The Honorable Miss Jean Augustine now holds the keys to the City of Vaughan

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

What do you give a lady who has worked tirelessly in the field of women’s rights, children’s rights, human rights and has also pushed back against systemic and institutionalized racism in this country? One who has earned numerous accolades and awards and is respected and revered by the larger Toronto community. What a timely question.

On October 25^th, 2020 Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement after a virtual event, “It is with a great deal of joy and admiration that we come together virtually to celebrate the legacy and life’s work of the Honorable Jean Augustine. Today, she was bestowed with the key to the City of Vaughan and the Jean Augustine Park and Complex was named in her honor.”

Mayor Bevilacqua spoke fondly of meeting Augustine for the first time in 1993 when she was nominated to represent the federal riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. That year he said, she not only won the election, but went on to become the first African-Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons, and the rest as they say is history.

Augustine has a public service record that is more than a mile long and she is still serving the country in her own way today at 83-years young.

Here is a brief summary of some of her achievements and positions.

• Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 2014
• Order of Canada, Member
• Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Member
• Honourary Doctor of Laws, University of Toronto, 199x
• Honourary Doctor of Laws, McGill University, 2009
• Honourary Doctor, York University
• Honourary Doctor, University of Guelph
• YWCA Women of Distinction Award
• The Kaye Livingstone Award
• The Ontario Volunteer Award
• The Pride Newspaper Achievement Award
• The Rubena Willis Special Recognition Award
• Toronto Lion’s Club Onyx Award
• UWI Award

The Honorable Jean Augustine served four consecutive terms from 1993-2006 in the Parliament of Canada as the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The first black woman elected to the House of Commons, Jean Augustine served in increasingly responsible roles including that of: Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women), Minister of State (Multiculturalism and Status of Women) of Canada, and Special Advisor on Grenada to the Prime Minister.

Through her tenure, Ms. Augustine was an active parliamentarian participating in a number of Standing Committees, Task Forces, and Parliamentary Caucuses. Her last term was as Deputy Speaker and Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the honor of speaking with Augustine about her recent award and life in general.

“I am just so honored and elated,” Augustine began, “That the City of Vaughan would honor me in this way. I stressed in my speech that this is really a legacy for our young people growing up in the City of Vaughan: the African, Caribbean, black, and people of color can now see something in the City of Vaughan that is named after a black woman who worked hard, and who tried to do as much as she possibly can with and in community.”

Augustine, who grew up in Happy Hill St George’s, on the island of Grenada, was asked what advice she had for young black women who are aspiring to enter the political field?  “In Grenada, I grew up surrounded by a lot of strong women and a grandmother who believed in education. People back then sometimes spoke in parables (To whom much is given, much is expected). I grew up as part of the church group and choirs, and so I learned very early to participate, care for others, and to do the best that I can at all times.

In the sixties when I came here, you did not see black faces, and so it was hard to find a hairdresser or to find many things that were appropriate and that one knew.”

This system did not provide certain things. There were no Charter of Rights and Freedoms, no Human Rights Commission or Code, no Landlord and Tenants Act, no school board talking to parents. It was a different Toronto and so I worked with others. I did not achieve all this by myself, and so I say to young people do the best you can. Get an education because it is tremendously important. Get a network of people around you, and always treat people with respect and kindness.”

“There is an old saying,” she concludes, “If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far take others with you.”