It was an immense privilege to watch, speak with, and hear from the extraordinary Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black federal Minister of the Crown and parliamentarian, who once was an immigrant to Canada from Grenada, and who I met at the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce. Now 87 years old, her wisdom and resilience remain unmatched. Dr. Augustine’s trailblazing career as both a politician and social activist speaks for itself: she made history as the first Black woman elected to Parliament in 1993, appointed as the first Black woman in Cabinet in 2002, and became Ontario’s first Fairness Commissioner in 2007. Her legacy is nothing short of transformative, with her monumental role in bringing about the federal declaration of February as Black History Month—an initiative she introduced in 1995.
In a highly interactive session, Dr. Augustine shared powerful insights into the election strategies that allowed her to connect with an electorate that, at the time, bore little resemblance to her own background. She also offered invaluable advice to today’s immigrants, reflecting on how far the landscape has changed since she first arrived in Canada. Dr. Augustine’s wisdom is a living testament to the power of determination, and her story continues to inspire and guide the pursuit of equity and inclusion.
Arundati: Immigration today is a lot different from when you first moved to Canada. What advice will you give to today’s immigrants, e.g. those who are Generation1.ca members and have moved to North America alone in their adulthood in these changing times?
Dr. Augustine: You have made the choice of Canada, and you have to get here and help in that nation building. That your major issue should not be a pocket book issue, because I see so many people who only think about the pocket book issue (“I won’t be able to buy a house,” “I won’t be able to do stuff,”). It’s not give me give me. There’s a US President who said, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country – JFK -and that’s what I say to immigrants – you are here now, things might be difficult now. I had my challenges, 90 dollars a month, TTC fare for the subway to get to school. Knowing that you can build a place in this country, knowing that you have chosen to come to this country, whether as a refugee or otherwise, knowing that you have a presence here, that you have a place here, a voice here, and you just have to look around you to find others to move forward with. Margaret Meade said something about finding a small group of people bring able to make a difference with and saying let’s march forward. Let’s build the nation. Let’s involve ourselves in all the processes. Let’s vote. Let’s support others. Let’s be part of community.”
Her words resonate deeply with Generation1.ca’s mission and community, especially considering her groundbreaking work in crafting legislation that Europeans admired for its success in achieving accreditation, foreign education, and credential evaluation and recognition for highly regulated professions like law. Her contributions have had a profound impact on diverse immigrant diasporas and professional migrants. Dr. Augustine’s journey also highlights the importance of understanding your electorate—not through labels or categories, and in her words “not asking for votes as a Black woman,” but by truly engaging with their issues, concerns, and perspectives.
Even as she navigated political complexities, she remained unwavering in her commitment to social justice, advocating for Indigenous rights and challenging global norms, all while not aligning with mainstream election issues like the boneless beef trade, soft lumber, or the yogurt and ice cream industries, but instead bringing her sharp talents as a principal, educator and researcher and her voracious appetite for books and people to the forefront in defining her election agenda. Beyond politics, her mission has always included meaningful, cross-cultural dialogue and advancing real change from the bottom up, winning her illustrious lifetime achievement awards from professional societies.
What truly captivated me about Dr. Augustine is her unwavering passion for education, stemming from her roots as a school principal in Grenada. This enduring trait has guided her life of dedicated public service. One profound lesson she imparted was the importance of confronting others’ ignorance and stupidity with facts, using your own experiences and education to humble those who may dismiss (and yes, gaslight) you repeatedly. She emphasized the significance of carving your own path, identifying market gaps, and addressing issues others overlook. This deeply resonated with me, especially after recently running an election campaign (in a professional context, but very aligned with her educated data-led and experience-felt wisdom) where many remarked that my issues were unique, nuanced and differentiated.
Dr. Augustine’s insight into policy was equally enlightening and reaffirming—she reminded me that policy is never perfect but always adaptive, something I have been using different ways to demonstrate to my students each semester. Policymaking is a collaborative process, a sentiment that echoed my own recent teaching on policy analysis (which made me feel even more aligned to the work we are doing). This conversation is the perfect way to honour #BlackHistoryMonth and #WomensHistoryMonth simultaneously. As Ontario heads into election season, Dr. Augustine passionately urged everyone, especially youth, to get out and vote. She also encouraged Black youth, Indo-Canadians, and immigrants to not only vote but also consider running for office themselves (check out Operation Black Vote Canada: https://obvc.ca/).
I am grateful for the invitation from the Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce and look forward to more collaborations as we gear up for Generation1.ca’s virtual global career fair and case competitions. The gathering was a powerful testament to the strength and determination of diverse diaspora leaders from across Guyana, Grenada, the West Indies, Nepal, India, the Carribean and beyond — united in our shared commitment to meaningful change.
If you are looking to join a professional community of forward-thinking, motivated individuals committed to real-world impact, I invite you to participate in Generation1.ca’s upcoming career fair and case competition. This is an incredible opportunity to engage with diverse leaders, expand your network, and take part in shaping a more inclusive future whether as an organization seeking top talent, profile networking and visibility or jobseekers. Let’s keep building together!
