TAN Interview with Honourable Senator Donald Oliver

Honorable Senator Donald Oliver of Nova Scotia Photo by KMG

Black History Month is a celebration of all things Black. It is a symbolic moment during which we recognize, learn from, celebrate and honour the accomplishments of people of African descent. Most Canadians, regardless of skin colour, are unaware of the many rich contributions Blacks have made in shaping our country. February gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a people in our fight for Equality.

1)What should Canadians focus or reflect on for Black History Month?

Black History Month also challenges us to keep up the fight against racial discrimination. It compels us to ask ourselves: “What can I do to improve the condition of Black people and, indeed, all Visible Minorities?”

Events in schools and communities across Canada are organized to honour this month-long celebration. These events encourage a harmony of cultures which, I hope, will inspire all Canadians to reach out to one another. In February, and throughout the year, we are invited to let knowledge and understanding triumph over ignorance and intolerance.

2) Who inspired you the most from the Black community when you were growing up?

Without a doubt, I owe a debt of gratitude to my parents who were always there for me, stood by me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams and to reach for the stars. My half brother, Reverend Dr. William P. Oliver has also been an inspiration in my life. He was a visionary who intrinsically saw what it would take to uplift the Black community of Nova Scotia. He was the founder of the Nova Scotia Black Cultural Centre and a leader in Human Rights. Many other members of my family, such as my aunt Portia White, have influenced me a great deal in many of the decisions I have taken.

Aside from my family, I have been inspired by the Hon. Lincoln Alexander, the first Black man to be elected to the House of Commons in 1968. He was also the first Black man to serve as Lieutenant-Governor of the province of Ontario. In some ways, he was a mentor to me. Other Black leaders have been an inspiration to me such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. who I heard speak in Toronto in 1956. Dr. King was a very eloquent speaker.

Former Premier of Nova Scotia Robert Stanfield and Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney have also left a lasting impression on my life. I owe a great deal to both of these men who have inspired me in my political career.

More recently, President Obama has inspired me to continue my work in advancing the cause of Visible Minorities. Never in my lifetime would I have imagined seeing a Black man elected president of the United-States. I think he is an exceptional man who will make an outstanding contribution to the world and to his country.

3) Black Canadians have come a long ways in Canada, but what can be done to highlight the Black community more and also what investments can be made in the Black community moving forward?

Black History Month is the perfect opportunity to highlight the Black community past and present. Canadians need to be reminded of the countless contributions Blacks have made to our nation. In fact, there is a new book entitled “How the Blacks Created Canada” written by Fil Fraser that will soon be published. The book traces the many achievements of Black individuals and communities in Canada. Scholars, authors and university students need to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Fraser and other researchers in shedding some light on the stories of Canada’s Black population.

I believe that the Canadian society must develop, promote and deliver more programs that will encourage Black youth to pursue their education. Investing in our future generations is one of the smartest investments we can make as we move towards greater Equality and inclusiveness. For instance, the University of Windsor has recently created the African Diaspora Empowerment Fund (ADEF) to encourage African-Canadian students to attend their institution. The University feels that many African-Canadian students do not consider post-secondary education a realistic possibility and that many families do not have sufficient financial means. The ADEF will assist in eliminating this barrier.

Canada’s Black youth also need a strong support system to help them overcome adversity. Community centres such as the Centre of Integration in British Columbia are great support structures that serve to bridge the gap between Visible Minorities and the Canadian society as a whole.

4) Why are there so few Black Canadians in public office?

The short answer is racism. Racism reminds entrenched in Canadian society. Visible Minorities in the House of Commons and in the Senate of Canada are well underrepresented. For instance, there are currently only six Senators (5.7%) that are members of the Visible Minority group in the Senate, while Canada’s Visible Minority population in 2006 was 16%. In 2006, Visible Minorities comprised 7.1% of all Members of Parliament elected (22 of 308).

We also know that in our own Public Service of Canada of 260,000 employees racism still hinders members of the Black community and other minorities from holding positions of importance and authority. For instance, in 2006, Visible Minorities accounted for 8.1% of Public Service employees. Recruitment of Visible Minorities dropped from 9.8% to 8.7 between 2006 and 2007. Universities are rife with racism that acts imposingly to prevent the advancement of Blacks to senior academic and administrative positions. The same is true on Bay Street in Toronto.

Thankfully, there are a number of organizations and initiatives that have been put in place to counter racism and make Canada’s workforce more Diverse and inclusive, such as the National Council of Visible Minorities in the Public Service of Canada. The NCVM is a voluntary organization of federal public service employees who are work with other Canadians to build a representative and inclusive work environment. Advisory committees in Canadian companies, student bodies on campuses across Canada and various other groups exist to defend the rights of Visible Minorities in the work place. They understand the urgency for greater opportunities for Visible Minorities in today’s society.

We must ensure that Blacks and all other minorities have the same chance for gainful employment and career growth enjoyed by other citizens. We must recognize that systemic racism remains a major obstacle in their progress.

5) What advice would you give to the young black leaders in Canada today?

I think the best advice I can pass on to any aspiring leader, Black or White, is to never stop learning, to always be curious and to embark on a quest for knowledge. The more you learn, the more you open yourself to new discoveries and to new realities.

I also suggest that you should always try to make a positive difference in your community and in society by giving back. There is an overwhelming sense of satisfaction that flows from doing volunteer work.

Finally, I think it is critical for every person to believe in themselves – to know that you can make a difference and be confident about your ability to succeed.

6) How did Senator Oliver hear about the Centre of Integration?

I heard of the Centre of Integration through Senator Yonah Martin. In early 2009, she introduced me to the Centre and the work it does in British Columbia. She informed me that the Centre was relocating to a new location in New Westminster and asked if I wanted to join her at the opening ceremonies.

On July 23rd, I was delighted to accompany Senator Martin to the official opening of the Centre for Integration’s Community and Training Centre and to address the group that had gathered for the event. As I said in my remarks, the Centre is there to help newcomers to British Columbia better settle into their new communities. It contributes to breaking down barriers that both immigrants and African are faced with on a daily basis, namely employment opportunities.

7) What is the Senator’s impression of the work being done at the Centre of Integration?

Before my visit to the Centre in July 2009, I was already aware of the tremendous work the Centre has done since 2001 in helping the Black community of British Columbia. When I attended the official opening of the Centre’s new location, I had the opportunity to have a private tour of the building. After spending a few hours at the Centre, I was impressed by the number of high-quality services that it provides to Visible Minorities.

The Centre is now located in a new state-of-the-art, 8,500 square foot facility. The new building includes a 3,000 square foot multi-purpose room including a commercial kitchen, as well as 4 classrooms, 2 computer labs, 1 resource room and various private counseling and meeting rooms. The Centre is now well-equipped to serve its clientele with a wide-range of programs.

For instance, some of the Centre’s programs include job search workshops, essential skills workshops, summer student job programs, and skills upgrading for new immigrants and refugees. The Centre has also been organizing programs in local schools to educate Canadian students about Black history. It continues to coordinate various cultural awareness programs for immigrants and offers outreach services to seniors who are immigrants by helping them integrate into society and avoid isolation. These activities are a key factor in making our country more inclusive and the Centre has been doing outstanding work in that regard.

More than 30,000 new Canadians have benefited from these services offered by the Centre of Integration’s many services. It has helped them access jobs, integrate Canadian society and play an active role in their community.

I believe it is important for newcomers to Canada to feel like they belong here and that they can play a productive role in shaping our country. The Centre of Integration is there to help make this happen.

From Afro-News (Vancouver)