Honourable senators, the former president of the Black Coalition of Quebec, Dan Philip, passed away on Monday, April 1. His funeral was held on Monday, April 22 in Montreal.

Dan Philip was a prominent figure in the fight for human rights and justice in Canada. Born in St. Lucia in the Caribbean, he moved to Montreal in the early 1970s. Shortly after his arrival in Quebec, he joined the Black Coalition of Quebec and served as its president from 1980 to 2020.

During his 40 years of service, he was known for fighting against racism and discrimination against Black people in the employment and housing sectors. He was very involved in the fight against racism waged by Haitian taxi drivers in the 1970s and 1980s. When I arrived in Quebec in 1976, his actions made me realize that racism also existed in Canada. Mr. Philip was actively involved in the fight against police brutality. On the day of Mr. Philip’s funeral, Jamaican Consul, George Grant, said that Mr. Philip embodied the Black Lives Matter movement well before it became a slogan.

Among the many honours bestowed on him for his commitment, Dan Philip was awarded the National Assembly Citizenship Medal in 2019 and the Rosa Parks Award of the Quebec Human Rights Commission in 2000. Dan Philip was and remained an ally not only of Black communities, but of other marginalized communities as well. He spoke out in a loud, clear voice against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

Finally, I thank him for contributing to the success of the young leaders within our communities of African descent. His efforts to learn French and become bilingual were truly remarkable. My condolences go out to his family, friends and fellow members of the Black Coalition.

Rest in peace, Mr. Philip.