SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Black History Month
February 10, 2026
Honourable senators, I rise today on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation to say, “Happy Black History Month.”
I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the Algonquin and Anishinaabe Peoples, who have lived in and cared for this land for a millennium such that I could have the opportunity to speak today.
This year marks 30 years of celebrating Black History Month in Canada. As we highlight the contributions and legacy of Black Canadians, I want to take time to pay homage and remember those who came before us and to honour Canadians who have demonstrated immense courage and selfless action, instilling in each of us a sense of pride that inspires change.
The legendary Honourable Jean Augustine is one such woman. I thank her for laying the ground for institutionalizing this celebratory month three decades ago. It is because of her legacy that institutions across all sectors honour the contributions of accomplished Black Canadians. Her brilliance set the example, encouraging us to champion the recognition of Black Canadians in our daily lives.
In this spirit, I’d like to highlight one more trailblazer, Chloe Cooley. Chloe Cooley was an enslaved African woman living in Upper Canada. In the 1790s, she resisted being sold to American enslavers and transported to the United States. Her outcry in the face of incomprehensible injustice led the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe to introduce a new law, entitled an Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada. This law freed enslaved people aged 25 and over and made it illegal to traffic enslaved people into Upper Canada.
The introduction of the act in Upper Canada as well as a series of Nova Scotian court decisions in the 1790s were very significant, leading to the decline of African enslavement in Canada. Chloe Cooley’s courage shifted the Canadian landscape, slowly shaping Canada into an important base for the growing transatlantic abolitionist movements.
Today, as we focus our collective efforts on appreciating the struggles and achievements of the past, we look to Black Canadians like Chloe Cooley and Dr. Jean Augustine, who remind us that the future we yearn for will not be “a fleeting illusion.” Rather, it is one we can pursue and attain through justice and equity.
Thank you.
