Donald Willard Moore

Civil rights activist

• Born: November 2, 1891
• Birthplace: St. Michael’s Parish, Barbados
• Died: August 22, 1994
• Place of death: Toronto, Ontario

Significance: Donald Willard Moore was a Barbados-born Canadian civil rights activist. He was known as Uncle Don by many West Indians who migrated to Canada starting in the 1940s. In 1954, Moore led a delegation to present a briefing to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Walter E. Harris. It argued that Canada’s immigration policies were discriminatory against non-White people and offered recommendations for changing them. Moore also helped form groups aimed at organizing the West Indian community and fighting against discriminatory policies.

Background

Donald Willard Moore was born at Lodge Hill in St. Michael’s Parish, Barbados, in 1891. His father, Charles Alexander Moore, was a cabinetmaker and a member of the Barbados Harbour Police Force. His mother was Ruth Elizabeth Moore.

He moved to New York when he was twenty-one but relocated to Montreal about a year later. He was a tailor by trade but could not find work in his field because he was Black. He eventually was hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a sleeping car porter. He found the job to be difficult and demeaning, and he eventually quit. By this time, Moore had earned enough money to enroll in the Dominion Business College. He completed coursework that allowed him to register for the dentistry program at Dalhousie University in Halifax in 1918.

Life’s Work

Moore was forced to quit school after suffering from a prolonged bout of tuberculosis, but he found work as a tailor at Occidental Cleaners and Dryers in 1920. He eventually purchased the store, which became a gathering place for the West Indian community. Several organizations were established there, including the Toronto branch of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association, the West Indian and Progressive Association, and the West Indian Trading Association.

In 1951, Moore founded the Negro Citizenship Association, which challenged the systematic denial of Black West Indians who sought legal entry into Canada. It also aimed to bring an end to the incarceration of people who were awaiting deportation or decisions about deportation order appeals. On April 27, 1954, he led a delegation of thirty-four representatives from the association, unions, labor councils, and community organizations to Ottawa, Ontario, by chartered train. The members presented a brief Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Walter E. Harris. The brief helped to draw attention to the country’s discriminatory immigration laws, which denied equal immigration status to non-White British subjects. The brief pointed out that the Immigration Act of 1923 defined British subjects as citizens by birth or naturalization in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or the Union of South Africa, and citizens of Ireland—all areas that were noticeably majority White. However, it excluded people from majority non-White areas including the British West Indies, Bermuda, British Guiana, Ceylon, India, Pakistan, and Africa. The delegation charged that the definition of British subject was discriminatory and dangerous. The Immigration Act stated that Black people were denied access because they could not adjust to Canada’s climate or assimilate well into society. The group’s brief outlined the impact of the country’s discriminatory immigration laws and gave recommendations for amending them.

In 1956, Moore and two other members of the Negro Citizenship Association purchased a house and converted it into a recreation center for the West Indian community. Called the Donavalon Centre, it served as home of the United Negro Improvement Association and the Toronto Negro Citizenship Alliance. It also hosted events and activities such as dances, teas, and Sunday programs; offered insurance to members; and published a quarterly newsletter.

Moore received many awards for his life’s work including the City of Toronto Award of Merit (1982), the Ontario Bicentennial Medal (1984), the Harry Jerome Award of Merit (1984), the Barbados Service Medal (1986), the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship award (1987), the Order of Ontario (1988), and the Order of Canada (1990). In 2000, Toronto’s Culture Division installed a plaque commemorating Moore’s contributions at the location of the Donavalon Centre. George Brown College has a scholarship in Moore’s name for students of Caribbean or Black origin who demonstrate leadership in their community. The non-profit organization Donald Moore Canada is one of the few historically Black registered Canadian charities that serves the African Caribbean and Black communities.

Impact

The brief that Moore and his delegation presented in Ottawa in 1954 helped revise immigration laws in Canada and opened the door for West Indians to find employment in the country. By 1955, his work with the governments of Jamaica, Barbados, and Canada enabled workers to gain permanent residency after one year. Finally, in 1962, the Immigration Act was officially modified. In 2014, a public service was held to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Moore’s successful lobbying activity.

Personal Life

Moore married Kay in the early1960s. He was the father of a son, Desmond, and three stepchildren named Karlene, Lawson, and Betty. He was an award-winning member of the North York Horticultural Society. Moore died in his sleep and is buried at Sanctuary Park Cemetery in Etobicoke.

Bibliography

Armstrong, Neil. “Professor Encourages Black Canadians to Explore Paradigms to Community Wealth.” Pride News, 8 Mar. 2023, pridenews.ca/2023/03/08/professor-encourages-black-canadians-to-explore-paradigms-to-community-wealth. Accessed 21 June 2023.

Austin, Rick. “Canadian Black Charities to Donate to.” Donald Moore Canada, 25 Nov. 2020, donaldmoorecanada.com/canadian-black-charities-to-donate-to/. Accessed 21 June 2023.

“Caribbean Connection: One Man’s Crusade.” City of Toronto, www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/online-exhibits/web-exhibits/web-exhibits-culture-people/caribbean-connection-one-mans-crusade/. Accessed 21 June 2023.

“Derailed Donald Moore.” Myseum of Toronto, www.myseumoftoronto.com/programming/notable-porters/donald-moore/. Accessed 21 June 2023.

“Support the Donald Willard Moore Scholarship.” George Brown College, www.georgebrown.ca/donate/donald-willard-moore-scholarship. Accessed 21 June 2023.

Turnbull, Barbara. “Service Honours Donald Willard Moore, Leader of Historic Train Trip for Equal Rights.” Toronto Star, 25 Apr. 2014, www.thestar.com/life/2014/04/25/service‗honours‗donald‗willard‗moore‗leader‗of‗historic‗train‗trip‗for‗equal‗rights.html. Accessed 21 June 2023.