The Honourable Jean Augustine Biography

Jean Augustine's tale exemplifies the power of dedication and hard effort in the quest for social justice. She was born on the Caribbean island of Grenada in 1937. She lost her father when she was little and grew up to be an exceptional young student nurtured by a wise grandma. She came to Canada on the Canada-Caribbean Domestic Program in 1960, already a trained teacher. She studied at Toronto Teachers' College before graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While working as an elementary school teacher for the Metropolitan Separate School Board in Toronto, she got her master's degree in education. She went on to become a principal, then a Supervisory Officer, where she influenced the lives of a lot of young children while also participating in grassroots community activities. She was married and the mother of two girls, whom she raised as a single mother. Augustine's engagement on boards such as York University, The Hospital for Sick Children, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and the Harbourfront Corporation allowed her to contribute to a variety of humanitarian issues. She was also the National President of the Canadian Congress of Black Women. Political leaders noticed her abilities and work ethic, and she began to be called upon for a variety of duties, including the creation and introduction of Canada's official multiculturalism policy in 1971, as well as offering advice on cabinet-level appointments. She was named head of the Metro Toronto Housing Authority in 1988, a multi-million dollar social apartments authority that serves 300,000 people in rent-geared-to-income housing. Augustine made history when she was elected as the first African-Canadian woman to the House of Commons in 1993, representing the Greater Toronto Area seat of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. She served with distinction, winning four straight elections until 2006 when she decided to pursue new opportunities. She served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Minister of Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, three-time Chair of the National Women's Caucus, and was elected Deputy Speaker by her peers in her final year in Parliament. Legislation to protect disadvantaged low-income individuals, such as single mothers raising children; securing unanimous legislative support to pass a historic motion designating February as Black History Month in Canada; and securing unanimous legislative support to erect the only statue featuring women on Parliament Hill. In support of the groundbreaking Jean Augustine Chair in Education in the New Urban Environment, Dr. Augustine would give her archives and parliamentary papers to York University's Faculty of Education in 2008. The Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community, and Diaspora, later renamed the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community, and Diaspora strives to improve access, equity, and inclusion in education via community involvement and collaborative action. In 2007, the Government of Ontario asked Augustine to organize a major commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the British Slave Trade Act of 1807. Later that year, she was named the province of Ontario's first-ever Fairness Commissioner, a position she held until her retirement in 2015, in which she created new regulatory requirements for transparency, openness, and more simplified access to work conditions for foreign-trained professionals.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, The Honourable Jean Augustine's expertise is in high demand. To book The Honourable Jean Augustine for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure The Honourable Jean Augustine's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with The Honourable Jean Augustine's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing The Honourable Jean Augustine for your next speaking engagement.