Jean Augustine
Jean Augustine is a prominent figure in Canadian history, renowned for being the first African Canadian woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons and the first to serve in a federal cabinet position. Born on October 25, 1937, in Grenada, Augustine faced early challenges, including the loss of her father at a young age. Her strong academic performance and community involvement led her to move to Toronto in 1959, where she initially worked as a nanny before pursuing a career in education. Augustine became a teacher and one of Toronto's first Black principals, actively engaging in social justice and community initiatives, including the establishment of the Caribana Festival.
Her political career began when she joined the Liberal Party and she achieved historic milestones, being elected to Parliament in 1993 and later serving as Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women. Augustine's contributions to Canadian society include the establishment of February as Black History Month, a significant step in recognizing the experiences of Canadians of African descent. After retiring from Parliament, she continued to impact her community as a special advisor to the Canadian government and later as Ontario's first Fairness Commissioner. Throughout her career, Augustine has been honored with numerous awards and honorary degrees, reflecting her commitment to education, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities.
Jean Augustine
Grenadian/Canadian educational administrator and member of the Canadian Parliament
- Born: October 25, 1937
- Place of Birth: St George’s, Grenada
Education: University of Toronto
Significance: Jean Augustine became the first African Canadian woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons and to serve as a federal cabinet member.
Background
Jean Augustine was born Jean Simon in the village of Happy Hill near St. George’s, the capital of Grenada, on October 25, 1937. At that time, Grenada was still part of the British Empire. Jean’s father, Ossie Simon, was a sugarcane plantation worker. He died suddenly from tetanus before his daughter was one year old. Her mother, Olive, was pregnant when her husband died. As was often done in these circumstances in rural Grenada, an older woman with no children who had property adopted Jean’s entire family. The Simons called her "Granny."
Her family encouraged Jean to do well in school. She earned a scholarship and got good grades. While she was in high school, she founded an all-girl band. She also hosted a youth program on a local radio station. She graduated a year early.
After graduation, Augustine became a schoolteacher. To earn extra money, she would write letters for illiterate people. These people wanted to keep in touch with relatives who lived overseas. Writing these letters exposed Simon both to the world beyond Grenada and also to the opportunities for better-paying jobs. In 1959, when she was twenty-two years old, she moved to Toronto to become a nanny to the children of a pediatrician. He helped her obtain a better job in a medical billing firm.
Augustine began taking night classes at Toronto’s Teacher College. She went on to earn both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto. She initially worked for the Metropolitan Separate School Board in Toronto as a teacher. Later, she became one of the first black principals in the city.
Life’s Work
Augustine became very active in social organizations involved in education and social justice issues in Toronto. The very first meeting of the Grenada Association was held in her apartment. In 1967 she helped organize the first Caribana Festival. This festival would become an annual event and extremely popular with tourists.
Augustine’s work with community groups increased her interest in politics. She began serving on municipal task forces on crime and drug abuse. She joined the Liberal Party and became active in its politics. In 1985, she was part of the transition team for the new Ontario premier, David Peterson. He appointed her to chair the Metro Toronto Housing Authority, the largest landowner in Canada. She oversaw this office for six years.
In 1993, Augustine became the first women of African descent to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons. She served a region of Toronto called Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Her victory was somewhat surprising because this area did not have a strong black political base. She was quoted as saying, "I didn't run as a black politician, I ran as a competent woman who is Canadian" ("Jean Augustine Biography," n. pag.). She was reelected in 1997, 2000, and 2004.
Among her many accomplishments while serving in Parliament, she managed to establish February as Black History Month in Canada.
Augustine was chosen by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to serve as Parliamentary Secretary. In this role, she was responsible for speaking for the prime minister or cabinet members when they could not attend sessions of Parliament. In February 2002, she was elected as chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Later, she became chair of the National Liberal Women’s Caucus and served three terms.
In May 2002, Chrétien made Augustine the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women in the Cabinet of Canada. This appointment made her the first black woman to serve as a member of the federal cabinet. She served for two years.
In 2004, Augustine was appointed to the position of Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole. This appointment made her the first African Canadian women to occupy the speaker's chair in the Canadian House of Commons. Although she retired from the House in 2005, she continued to serve as a special advisor on Grenada to the Canadian government.
The governor of Ontario nominated her to become the first Fairness Commissioner in 2007. In this role, she helped immigrants with professional credentials who arrive in Canada from other countries.
Impact
Jean Augustine’s career in education and politics stands as an excellent example of what immigrants can contribute to a country given the opportunity. In 2015, she continued fund-raising efforts on behalf of the fund named for her. Funds from these scholarships were dedicated to helping single mothers continue their post-secondary studies at George Brown College and Centennial College in Toronto.
In a 2023 interview, Augustine was asked about her contributions towards establishing Black History Month in Canada. She remarked that the legislation she sponsored helped highlight the experiences of Canadians who are of African descent. This has allowed for greater empathy, more connection, and a desire to make things better for others. In relation to how she overcame personal challenges, Augustine spoke on the need to not fight “individual battles” but to focus on larger objectives. That same year, the Jean Augustine Chair began receiving federal fudning from the government of Canada.
Personal Life
Jean Simon changed her name to Jean Augustine when she married Winston Augustine in 1968. They divorced in 1981. Augustine had two daughters, Valerie and Cheryl.
Augustine received many honors for her distinguished career in social justice, education, and politics. She was awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from four universities: Toronto, Guelph, McGill, and York. In 2009, she became a member of the Order of Canada. She received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, and in 2014 she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Bibliography
"AUGUSTINE, The Hon. Jean, P.C., C.M., B.A.(Hons.), M.Ed., LL.D.(Hon.)." Parliament of Canada. Library of Parliament, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
"Black Canadians." Government of Canada.Canada.ca, 20 Oct. 2008. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
Brithwaite, Rella, and Teresa Benn Ireland. Some Black Women: Profiles of Black Women in Canada. Toronto: Sister Vision, 1983. Print.
"Commissioner’s Biography Jean Augustine, PC. CM." Fairness Commission. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2015. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
Donnini, Alessio, and Isha Bhargava. "Canada's First Black Woman Member of Parliament Shared Her Experiences, Advice with Western Students." CBC News, 8 Feb 2023, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/jean-augustine-black-history-month-1.6741403. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
Gagne, Marie. "Jean Augustine: The First Black Woman in Parliament." 1075KoolFM 1 Feb 2023, 1075koolfm.com/jean-augustine. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
"York U Celebrates Canadian Changemaker Jean Augustine, Full Funding of Endowed Chair in Her Name." York U, 13 Nov. 2023, www.yorku.ca/edu/2023/11/13/york-u-celebrates-canadian-changemaker-jean-augustine-full-funding-of-endowed-chair-in-her-name/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
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