As we reflect on the history and achievements of our community, we pay tribute to one of its most pioneering and influential figures, Nalda Callender. Her legacy continues to shape and inspire many, and as we remember her, The Afro News extends our heartfelt prayers and condolences to her family and the wider community during this time of loss.
Nalda Callender, born July 25th, 1944, passed away on February 1st, 2025. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025, at 1:45 PM (in-person service) at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver. BC Canada
The Afro News Lifetime Achievement and Legacy Award: Nalda Callender
In 2012, Nalda Callender was honored with the Afro News Lifetime Achievement and Legacy Award. This recognition came at the 2nd Annual Community Contribution Recognition Awards hosted by the Sage Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2007 to celebrate excellence in community service, leadership, and multiculturalism. The event, which took place at the Hilton Hotel in Metrotown, was jointly sponsored by the Sage Foundation and The Afro News, a Privilege Group Holdings company.
A Life of Service and Advocacy
Nalda Callender’s contributions to her community have spanned over 25 years, during which she has exemplified leadership and dedication to challenging societal perceptions of people of African heritage. She dedicated her life to promoting an inclusive environment where individuals are not defined by racial or ethnic categories but are empowered to participate fully in society, regardless of their background.
Nalda’s life journey began in 1944 in St. John’s, Antigua, where she spent her formative years. At 23, she moved to Montreal during the World Expo in 1967, where she spent 13 years before relocating to Vancouver in 1980 with her four young children.
Throughout this transition, Nalda guided her family from one cultural landscape to another, from French-speaking Montreal to English-speaking Vancouver, and from a close-knit Afro-Caribbean community to a more dispersed cultural environment. Despite the challenges, Nalda took immense pride in raising her children, Charles Perry, Dr. Tara Perry, Keisha, Nyasha, and Maya Callender, along with her grandson Jacob, all of whom remain living testaments to her love, strength, and dedication.
Her commitment to nurturing her children’s connection to their heritage was central to their upbringing. In Montreal, she ensured they were exposed to Afro-Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, and African American role models through arts, crafts, and stories that affirmed their cultural identity. This foundation was vital as Nalda navigated new environments and fostered community ties wherever she went.
Building Community and Advocating for Change
Upon arriving in Vancouver, Nalda was instrumental in building a support network for the African and Afro-Caribbean community. In 1983, she helped establish the Vancouver chapter of the Congress of Black Women Canada (CBWC), later becoming Treasurer and working diligently to secure charitable status for the organization. The National Congress of Black Women Foundation (NCBWF) was officially established in 1992, continuing Nalda’s work in supporting Black women and families across Canada.
Her advocacy extended beyond local community development. Nalda’s efforts led to the creation of a commemorative postal stamp in February 2009 by Canada Post, honoring the contributions of Rosemary Brown to British Columbia and Canada. Nalda was also a founding member of the Rosemary Brown Annual Award for Women, established in 2005 to recognize the achievements of women in the community.
A Vision for Empowerment and Change
Nalda’s leadership and dedication were grounded in her belief in the power of education, empowerment, and community-building. She initiated programs that provided support and education for students at all levels, particularly focused on enhancing the self-confidence of young women and empowering them to thrive. Nalda also focused on issues such as HIV/AIDS within the Black community, advocating for culturally sensitive health programs and counseling services for individuals impacted by the disease.
Her remarkable ability to bridge communities of different races, ethnicities, and social backgrounds enabled Nalda to communicate effectively with both government and non-governmental organizations. Her work reflects her belief that one individual, armed with vision and commitment, can create lasting, meaningful change in society.
Nalda’s work was not only about addressing the immediate needs of the community but also about shifting societal perceptions and ensuring that people of African heritage could fully participate in social, economic, and political life. She viewed community-building as a process of societal change, one that required both individual and collective effort to alter the way African-heritage communities were viewed and treated in Canada.
Looking to the Future
As she looked ahead, Nalda envisioned the continued growth of the National Congress of Black Women Foundation and the development of a new space for programs benefiting seniors, youth, and families in the Metrotown area of Burnaby.
Today, we honor Nalda Callender for her unwavering dedication and her profound impact in opening doors and creating opportunities for all of us. Her legacy lives on in the communities she built, the lives she touched, and the lasting change she helped bring to society. May we continue to carry forward her work with the same passion, commitment, and vision that she exemplified every day of her life.
Rest in peace, Nalda. Your work and your spirit will forever inspire us.
By Helena Kaufman
TheAfroNews Vancouver
