Honourable senators, I rise today as the Chair of the African Canadian Senate Group, or ACSG, to pay tribute to a remarkable Canadian, former senator Donald Oliver.

When he retired in 2013, he wrote in his final newsletter:

Little did I know when I was growing up in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, in the 1940s and 1950s that one day this little Black kid from a poor family would one day become a Senator . . . Never in my wildest dreams!

From those humble beginnings, he went on to change the face of this country.

Long before his appointment, the Honourable Donald Oliver was already reshaping his province and the country. As a young law student, he helped draft legislation that became part of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. He later co-founded the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, a permanent home for the stories and history of African Nova Scotians.

In 1990, he made history as the first Black man appointed to the Senate of Canada. Over 23 years, he delivered over 1,000 speeches, chaired multiple committees and served as Speaker pro tempore. From his very first days in the Senate, he called attention to the absence of Black and racialized staff on Parliament Hill and in the senior public service and demanded action. His persistence forced leaders to acknowledge this imbalance and led to new commitments and lasting change regarding the approach to diversity in the public service.

Former Senator Oliver’s impact went beyond our borders. His groundbreaking report with the Conference Board of Canada on the benefits of diversity became a touchstone for leaders around the world. We learned from his memoir that when he co-chaired a joint committee on a parliamentary code of conduct, the resulting code was so well regarded that the Polish parliament adopted it even before Canada’s did, an extraordinary testament to the global reach of his work.

Honourable senators, as a Black senator and Chair of the African Canadian Senate Group, I know that I walk on the path he forged. My colleagues in the ACSG and I continue his fight against systemic racism and are strengthened by the example he left us.

Over his life and career, the Honourable Donald Oliver was a trusted voice for justice and a beacon for integrity. He showed this country that diversity is a strength, not a burden. A great senator, a great Canadian and a true pioneer, he leaves a legacy that will endure far into the future. Thank you.