SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Black History Month
February 24, 2026
Honourable senators, welcome to Black History Month.
Let’s recognize Canadian history.
Welcome to Canadian history, for it is when we throw off the shackles of caste and class that we can liberate our minds and experience as Canadians the totality of Canadian history, what it means to be Canadian, and what it means to truly unleash the potential and promise of this great country and build a strong Canada.
In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada, following a motion introduced by the Honourable Jean Augustine. This year’s theme is “Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations – From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada and recognizes the enduring legacy of Black Canadians whose leadership, creativity, innovation and resilience have shaped our past, continue to influence our present and will inspire future generations.
It is in this spirit that I am pleased to introduce Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, the one hundred and forty-fourth president of the Ontario Medical Association and the first Black woman to lead the organization. She serves as an assistant clinical professor of the School of Medicine at the Toronto Metropolitan University and an adjunct assistant clinical professor in pediatrics at McMaster University.
She earned her medical degree from the University of Toronto and completed her pediatrics residency and subspecialty training in allergy and clinical immunology at McMaster University.
Deeply committed to advancing health equity, she has been a key contributor to the Black Scientists’ Task Force on Vaccine Equity and the Black Health Vaccine Initiative, in partnership with the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario.
Beyond equity work, she is passionate about the intersection of technology and medicine. She is dedicated to leveraging innovation to enhance patient care and is a strong advocate for advancing the medical profession through inclusive leadership and systemic change.
As we celebrate Black History Month and Canada’s history, let’s pay tribute to their accomplishments while also acknowledging the broader importance of diversity in shaping the landscape of medical research and health care, which will lead to better treatment for all of us.
Thank you. Meegwetch.
