Jamaican Canadian
Encyclopedia
Jamaican Canadians are Canadians of Jamaica
n descent, or Jamaican-born people with Canadian citizenship. The population, according to Canada's 2006 Census
, is 231,110. Jamaican Canadians comprise about 30% of the entire black Canadian population.
, Montreal
, Ottawa
, and Hamilton
. The total number of Jamaicans in Canada has increased dramatically since the 1960s, and the reasons for coming are also different. Currently, Jamaicans can be found in every major Canadian city and occupy a multitude of occupations.
slaves imported into New France
and Nova Scotia
individually and in small numbers. In 1796, the Maroons of Jamaica entered Halifax and were the first large group to enter British North America
(The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2000). The name Maroons
was used to describe slaves who ran away from their owners and created free communities away from the European settlements in Jamaica. A war between the Maroons and the British broke out on the island of Jamaica in 1795. The war ended when the British realizing that they could not win, tricked the Maroons into laying down their arms and then carried them into exile in Nova Scotia (James & Walker, 1984).
Governor John Wentworth
settled the Maroons who numbered over 500 on the outskirts of Halifax and offered the men jobs to fortify the Citadel. Standing proud and still holding on to the memory of being betrayed by the British, the maroons mounted a strong resistance and refused to be compliant Nova Scotian settlers. After numerous appeals to London
, the Maroons were allowed to return to Sierra Leone
in West Africa in 1800. The “Maroon Bastion” stands on Citadel Hill as an example of their legacy and the sense of pride they contributed blacks remaining (James & Walker, 1984).
Between 1800 and 1920, small numbers of West Indians were brought from Jamaica as labourers for the Cape Breton mines and from Barbados
to work in coal mines in Sydney and Nova Scotia. Migration from the West Indies almost virtually stopped after 1920. As a result, the West Indian population in 1941 was smaller than it was 20 years earlier. Even though pressure for migration in the West Indies mounted, the Canadian government refused to allow any more non-whites into the country (James & Walker, 1984) (James & Walker, 1984).
In 1908, Robert Borden
, the leader of the Conservative Party, stated “The Conservative Party stands for a white Canada”. Not to lose face with voters, the Liberal government passed immigration that excluded non-whites, except when they were needed for cheap labour (James & Walker, 1984).
Agnes Macdonald, the second wife of the first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. Macdonald
, was born in Jamaica.
, a great demand for unskilled workers resulted in the National Act of 1948. This Act was design to attract cheap labourers over sea from British colonies. This resulted in many West Indians, including Jamaicans coming to Canada. The Jamaicans who entered Canada after World War II did so because they still believed it was an opportunity to escape poverty and seek a new start in a world where personal advancement and success seemed to be encouraged. Wanting to stop the in-flow of black West Indians, the Walter Act of 1952 was passed to impose a “severely restricted quota” on black West Indians entering the country (James & Walker, 1984).
In 1955, Canada introduced the West Domestic Scheme (Anderson, 1993). This Scheme allowed eligible black women who were between the age of 18 to 35, in good health, no family ties and a minimum of a grade eight education from mainly Jamaica and Barbados to enter Canada (James & Walker, 1984). After one year as a domestic servant, these women were given a landed immigrant status and were able to apply for citizenship after five years. Even though the Scheme originally allowed only 100 women per year, 2,690 women entered Canada from Jamaica and Barbados by 1965. In 1962, racial discrimination was taken out of the Canadian Immigration Act and the number of Jamaicans who came to Canada dramatically increased (Lazar & Dauglas, 1992).
and Quebec
. The largest concentration of Jamaican immigrants can be found in the following areas of Greater Toronto
: Scarborough
, Old Toronto, North York, York
, Ajax
, Mississauga, and Brampton
. Other cities include Montreal
, Edmonton
, Vancouver
, Winnipeg
, Kitchener
, Waterloo
, Windsor
, and Halifax (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2000).
In 1989, 86.7% of Jamaican immigrants settled in Ontario, 7.4% settled in Quebec, 2.6% settled in Alberta, 1.7% settled in Manitoba, 1.1% settled in British Columbia and 0.6% settled in the rest of Canada. Jamaicans made up 27.5% of the total number of West Indian immigrants for that year (Anderson, 1993). Because of language concerns, most West Indian immigrants settle in Ontario as opposed to Quebec.
In a 1996 overview from Immigration Canada, Jamaica was ranked eighth in terms of the number of its citizens immigrating to Canada. Jamaica is preceded by countries such as China
, Pakistan
, and the Philippines
in the number of its citizens that migrate to Canada. The number of Jamaicans immigrating to Canada declined in 1997 and again in 1998. Jamaican immigration to Canada is at an all time low; it was ranked number 10 by Immigration Canada in 2000. In 2006, almost 80,000 Jamaican-Canadians lived in the City of Toronto, and almost 31,000 in the suburb of Brampton.
One possible reason for this drop between 1982 to 1985 might have been the language law Bill 101. Bill 101, which was introduced by Quebec's separatist government on August 26, 1977, introduced tighter restrictions on the use of English and access to English
schools. It became against the law to produce any commercial sign that was not exclusively in French, and the law aimed to make French
the language of the workplace (O’Malley & Bowman, 2001).
Of the total number of Jamaicans living in Quebec, only 20% can speak French and 86% practice Christian
ity as their religion. One percent of the populations have no schooling, 13% have a primary education, 45% have high school education, 25% have a college education, and 16% have a university education (Ministere des Affaires Internationales, de L’Immigration et des Communautes Culturelle et la Ville de Montreal, 1995).
, 231,110 Canadians identified themselves as Jamaican Canadian. The actual number of Jamaican Canadians should be larger, given that many people identified themselves as "Black", "West Indian", or "Caribbean".
Arts and crafts: Creations in straw, clay, fabric, shell, wood and semi-precious stone are on display in most Jamaican homes. African, Indian, European and Arawak cultures influence Jamaicans Arts and Crafts. Depicting life and landscape, Jamaican paintings feature bright colours and bold lines. No Jamaican kitchen is complete without a dutchy (a cast iron pot). Dutchys come in different sizes and it is said that, “the blacker the dutchy, the sweeter it cooks”.
Theater: From the 19th-century Ward Theater to innovative little theaters and thriving centers for drama in Kingston, Jamaicans like a broad range of theatrical treats. Plays depict a variety of Jamaican experiences.
Sports and games: One could argue that the national game is domino followed by ludy. Sports of choice include cricket, soccer (football), bicycle racing, water-sports, horse racing, rafting, and track and field. Among youth however, basketball
is the most popular sport.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n descent, or Jamaican-born people with Canadian citizenship. The population, according to Canada's 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, is 231,110. Jamaican Canadians comprise about 30% of the entire black Canadian population.
History
Most Jamaicans who arrive in Canada settle in the census metropolitan areas of TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, and Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. The total number of Jamaicans in Canada has increased dramatically since the 1960s, and the reasons for coming are also different. Currently, Jamaicans can be found in every major Canadian city and occupy a multitude of occupations.
Origins
The first Jamaicans who came to Canada were West IndianCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
slaves imported into New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
individually and in small numbers. In 1796, the Maroons of Jamaica entered Halifax and were the first large group to enter British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
(The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2000). The name Maroons
Maroon (people)
Maroons were runaway slaves in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America, who formed independent settlements together...
was used to describe slaves who ran away from their owners and created free communities away from the European settlements in Jamaica. A war between the Maroons and the British broke out on the island of Jamaica in 1795. The war ended when the British realizing that they could not win, tricked the Maroons into laying down their arms and then carried them into exile in Nova Scotia (James & Walker, 1984).
Governor John Wentworth
John Wentworth (governor)
Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet was the British colonial governor of New Hampshire at the time of the American Revolution. He was later also Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia.-Early life:...
settled the Maroons who numbered over 500 on the outskirts of Halifax and offered the men jobs to fortify the Citadel. Standing proud and still holding on to the memory of being betrayed by the British, the maroons mounted a strong resistance and refused to be compliant Nova Scotian settlers. After numerous appeals to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the Maroons were allowed to return to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in West Africa in 1800. The “Maroon Bastion” stands on Citadel Hill as an example of their legacy and the sense of pride they contributed blacks remaining (James & Walker, 1984).
Between 1800 and 1920, small numbers of West Indians were brought from Jamaica as labourers for the Cape Breton mines and from Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
to work in coal mines in Sydney and Nova Scotia. Migration from the West Indies almost virtually stopped after 1920. As a result, the West Indian population in 1941 was smaller than it was 20 years earlier. Even though pressure for migration in the West Indies mounted, the Canadian government refused to allow any more non-whites into the country (James & Walker, 1984) (James & Walker, 1984).
In 1908, Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
, the leader of the Conservative Party, stated “The Conservative Party stands for a white Canada”. Not to lose face with voters, the Liberal government passed immigration that excluded non-whites, except when they were needed for cheap labour (James & Walker, 1984).
Agnes Macdonald, the second wife of the first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, was born in Jamaica.
After World War II
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a great demand for unskilled workers resulted in the National Act of 1948. This Act was design to attract cheap labourers over sea from British colonies. This resulted in many West Indians, including Jamaicans coming to Canada. The Jamaicans who entered Canada after World War II did so because they still believed it was an opportunity to escape poverty and seek a new start in a world where personal advancement and success seemed to be encouraged. Wanting to stop the in-flow of black West Indians, the Walter Act of 1952 was passed to impose a “severely restricted quota” on black West Indians entering the country (James & Walker, 1984).
In 1955, Canada introduced the West Domestic Scheme (Anderson, 1993). This Scheme allowed eligible black women who were between the age of 18 to 35, in good health, no family ties and a minimum of a grade eight education from mainly Jamaica and Barbados to enter Canada (James & Walker, 1984). After one year as a domestic servant, these women were given a landed immigrant status and were able to apply for citizenship after five years. Even though the Scheme originally allowed only 100 women per year, 2,690 women entered Canada from Jamaica and Barbados by 1965. In 1962, racial discrimination was taken out of the Canadian Immigration Act and the number of Jamaicans who came to Canada dramatically increased (Lazar & Dauglas, 1992).
After the 1960s
Because changes in the Immigration Act allowed non-whites to enter Canada without restrictions, many Jamaicans took advantage of the opportunity and entered Canada with hopes of achieving their goals for a better life. After the purging of many racist immigration policies, a large number of Jamaicans started to enter Canada as tourists and many would later apply independently for landed immigrant status (Anderson, 1993). In the late 1960s, the Canadian government instituted the Family Reunification clause into its immigration policy, which made it even easier for Jamaicans and other groups to bring their loved ones to join them in Canada (Anderson, 1993). Thus, during the 1970s and '80s, many Jamaicans who entered Canada were children and husbands of the Jamaican women who came to Canada between 1955 and 1965. According to Anderson (1993), Caribbean immigrants to Canada were more likely to settle in large cities and their provinces of choice were OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The largest concentration of Jamaican immigrants can be found in the following areas of Greater Toronto
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
: Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
, Old Toronto, North York, York
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
, Ajax
Ajax, Ontario
Ajax is a town in the Durham Region in the Greater Toronto Area.The town is named for the HMS Ajax a Royal Navy cruiser that served in World War II. Ajax is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and the...
, Mississauga, and Brampton
Brampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
. Other cities include Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, and Halifax (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2000).
In 1989, 86.7% of Jamaican immigrants settled in Ontario, 7.4% settled in Quebec, 2.6% settled in Alberta, 1.7% settled in Manitoba, 1.1% settled in British Columbia and 0.6% settled in the rest of Canada. Jamaicans made up 27.5% of the total number of West Indian immigrants for that year (Anderson, 1993). Because of language concerns, most West Indian immigrants settle in Ontario as opposed to Quebec.
Demography
Jamaica by far has been the major source of West Indian immigration to Canada since West Indians were allowed in Canada. Between 1974 and 1989, 35.7% of all West Indian immigration to Canada came from Jamaica. Nevertheless, there was a decline during the early '80s, a recovery during 1986 and a decline again by 1989 (Anderson, 1993). According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Jamaicans made up 40% of West Indian immigration in the early 1990s.In a 1996 overview from Immigration Canada, Jamaica was ranked eighth in terms of the number of its citizens immigrating to Canada. Jamaica is preceded by countries such as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in the number of its citizens that migrate to Canada. The number of Jamaicans immigrating to Canada declined in 1997 and again in 1998. Jamaican immigration to Canada is at an all time low; it was ranked number 10 by Immigration Canada in 2000. In 2006, almost 80,000 Jamaican-Canadians lived in the City of Toronto, and almost 31,000 in the suburb of Brampton.
In Quebec
According to the Ministere des Affaires Internationales, de L'Immigration et des Communautes Culturelle et la Ville de Montreal, in 1995 there were 7,345 Jamaicans living in Quebec, however, recent statistics show the population to be 11,935. Between 1960 to 1970, 28% of immigrants in Quebec were Jamaicans, during 1971 to 1980 there was a sharp increase to 41%, there was a significant drop to 12% between 1981 to 1985 and between 1986 to 1991 the number went up to 20%.One possible reason for this drop between 1982 to 1985 might have been the language law Bill 101. Bill 101, which was introduced by Quebec's separatist government on August 26, 1977, introduced tighter restrictions on the use of English and access to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
schools. It became against the law to produce any commercial sign that was not exclusively in French, and the law aimed to make French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
the language of the workplace (O’Malley & Bowman, 2001).
Of the total number of Jamaicans living in Quebec, only 20% can speak French and 86% practice Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
ity as their religion. One percent of the populations have no schooling, 13% have a primary education, 45% have high school education, 25% have a college education, and 16% have a university education (Ministere des Affaires Internationales, de L’Immigration et des Communautes Culturelle et la Ville de Montreal, 1995).
2006 Census
According to the 2006 CensusCanada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, 231,110 Canadians identified themselves as Jamaican Canadian. The actual number of Jamaican Canadians should be larger, given that many people identified themselves as "Black", "West Indian", or "Caribbean".
Material culture
Food: A spicy, colourful mix of cuisine includes ackee and saltfish, rice and peas, jerk chicken, fish and pork, curried goat, pepperpot soup, roasted yams, banana fritters, patties, salads, fruits and exotic desserts. Beverages include carrot juice, ginger beer, almost all kinds of fruit juices, coconut water and sorrel.Arts and crafts: Creations in straw, clay, fabric, shell, wood and semi-precious stone are on display in most Jamaican homes. African, Indian, European and Arawak cultures influence Jamaicans Arts and Crafts. Depicting life and landscape, Jamaican paintings feature bright colours and bold lines. No Jamaican kitchen is complete without a dutchy (a cast iron pot). Dutchys come in different sizes and it is said that, “the blacker the dutchy, the sweeter it cooks”.
Theater: From the 19th-century Ward Theater to innovative little theaters and thriving centers for drama in Kingston, Jamaicans like a broad range of theatrical treats. Plays depict a variety of Jamaican experiences.
Sports and games: One could argue that the national game is domino followed by ludy. Sports of choice include cricket, soccer (football), bicycle racing, water-sports, horse racing, rafting, and track and field. Among youth however, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
is the most popular sport.
People
- Philip AkinPhilip AkinPhilip Akin is a Canadian actor who has been active for over thirty years in stage, film, and television. He has had featured roles in major American films such as The Sum of All Fears, S.W.A.T., and Get Rich or Die Tryin’...
- Bromley ArmstrongBromley ArmstrongBromley Lloyd Armstrong is a black Canadian civil rights leader. He was active in the nascent civil rights era in Canada, beginning with his arrival in 1947. Armstrong was a committed union activist who worked to improve conditions for workers in industry...
- Samantha AlbertSamantha AlbertSamantha Majendie-Albert is a Canadian-born equestrian who represents Jamaica in international competition...
- Donovan BaileyDonovan BaileyDonovan Bailey is a retired Canadian sprinter, who once held the world record for the 100 metres race following his gold medal performance in the 1996 Olympic Games. He was the first Canadian to legally break the 10-second barrier in the 100 m...
- Margarett BestMargarett BestMargarett Best is a Canadian politician. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2007 provincial election, representing the riding of Scarborough—Guildwood. She is a member of the Liberal Party.-Background:...
- Jully BlackJully BlackJully Black |Julie]]"; born Jullyann Inderia Gordon; November 8, 1977) is a Canadian R&B singer–songwriter. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Missy Elliott, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul.-Life & career:Black was born Jullyann...
- Boi-1daBoi-1daMatthew Samuels , better known as Boi-1da , is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for artists and groups such as Chip tha Ripper, Kardinal Offishall, Clipse, Drake, Eminem, Saukrates, k-os, G-Unit, and The Diplomats among others...
- Mark BoswellMark BoswellMark Boswell and grew up in Brampton, Ontario is a Canadian high jumper, who won a total number of six national titles in the men's high jump event....
- Cindy BreakspeareCindy BreakspeareCynthia Jean Cameron Breakspeare , better known as Cindy Breakspeare, is a Jamaican jazz musician and former model. She was crowned Miss World 1976, and is the mother of Grammy-winning reggae musician Damian Marley....
- Lascelles BrownLascelles BrownLascelles Brown is a Jamaican-born Canadian bobsledder who has competed since 1999 . Competing in three Winter Olympics, he is the first Jamaican-born athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal...
- Rosemary BrownRosemary Brown (politician)Rosemary Brown, PC, OC, OBC, née Wedderburn , was a Canadian politician.- Early years :Rosemary Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1930, and moved to Canada in 1950 to study at McGill University in Montreal...
- Mary Anne ChambersMary Anne ChambersMary Anne Veronica Chambers is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 until 2007, and served in the cabinet in the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Background:...
- Austin CodringtonAustin CodringtonAustin Codrington is a Jamaican-born cricketer who plays for Canada. He is primarily a bowler but can contribute useful runs near the bottom of the order on occasion; as of 2005 he has a highest first-class score of 48...
- Charmaine CrooksCharmaine CrooksCharmaine Crooks , is a Canadian athlete, five-time Olympian and Olympic Silver Medalist . Charmaine was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, but represented Canada for close to 20 years in athletics...
- Dan-e-oDan-e-oDaniel Faraldo , professionally known as Dan-e-o, is a Canadian hip hop artist of Jamaican and Spanish descent, from Toronto, Ontario...
- iSH
- Jonathan EmileJonathan EmileJonathan Emile is a Jamaican Canadian singer, poet, musician and entrepreneur from Montreal, Quebec. He is the creator and the founder of Mindpeacelove Enterprises and a cancer survivor...
- Jonathan de GuzmánJonathan de GuzmánJonathan Alexander de Guzmán is a Canadian-born footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and is currently playing for Villarreal CF....
- Julián de GuzmánJulian de GuzmánJulian de Guzman is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.Previously, he played for Deportivo de La Coruña, and was the first Canadian to play in the Spanish La Liga...
- Franklyn DennisFranklyn DennisFranklyn Anthony Dennis is a former cricketer for Canada. He played three One Day Internationals in the 1979 World Cup, as well as appearing for the country in the 1979 ICC Trophy tournament...
- Fefe DobsonFefe DobsonFelicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
- Orville Lloyd DouglasOrville Lloyd DouglasOrville Lloyd Douglas is a Canadian, feminist, poet, and writer.-Biography:Orville Lloyd Douglas was born in Toronto, Ontario to Jamaican-Canadian parents. He graduated from York University with two Bachelor of Arts degrees. He completed his first Bachelor's degree in History and the second...
- Dwight DrummondDwight DrummondDwight Drummond is a Canadian television journalist, currently working for CBC Television in Toronto, Ontario.-Career:Drummond moved to Canada in 1976 and was raised in Toronto's Jane and Finch neighbourhood...
- Gerald EatonGerald EatonGerald Eaton is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and music producer, originally from Jamaica.He is the lead singer for the R&B-pop group The Philosopher Kings, which reached its peak popularity in the 1990s...
- Robert EsmieRobert EsmieRobert Esmie is a Canadian athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1996 Summer Olympics....
- Saskia GarelSaskia GarelSaskia Garel is a Jamaican actress. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Garel later immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from York University. She is known for her role as Danielle on One on One and was also one half of the two time Juno Award-winning Canadian...
- Kamala-Jean Gopie
- Mark Anthony GrahamMark Anthony GrahamMark Anthony Graham was a Canadian Olympic athlete and soldier who died while participating in Operation Medusa during the NATO mission in Afghanistan....
- Stanley G. GrizzleStanley G. GrizzleStanley G. Grizzle, CM, O.Ont is a retired Canadian citizenship judge and labour union activist. Born in 1918 in Toronto, to Jamaican immigrants, he was the oldest of seven children.-Union experience:...
- Carl HenryCarl HenryCarl Henry is a Jamaican-born R&B singer, who was raised in Montreal, Canada.His debut album, entitled RNB, garnered him his first Juno nomination for Best R&B/Soul recording of the Year...
- Nalo HopkinsonNalo HopkinsonNalo Hopkinson is a Jamaican science fiction and fantasy writer and editor who lives in Canada. Her novels and short stories such as those in her collection Skin Folk often draw on Caribbean history and language, and its traditions of oral and written storytelling.Hopkinson has...
- Ben Johnson
- Kardinal OffishallKardinal OffishallJason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
- Molly KillingbeckMolly KillingbeckMolly Killingbeck is a Canadian athlete who competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics for Canada, starting in 1984....
- Kristin KreukKristin KreukKristin Laura Kreuk is a Canadian actress and producer, known for her portrayal of Lana Lang in the American television series Smallville. She was also a regular cast member on the Canadian teen drama Edgemont, and has starred in movies such as Eurotrip and Street Fighter: The Legend of...
- Michael Lee-ChinMichael Lee-ChinThe Honourable Michael Lee-Chin, OJ is a Jamaican-Canadian investor. He is the founder and Chairman of Portland Holdings Inc., a privately held investment company which owns a collection of diversified operating companies in sectors that include media, tourism, health care telecommunications and...
- Sandra LevySandra LevySandra Levy is a former field hockey player, who represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain...
- Nicole LynNicole LynNicole Lyn is a television actress. She is known for her role in Student Bodies, a Canadian teen comedy series.-Biography:...
- Glenn LewisGlenn LewisGlenn Lewis is a Canadian R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter. Originally planning to pursue a career in animation as a teenager, Lewis instead decided to focus on music. His father was a member of the musical group Crack of Dawn...
- Lennox LewisLennox LewisLennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
- Atlee MahornAtlee MahornAtlee Anthony Mahorn is a three-time Canadian Olympic sprinter. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley and holds an MBA in International Business....
- Keith MasonKeith MasonKeith Mason may refer to:* Keith Mason , judge in New South Wales, Australia* Keith Mason , English born professional rugby league footballer...
- Stacey McKenzieStacey McKenzieStacey McKenzie is a Canadian fashion model, runway coach and most recently a model coach and judge on the Canadian reality television show Canada's Next Top Model.-Modeling career:...
- Orim M. MeikleOrim M. MeikleOrim M. Meikle is the Senior Pastor and Chairman of Rhema Christian Ministries, one of the fastest growing churches in Toronto, Canada, with a congregation of over 2000 people and a variety of weekly services in English and Spanish....
- Michie MeeMichie MeeMichelle McCullock , better known by her stage name Michie Mee, is a Canadian rapper and actor. As Canada's first notable female MC, she is considered a national hip-hop pioneer.-Early life and career:...
- Mista MoMista MoMista Mo is the star, writer, music producer, segment and co-executive producer of the Buzz, a sketch comedy television series featuring him and fellow comedian Daryn Jones of YTV & MTV fame. Mo is responsible for coming up with popular segments such as: Nuts 4 Bucks, Jesus Caught on Tape, Buzz...
- Rob RainfordRob RainfordRobert Rainford is a Canadian chef and host of Licence to Grill on Food Network Canada, Discovery Home in the U.S. and Asian Food Channel across Asia. The format of the show involves Rainford hosting a get-together at his home for one reason or another, and preparing meals on his grills for the...
- Gloria ReubenGloria ReubenGloria Reuben is a Canadian singer and actress of film and television, known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the popular medical drama ER and for her role of Rosalind Whitman in the TV show Raising the Bar.-Life and career:...
- Donovan RuddockDonovan RuddockDonovan Ruddock , also known as Razor Ruddock, is a retired Canadian heavyweight boxer. He was a promising Heavyweight of the late 1980s and early 1990s...
- Tony SharpeTony SharpeTony Sharpe is a former sprinter from Canada who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 100 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984...
- Makeda SilveraMakeda SilveraMakeda Silvera is a Caribbean Canadian novelist and short story writer.Silvera emigrated to Canada at the age of 12 with her family, and currently lives in Toronto. She published two volumes of short stories in the 1990s before releasing her first novel, "The Revenge of Maria" in 1998, followed by...
- Chris SpenceChris Spence (educator)Christopher M. Spence is a Canadian educator, author, and former Canadian football player. He is the Director of Education of the Toronto District School Board and former Director of Education of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board....
- Angella Taylor-Issajenko
- Ryan ThelwellRyan ThelwellRyan Thelwell is a professional Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He is known to the Lions' fans as "Automatic" . Thelwell played college football with the University of Minnesota...
- Kreesha TurnerKreesha TurnerKreesha Turner , is a Canadian R&B/pPop recording artist. She cites as her inspirations R&B acts such as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and D'Angelo, hip-hop acts including A Tribe Called Quest, Andre 3000 and Common and rock acts like the Foo Fighters and Our Lady Peace.-Early life:The oldest of three...
- Clement VirgoClement VirgoClément Virgo is a Canadian filmmaker of international acclaim. His latest feature, the boxing drama Poor Boy's Game, stars Danny Glover and Rossif Sutherland...
- Marcia WilliamsMarcia YoungMarcia Young is a Canadian broadcast journalist and host of The World This Weekend, a national current events program on CBC Radio.-Early life:...
- Tonya Lee WilliamsTonya Lee WilliamsTonya Lee Williams is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Dr. Olivia Barber Winters on the American soap opera The Young and the Restless, from 1990 to 2005, and for a brief time in 2007. She returned to the series in the fall of 2008.-Early life:Williams was born in London, England to...