By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
As Canadians commemorate Black History Month and recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of people of African descent, one of the names that’s surely to be mentioned is Dr. Daniel G. Hill.
Hill, a co-founder of the Ontario Black History Society and the first Black ombudsman of Ontario, was also the first director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).
“Dr. Hill was one of Ontario’s earliest human rights visionaries,” said lawyer and current OHRC chief commissioner Patricia DeGuire. “His legacy still resonates with us today.”
DeGuire was one of the speakers at the OHRC’s recent annual Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
The awards, inaugurated in 2022, are “to acknowledge, congratulate and share the important work of individuals across the province who are transforming Ontario’s human rights eco-system”, DeGuire said.
The latest awards recognized individuals in three categories, including Rosemary Sadlier, who received a “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
A “Distinguished Service Award” was presented to Lorin MacDonald, a human rights lawyer, disability and accessibility advocate and educator and a “Young Leader Award” was presented to Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden, a mentor, educator and youth advocate.
“The caliber of the nominees is inspiring. They were purposeful and diligent in making positive change in Ontario,” said DeGuire. “Your contributions are powerful and empowering. Thank you for volunteering.”
Hill, after whom the awards are named, was born in the United States in 1923 and moved to Canada in 1950, where he and his wife raised three children. He was a human rights specialist and advocate, sociologist, civil servant and Black Canadian historian.
“The life of Daniel G. Hill, a towering figure in the fight for human rights in Canada, reminds us that the work is not just a duty but a devoted calling,” said TMU’s Dr. Grace Camille Munroe, who was master of ceremony for the awards’ presentation.
TMU’s chancellor, Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang, was a member of the selection panel that chose the award recipients. She reflected on what she described as a “personal connection” with Hill, whom she interviewed for CBC Radio when he was appointed ombudsman.
“I knew I was sitting next to greatness,” Chin-Loy Chang said. “He was a positive and hopeful, transformative leader. His commitment to fair play and justice to all gave me great encouragement.”
Chin-Loy Chang also commended the honourees, who all expressed appreciation on receiving their awards.
“Your exemplary community leadership inspires us all,” she said. “I am certain that Dr. Hill would be proud of your achievements.”
Sadlier, who served as OBHS president for 22 years, used her remarks to call for “an inclusive history” which would “prioritize Black Canadian history”.
“History equips us with the tools to analyze current problems and uncover issues that might otherwise remain invisible. It allows us to see the present in a new light and offers critical perspectives on how we can address present and future issues,” said Sadlier.
“Understanding the events that shaped the past is essential to understanding how we got where we are today.”
