September 1874: Emma Stark: 1st Black teacher on Vancouver Island

“Emily Arabella (Emma) Stark 1856 – 1890 Emily was the daughter of Louis and Sylvia Stark. She was appointed the first teacher in the new North Cedar School in 1874, becoming the first Black teacher on Vancouver Island.” Emma had grown up on Salt Spring Island, arriving with her parents, grandparents and 1 brother when she was just 4 years old. She completed high school in Nanaimo. Here’s her story