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice. Education and career She was born in Montreal, Quebec and received a BA from McGill Universit ...
, first black woman appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice * Savannah Ré, singerNick Krewen
"Scarborough R&B singer/songwriter Savannah Ré releases debut ‘Opia’"
''
Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...
'', November 20, 2020. *
Pokey Reddick Eldon Wade "Pokey" Reddick (born October 6, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 to 1993–94. Playing career As a youth, Reddick played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee ...
, Stanley Cup champion,
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
goalie * Zalika Reid-Benta, writer *
Gloria Reuben Gloria Elizabeth Reuben is a Canadian-American actress, producer, and singer. She is well-known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the medical drama ''ER (TV series), ER'' (1995–1999, 2008), for which she was twice nominated for an Emmy Award, a ...
, actress ('' ER'') *
Cabbie Richards Cabral Richards, better known as Cabbie, is a Canadians, Canadian sports television personality who is best known for his time on ''SportsCentre'' on The Sports Network, TSN, a Canadian sports cable television network. Broadcasting career Origi ...
, radio personality * Cara Ricketts, actress *
Jayde Riviere Jayde Yuk Fun Riviere (born January 22, 2001) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender for Manchester United of the English Women's Super League and the Canada women's national team. Riviere played college soccer at the University ...
, soccer player *
Jackie Richardson Jackie Richardson (born January 4, 1947) is a Canadian singer and actress. Richardson is known for her screen roles in '' Turning to Stone'', ''The Gospel According to the Blues'', ''The Doodlebops'', and '' Sins of the Father''. She is also kno ...
, jazz, blues and gospel singer * Jael Richardson, writer *
Kim Richardson Kim Richardson (born December 22, 1965) is a Canadian singer and actress,
, pop, jazz, blues and gospel singer * Bill Riley, third black player in NHL history *
Charles Roach Charles Conliff Mende Roach (September 18, 1933 – October 2, 2012) was a Canadian civil rights lawyer and an activist in the Black community in Toronto. Early life Born in Belmont, Trinidad and Tobago, the son of a trade union organizer, ...
, Canadian civil rights lawyer; activist in the black community in Toronto; had many contributions to the wider community in Toronto, including being one of the founders of what was known as Caribana in 1967 *
Karen Robinson Karen Robinson (born February 29, 1968) is a British-Canadian film, television, and stage actress. She won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance in a Guest Role in a Drama Series at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards in 2019 for her appearan ...
, actress * Kenny Robinson, stand-up comedian, TV host *
Percy Rodriguez Percy Rodriguez (born Percy Rodrigues; June 13, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was a Canadian actor who appeared in many television shows and films from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was of Afro-Portuguese heritage and was born in the Saint-Henri neigh ...
, actor * George Rogers, former mayor of
Leduc, Alberta Leduc ( ) is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is south of the provincial capital of Edmonton and is part of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. History Leduc was established in 1891, when Robert Telford, a settler, who had bought ...
, current MLA for the riding of Leduc-Beaumont-Devon * Michelle Ross, drag entertainer * Ronnie Rowe, actor *
RT! Randall Thorne, better known by his pseudonyms RT! and R.T. Thorne, is a Canadian writer and television director known for creating deeply immersive visual worlds. He has emerged as one of Canada's most eclectic storytellers since debuting on the ...
, director *
Calvin Ruck Calvin Woodrow Ruck (September 4, 1925 – October 19, 2004) was a human rights activist and a member of the Senate of Canada. He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia; his parents were immigrants to Canada from Barbados. Ruck's life has been do ...
, senator * Donovan "Razor" Ruddock, professional boxer


S

* Shakura S'Aida, jazz and blues singer * Rodney Saint-Éloi, poet *
Kwasi Songui Kwasi Songui is a Canadian actor. He is best known for playing the role of Jon Jon Hendricks in '' Blue Mountain State''. Filmography Film Television Video games References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Songui, Kwasi Year of birth ...
, actor * Beverley Salmon, politician *
Liselle Sambury Liselle Sambury is a Trinidadian Canadian writer of young adult fantasy literature, whose debut novel ''Blood Like Magic'' was a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature at the 2021 Governor G ...
, writer *
Samito Samito is a Mozambican-Canadian musician and overall creative who founded Fezihaus, a Montréal-based creative company, in 2020. His growing work is described as "entrenched in an unwavering enthusiasm for sounds and all-embracing conversations ...
, musician * Lance "Aquakultre" Sampson, soul and R&B musician * Robert Edison Sandiford, writer * Sarahmée, rapper *
Yolanda Sargeant Sargeant X Comrade is a Canadian soul music duo from Calgary, Alberta,Matt Bobkin"Sargeant X Comrade and Kool Keith Blast Off in "Romance in Outer Space" Video" ''Exclaim!'', January 13, 2021. whose full-length debut album ''Magic Radio'' was a long ...
, soul singer *
Mairuth Sarsfield Mairuth Hodge Sarsfield, CQ (6 March 1930 – 7 May 2013) was a Canadian activist, diplomat, journalist, researcher and television personality, as well as an accomplished broadcaster, civil servant, and best-selling author. Biography Sarsfield was ...
, novelist *
SATE Satay ( , in USA also , ), or sate in Indonesian spelling, is a Southeast Asian dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. The earliest preparations of satay is believed to have originated in Javanese cuisine, but h ...
, rock singer *
Charles R. Saunders Charles Robert Saunders (July 12, 1946May 2020) was an African-American author and journalist, a pioneer of the "sword and soul" literary genre with his Imaro novels.Tattrie, Jon.The extraordinary inner world of Charles R. Saunders, father of ...
, writer * John Saunders, sports journalist for ESPN and ABC * Mark Saunders, chief of the
Toronto Police Service The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is a municipal police force in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the primary agency responsible for providing law enforcement and policing services in Toronto. Established in 1834, it was the first local police ser ...
* Alison Sealy-Smith, actress *
Djanet Sears Djanet Sears is a Canadian playwright, actor and director, nationally recognized for her work in African-Canadian theatre. Sears has many credits in writing and editing highly acclaimed dramas such as ''Afrika Solo'', the first stage play to be wr ...
, playwright * Sagine Sémajuste, actressKatia Café-Fébrissy
"Sagine Sémajuste, une actrice qui assume ses choix"
''
TFO TFO is a Canadian French language educational television channel and media organization serving the province of Ontario. It is owned by the Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority (OTELFO), a Crown corporation owned by the ...
'', January 17, 2021. * Olive Senior, poet and short story writer *
Shad The Alosinae, or the shads,Alosinae
, hip hop musician *
Mary Ann Shadd Mary Ann Camberton Shadd Cary (October 9, 1823 – June 5, 1893) was an American-Canadian anti-slavery activist, journalist, publisher, teacher, and lawyer. She was the first black woman publisher in North America and the first woman publisher i ...
, first female newspaper publisher * Jackie Shane, R&B singer * Tony Sharpe, sprinter * Lisa Shaw, house and R&B/soul singer * David Shepherd, politician *
Anthony Sherwood Anthony Sherwood is a Canadian actor, producer, director and writer. Biography Sherwood was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sherwood's grandmother, Alice Kane (née Alice White), was a musician and music teacher, his mother was an amateur singer ...
, actor *
Simisola Shittu Oluwasimisola "Simisola" Shittu (born 7 November 1999) is a British-born Canadian professional basketball player for the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He was one of the top-ranked ...
(born 1999), British-born Canadian basketball player for Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League *Liberty Silver, R&B and jazz singer *Makeda Silvera, novelist *Angela Simmonds, politician *Wayne Simmonds, NHL player for the Toronto Maple Leafs *Denis Simpson, actor and children's television host *Dylan Sinclair, rhythm and blues singer *Eon Sinclair, bassist (Bedouin Soundclash) *Shawn Singleton, actor/musician *Zal Sissokho, musician *Slakah the Beatchild, soul/R&B singer and record producer *Makyla Smith, actress *So Sus, electronic musician *Frances-Anne Solomon, film producer, director, distributor *Spek Won, rapper *Chris Spence (educator), Chris Spence, director of education of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and then the Toronto District School Board, previously a CFL running back *Tony "Wild T" Springer, blues rock guitarist *Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, theatre director and playwright *Benjamin St-Juste, American football player *Paul Stalteri *Erroll Starr, musician *Gavin Stephens, comedian *Ordena Stephens-Thompson, actress *Anthony Stewart (ice hockey), Anthony Stewart, NHL player with the Florida Panthers *Jordan Subban, professional ice hockey defenceman *Malcolm Subban, professional ice hockey goaltender *P. K. Subban, NHL ice hockey defenceman *Cree Summer, actress, singer, and comedian *Bruny Surin, Olympic gold medalist 4x100 relay (1996 Atlanta) *Sudz Sutherland, David (Sudz) Sutherland, director *Robert Sutherland, first black lawyer in Canada *Michelle Sweeney, jazz and blues singer *Sylvia Sweeney, television broadcaster and former basketball player


T

*Tamia, R&B singer and actress *Tasha the Amazon, rapper *Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, Bobby Taylor and his band, The Vancouvers, a popular Motown act who were instrumental in getting The Jackson 5 signed to the label and produced the earliest Jackson 5 records *Dione Taylor, jazz singer *Julian Taylor (Singer), Julian Taylor, rock musician (Staggered Crossing) *Tamara Taylor, actress (''Bones (TV series), Bones'') *Angella Taylor-Issajenko, sprinter *Tebey, country and pop songwriter and singer *Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe, radio personality *Michael Thompson (Canadian politician), Michael Thompson, current
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
city councillor *Tristan Thompson, NBA player *Thrust (rapper), Thrust, rapper *Tika Simone, TiKA, R&B singer *Tizzo, rapper *Töme, reggae musician *Asha Tomlinson, journalist *Thyrone Tommy, filmmaker *Tory Lanez, hip hop musician *Yanic Truesdale, actor (''Gilmore Girls'') *Kreesha Turner, R&B singer


U

*Louise Uwacu, writer


V

*Vanity (singer), Vanity, performer *Kevin Vidal, comedian and actor *Christian Vincent (actor), Christian Vincent, actor (''Noah's Arc'') *Jon Vinyl, R&B/soul singer *Nerene Virgin, CBC anchor of ''Saturday Report'', Newsworld, Newsworld International, co-star of ''Today's Special'' *Clement Virgo, director


W

*Rinaldo Walcott, professor and Canada Research Chair at OISE/University of Toronto *Abraham Beverley Walker, first Canadian-born black lawyer *Carol Wall, social activist and labour leader *Dwight Walton, former Team Canada Basketball player *Joel Ward (ice hockey), Joel Ward, NHL player *John Ware (cowboy), John Ware, former slave, Alberta cowboy *Syrus Marcus Ware, artist, activist and professor *Damian Warner, Olympian *Mark Warner (Canadian politician), Mark Warner, lawyer and politician *Jackie Washington,
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...
musician *Bahia Watson, actress and playwright *Benjamin Charles Watson, actor *Dawn Tyler Watson, blues singer *The Weeknd, R&B singer-songwriter *Kevin Weekes, NHL goalie *Wesli, musician *Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, first appointed black judge in the history of Quebec *Bill White (Canadian politician), Bill White, musician and political candidate *Jack White (politician), Jack White, union activist *Portia White, gospel singer *William A. White, only black officer of the No. 2 Construction Battalion *Dwight Whylie, journalist *Andrew Wiggins, NBA player with the Golden State Warriors *Aileen Williams, activist and founding member of the Canadian Women's Negro Association (CANEWA) *Charmaine Williams, politician *Desai Williams, sprinter *Genelle Williams, actress *Ian Williams (writer), Ian Williams, poet and novelist *Michael Williams (Canadian TV personality), Michael Williams, MuchMusic VJ *Nigel Shawn Williams, actor *Odario Williams, broadcaster and musician *Stephen Williams (director), Stephen Williams, director *Tonya Lee Williams, longtime actress on ''The Young and the Restless'' *Trevor C. Williams, former Team Canada Basketball player *Tyrone Williams (wide receiver), Tyrone Williams, former CFL and NFL wide receiver *Nigel Wilson, baseball player (first draft pick by the Florida Marlins, 2nd overall, in the 1992 Expansion Draft) *Paul Winn, human rights activist, director of Canadian Race Relations Foundation, former television personality *Mary Matilda Winslow, first black female graduate of the University of New Brunswick *Maurice Dean Wint, actor *Ken Wiwa, journalist and author, and son of executed Nigerian political prisoner Ken Saro-Wiwa *WondaGurl, record producer *Daniel Woodrow, comedianLisa Rainford
"Bloor West resident Daniel Woodrow part of Underground Comedy Railroad Tour for Black History Month"
''Toronto.com'', February 4, 2014. *Peter Worrell, NHL player


Y

*Kevin Yarde, television meteorologist and politician *D'bi Young, dub poetry, dub poet *Marcia Young,
CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...
broadcaster and host of ''The World This Hour'' *Master T, Tony "Master T" Young, MuchMusic *Hannan Younis, actress and comedian


See also

*List of Canadians *Black Canadians in Montreal *Black Canadians in Ontario *Black Nova Scotians *''Who's Who in Black Canada''


Further reading

*


References

{{People of Canada Lists of Canadian people by ethnic or national origin, Black Canadians Black Canadian people, Lists of black people, Canadian Lists of people by ethnicity, Black