Celebrate Black History this month by exploring the remarkable stories of three notable Black individuals from North York’s vibrant past, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its history. Please Check out these three individuals.

Paul Smith – Commander Paul Smith, the first Black officer to command a ship in the Royal Canadian Navy, led HMCS Kingston in 2014 and later made history as the inaugural Black commanding officer of HMCS York in 2021.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-smith

Beverley Salmon – Toronto’s first Black female city councillor known for her advocacy for more inclusive policies and practices within municipal government

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-first-black-female-councillor-beverley-salmon-dies-1.6901137

Hal Johnson – Known for creating BodyBreak, overcame dyslexia and faced discrimination to become a standout athlete, representing Canada in baseball and later advocating against racism in media.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Johnson_and_Joanne_McLeod