Artist, Artisan, Athlete, Community Leader, Dentist, Educator, Judge, Juror, Lawyer, Musician, Policeman, Politician, Public Service, Soldier, Sport icon, Teacher, Television Host …
Julia Griffith, an English comrade of abolitionist Frederick Douglass gave this advice to Mifflin Gibbs as he was deciding to make the move to Victoria “What! Discouraged? Go Do Some Great Thing.”
We honour these “Firsts” who have done GREAT THINGS.
CHARLES ALEXANDER
Charles Alexander, a carpenter by trade, and Fielding Spotts built the first school in South Saanich in 1862 and became school trustees. At the same time Alexander and Spotts were involved in the establishment of the original Shady Creek Church, a community church, including Methodists and Baptists.
Image: Charles Alexander (1823-1913) in his senior years, circa 1900. M01016 Courtesy of City of Victoria Archives
The story of Charles and Nancy Alexander
FRANK ALEXANDER
Frank Alexander, a descendant of Charles and Nancy Alexander, was the first Black Rock’n’Roll and blues vocalist on Vancouver Island.
Poster: Frank Alexander. Beloved musician, singer, and friend. Frank began performing in Victoria, BC in the sixties. “Founding member of the Joe Blues Band and lead singer for the Blue Cadillac Band, Frank’s passion for high energy blues drew people out of their seats and onto the dance floor for nearly 40 years.”
Frank passed away on November 17, 2017.
On Sunday, February 23rd, 2025 he was honoured at The Queen’s in Nanaimo, BC, which has been in operation since 1892 and where he often performed.
Poster Image courtesy of Barb Hudlin.
THÉRÈSE ALEXANDER
Thérèse Alexander was called to the BC bar in 1984 and was appointed a BC Provincial Court judge on January 8,1996 — the first Black woman in BC to be appointed. Her great-great-grandparents were Charles and Nancy Alexander. She served on numerous boards and commissions, is a recognized community advocate through her volunteer work and has been honoured by the BC Association of Black Law Students and the Association of Black Lawyers.
“When I am in Victoria, I always make a pilgrimage to Shady Creek United Church on East Saanich Road. There is a Heritage Canada marker at the church acknowledging the Black pioneers that came to Saanich and their contributions to the community” Source Provincial Court of British Columbia https://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/enews/enews-07-03-2022
EMERY BARNES
In March 1994 Emery Barnes became the first Speaker in B.C. to be elected by a secret ballot of the MLAs. Barnes was the first Black person to hold this position in any Canadian province.
Image courtesy of Office of the Speaker, Province of British Columbia.
https://bcblackhistory.ca/emery-barnes/
TONI BOOT
On November 15, 2014 Toni Boot was the first Black women to be elected a Councillor in BC. Toni Boot served as a Councillor in Summerland, BC for 4 years and on October 20, 2018 was elected Mayor of Summerland – the first Black mayor in BC. In addition to being a Councillor and mayor, she had served on various boards including Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen board, Okanagan Basin Water Board, Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital Board and Grasslands Conservation Council of B.C
Image courtesy of Toni Boot
©Toni Boot, all rights reserved
GRAFTON TYLER BROWN
Grafton Tyler Brown lived in BC for a short time and while here painted landscapes of the Greater Victoria area and BC’s Mainland. He is considered the first professional Black artist on the Pacific Northwest AND the first to hold an art exhibition in Victoria.
Here we see Grafton Tyler Brown in his Victoria studio at the Occidental Hotel. The painting in progress on the easel is “Valley of the Similkameen” painted in 1883”.
Image A-08775 Courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives, Grafton Tyler Brown in his Victoria studio (1883)
https://bcblackhistory.ca/grafton-tyler-brown/
ROSEMARY BROWN
Rosemary Brown was Canada’s first Black female member of a provincial legislature and the first woman to run for leadership of a federal political party. She was elected to the BC legislature in 1972 and served until 1986. In 1975, she ran for the leadership of the Federal NDP Party.
In February 2009, Canada Post Corporation issued this commemorative stamp showing Rosemary Brown standing before the BC Legislature Buildings.
https://bcblackhistory.ca/rosemary-brown/
ELEANOR COLLINS, CM
Eleanor Collins was the first woman in Canada and one of the first artists of colour in North America to host her own national weekly television music variety show. The very first Eleanor show aired on June 12, 1955. She has received many awards and honors and on January 21 2022 Canada Post Corporation issued this commemorative stamp.
Michael Marmur Photographer, Canada Post.
More than a century of Black History
FRANK COLLINS
Frank Collins was the eldest of four brothers – Frank, Fred, Richard (Dick), and Dave. In 1945 after signing a collective agreement with The Canadian Pacific Railway, the first meeting of the Brotherhood of Sleep Car Porters (BOSCP) was held in Vancouver and Frank Collins was voted as the first President of the Vancouver division; in that same year he was also elected and served as President of the British Columbia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (BCAACP).
Frank Collins and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
SERAPHIM “JOE” FORTES
Initially Seraphim Joseph Fortes took it upon himself to be the English Bay lifeguard while teaching generations of children to swim. In 1900, Joe became an official employee of the city and received a monthly salary. In 1910 the City of Vancouver recognized him as the first English Bay lifeguard and made him a special constable, qualifying him to carry a revolver. A commemorative stamp was issued in February 2013.
Image Credit: Portrait of Joe Fortes VPL Accession Number: 39420 Date: 1910 Photographer / Studio: White, J. Studio Content: Public Domain Vancouver Public Library.
https://bcblackhistory.ca/seraphim-joseph-fortes/
ABNER HUNT FRANCIS
In 1865 Abner Hunt Francis was the first Black elected as a Victoria City Councillor and sworn in as a representative of the Yates Street Ward, however Francis decided to not pursue this position.
The next day Francis resigned to avoid what was generally agreed and described as unfairness in not recognizing his property ownership. Francis’ notice of resignation, ‘YATES STREET WARD” effective November 15, 1865 was posted in the Times Colonist, November 16, 1865, pg.2
MIFFLIN WISTAR GIBBS
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs was the first Black to be elected and serve on Victoria City Council. He served as a Councillor from 1866 to 1869 representing the James Bay Ward. While on council Gibbs chaired the council’s ways and means committee and from time-to-time acted as Deputy Mayor. Gibbs returned to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1870, passed the bar exam, and became an attorney. Three years later, he was elected as a city judge in Little Rock, the first Black judge elected in the United States.
Image B-01601 Courtesy of Royal BC Museum and Archives.
“He did many great things“
REBECCA GIBBS
Rebecca Gibbs, a sister-in-law of Mifflin Gibbs, is one of Canada’s first Black female poets. Four known poems were published.
*Proclamation Day, published in the San Francisco newspaper Elevator, Volume 3, Number 39, 27 December 1867
*The Barkerville Fire, also published in The Elevator, Volume IV, Number 48, 5 March 1869.
*The Old Red Shirt” published in about 1869 in a “Sawney’s letters and Cariboo Rhymes” by James Anderson and is printed on her grave marker at Ross Bay Cemetery.
*On the Death of Judge Brew was published in the Cariboo Sentinel, June 11 1870.
Images © BC Black History Awareness Society, all rights reserved.
Rebecca Gibbs – Community Story
JOHN GISCOME AND HENRY MCDAME
In 1862 Jamaican born Robert Giscome and his Bahamian partner Henry McDame explored forests, lakes, rivers and mountains in central and northern BC, about a 330 mile trek. Led by a Lheidli T’enneh guide they reached their destination of Fort McLeod where they were greeted with a gun salute in their honour as they were the first non-Indigenous people to travel this unique route crossing the Continental Divide and major Pacific and Arctic watersheds. Giscome, Giscome Portage, Giscome Rapids and McDame Creek were named for this duo.
Entrance to Giscome Portage Trail Image courtesy of Kevin Creamore, Prince George.
More about Giscome
JOSHUA HOWARD
Joshua Howard was the first lawyer to advertise in a B.C. newspaper. The Legislative Library of British Columbia Background Paper, May 2, 2007, pg. 8, states “In July 1858, the first legal advertisement in the colony was apparently published. Joshua Howard, an African American man from Virginia, offered “advice in Law, to the poor, gratis.”
BC did not establish a program of free legal services to those in need until the mid-1970’s, over 100 years later.
BARBARA HOWARD
Barbara Howard, born and raised in Vancouver, was the first Black woman athlete to represent Canada in an International competition at the 1938 British Empire Games held in Sydney, Australia from February 5th to 12th; and the first person from a visible minority to be hired as an educator by the Vancouver School Board (1948).
Image Credit: A 17-year-old Barbara Howard holds a gift from a fan, a stuffed koala bear. Vancouver Archives Reference Code: AM54-S4-2-: CVA 371-1643 Public Domain: Photographer: Major James Matthews
https://bcblackhistory.ca/barbara-howard/
JAMES DOUGLAS “DOUG” HUDLIN
Doug Hudlin was the first non-American to be invited to umpire the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He umpired the games in 1967 and in 1974. Doug was a founding member and first president of the British Columbia Baseball Umpires Association. He was also a founding member of the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society. In 2017, Doug was inducted, posthumously, to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Image courtesy of Barbra Hudlin
The Gentleman Umpire
HARRY JEROME
Harry Jerome made headlines as the first Canadian to officially hold a world track record when he ran the 100m dash in 10.0 seconds at the Canadian Olympic trials in Saskatoon in July 1960. This equaled the world record set by German sprinter Armin Hary a month earlier.
Image: Statue of Harry Jerome in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.
To mark Canada’s 150th birthday, 150 noteworthy British Columbian’s were named. February 22, 2017 – Canada 150: Harry Winston Jerome, fastest man on earth.
JOHN CRAVEN JONES
John Craven Jones was the middle brother of the three brothers who arrived in BC circa 1858. Jones was the first Black teacher in the Province and first teacher on Salt Spring Island from 1859 to 1875.
The portrait shown is purported to be John Craven Jones, 1885, after returning to the United States. He continued teaching there for about 20 years.
Image 2005005001 Courtesy of Salt Spring Island Archives
https://bcblackhistory.ca/john-craven-jones/
WILLIAM ALLEN JONES
William Allen Jones was the oldest of three brothers who arrived in BC in 1858. He and his youngest brother Elias initially mined in the Cariboo, and then they returned to Ohio. William studied dentistry at Oberlin College and then returned to settle in Barkerville. William Jones is the first dentist to be granted a licence under the British Columbia Dental Act (1886).
Image is a pencil sketch by Gene Grooms, local artist (1994); ©BC Black History Awareness Society.
https://bcblackhistory.ca/william-allen-jones/
PETER LESTER
In February 1860 Peter Lester was the first Black person to sit as a juror in B.C. Indefensibly, Black men were not on the “official list of jurors maintained by the Sheriff’s office” until November 1872 despite a promise by Gov. Douglas. The change occurred only after they petitioned the Legislative Assembly requesting their names be added to the official list. Their first petition in March 21, 1872 was lost 5 to 13.
Image A-01626 Courtesy of Royal BC Museum and Archives.
HONORABLE SELWYN ROMILLY
Honourable Selwyn Romilly was the first Black person to serve on the British Columbia Supreme Court. Prior to his appointment he served on the Provincial Court in Terrace and then Burnaby.
An eminent jurist
Image: © Selwyn Romilly all rights reserved
HENRY HOUSTON SCOTT & FAMILY
In 1912, the Scott family were the first Black family to settle in Surrey; Henry Houston Scott (b.1854), his wife Amy (b. 1864) and their three youngest children Roy, Jesse and Benola. Their original Scott property and farm was in the area now known as Cloverdale at 64 Avenue and 181A Street. A portion of that property has been dedicated as a park. The plaque was installed in April 2019 by the City of Surrey. Their son Roy worked at the local lumber mill and for CPR and Jesse became a dairy farmer, oil refinery worker, and celebrated baseball player for the local team. In spring the apple trees still blossom.
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EDSWORTH SEARLES
Edsworh Searles was the first Black lawyer called to the bar in BC. Canadian born, of British West Indian parents, Edsworth graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Law. Following his short time in Vancouver, he returned to Toronto. In 1959 he was called to the Ontario bar.
RUBY SNEED
“In 1972 a grant from the Community Music of Greater Vancouver (a.k.a Vancouver Academy of Music) enabled Ruby to travel to Japan where she observed firsthand the internationally renowned Suzuki Talent Education Method for piano students. Impressed with the appeal and effectiveness of the Suzuki philosophy, she organized the first Canadian Suzuki Piano Program at the Vancouver Academy of Music. It met with an enthusiastic enrollment of some 50 children ages 3 to 5. The program was so successful she returned to Tokyo in 1974 with two of her students who performed in several recitals throughout Japan.”
Renowned Classical Pianist & Music Educator
Text and image ©Theresa Lewis.
FIELDING SPOTTS
Fielding Spotts was a cooper by trade. Together with Charles Alexander he assisted in building the first school in South Saanich in 1862. Both he and Alexander became school trustees.
At the same time Alexander and Spotts were involved in the establishment of the original Shady Creek Church, a community church, including Methodists and Baptists.
Image: F-00651 Courtesy of Royal BC Museum and Archives
Farmer, cooper, husband, father, church leader, school trustee …
EMMA STARK
Emma Stark was the first Black teacher on Vancouver Island 1874 at the Cranberry-Cedar School located near Nanaimo.
Emma grew up on Salt Spring Island and completed high school near Nanaimo. On August 1, 1874, at the age of 18 Emma was appointed the first teacher in the new North Cedar School, becoming the first Black teacher on Vancouver Island
Image: Emma Stark, 1875, 989024010 Courtesy of Salt Spring Archives. Professional Photographer. The photo is believed to have been taken at a portrait studio in Nanaimo.
VICTORIA PIONEER RIFLE CORPS
In the spring of 1860, 40 to 50 black men were enrolled in the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps. This first corps of all Black men, and first militia unit west of Ontario, was officially sworn in on July, 1861.
“HOPE MEETS ACTION – ECHOES THROUGH THE BLACK CONTINUUM“
“Hope Meets Action” was the first provincial Black History exhibition in BC. Written, told, and designed by Black voices, this exhibit opened on August 14, 2021 at the Royal BC Museum, Victoria BC and ran until April 14 2022. It since has continued as a travelling exhibition across the province.
BC BLACK HISTORY AWARENESS SOCIETY – FOUNDING MEMBERS
Our non-profit Society was formed in February 1994 and incorporated on March 18,1994. Since March 2018 the Society is a charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. The first Board members were Clyde Griffith -President, Valin Marshall -Vice-President, Jean Howell -Secretary, Carl Thompson -Treasurer, and Directors-at-Large Jonathan Johnson and Tyrone Gaskin.
©BC Black History Awareness Society, all rights reserved
Compiled by BC Black History Awareness Society, however, we cannot do this important work without the support and dedication of researchers, archivists, organizations, community, and family members who tirelessly support our work. Thank-you!
