BlackNorth Initiative complains about lack of Black representation in Order of Canada

The BlackNorth Initiative led by the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against  Anti-Black Systemic Racism has fired off a letter of complaint to Governor General Julie  Payette about the “the lack of Black representation in the Order of Canada.”

The letter which is calling for change, notes that “since 2013, members of visible minorities made up an average of only 4.8 per cent of Order of Canada appointments — well below the 30 per cent of the population who identified as visible minority.”

It  says that ” it is not by accident, but part of an orchestrated denial and institutional racism by a country where slavery and systemic racism existed to minimize the Black Canadian experience and minimize—if not eliminate—the contributions Blacks have made from the history books.”

Only one Black Canadian, Brandeis Denham Jolly, was listed when the honours were announced on November 27 last.

The letter recommends several outstanding Black Canadians for the Order of  Canada. They are:

– Michael Lee-Chin, businessman, investor and philanthropist

– Donovan Bailey,  retired track and field sprinter

– The late Robert Sutherland, lawyer

– The late Viola Irene  Desmond, businesswoman and civil rights activist

– The late Rosemary Brown, social worker and politician