Local Black Women, Lasting Legacies: Honouring Black Women Who Shaped BC

Black history in British Columbia is often told through fragments: brief mentions, footnotes, or neighbourhood names without context. Too often, the women who built, organized, documented, trailblazed and left lasting legacies are left out entirely.  

This Black History Month, we honour a few Black women whose lives and leadership shaped British Columbia and the broader Black experience connected to this place. Their stories remind us that history is not only made in institutions; it lives through community memory, resilience and everyday leadership.  

Nora Hendrix: Community Anchor in Hogan’s Alley  

A longtime resident and homeowner in Hogan’s Alley, Vancouver’s historic Black neighbourhood, Nora Hendrix co-founded the city’s first Black-owned church, the African Methodist Episcopal Fountain Chapel, in 1918. Beyond its religious services, the church served as a hub for social gatherings, community meetings and activism, including advocacy for fair treatment in high-profile cases of racial injustice. Hendrix also worked at Vie’s Chicken and Steak House, a beloved Black-owned establishment that doubled as a cultural centre, welcoming locals and visiting entertainers alike.  

Women like Hendrix were the backbone of Hogan’s Alley, maintaining family stability, mutual support networks and cultural continuity in the face of systemic housing discrimination. When the neighbourhood was dismantled in the late 1960s for urban renewal and freeway construction, much of this community life was erased. These were city decisions that forced Black families to leave the neighbourhood. What can never be erased are Hendrix’s contributions, which remain a vital part of the Alley’s enduring legacy.  

Rosemary Brown: Political Trailblazer 

Rosemary Brown’s life was defined by barrier-breaking leadership and tireless advocacy. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1930, she immigrated to Canada in 1951 and became a force in politics, labour and women’s movements in Vancouver. In 1972, Brown became the first Black woman elected to a provincial legislature in Canada, representing Vancouver–Burrard in the BC Legislative Assembly for 14 years. She championed women’s rights, child care, pay equity and reproductive freedom, and in 1975 became the first Black woman to run for leadership of a federal political party in Canada.  

Brown’s influence extended beyond elected office. She publicly challenged sexism and racism within political institutions and later served as Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Through her writing, speeches and mentorship, she shaped national conversations on social inequality, leaving a profound legacy for Black women in politics and beyond.  

Nalda Callender: Community Builder and Advocate  

Nalda Callender’s work has transformed Vancouver’s Black and Caribbean communities. Born in Antigua in 1944, she moved to Canada in the late 1960s and became a community leader from 1980 onward. Callender co-founded the Congress of Black Women (Vancouver chapter) in 1983 and helped establish the National Congress of Black Women Foundation, supporting mentorship, education, health awareness, and social services for Black and Caribbean families nationwide.  

A tireless advocate for racial equity, women’s rights and youth mentorship, Callender played a pivotal role in securing Canada Post’s first Black History Month stamp honouring Rosemary Brown and in founding the Rosemary Brown Annual Award for Women. Her leadership challenged systemic barriers in housing, health care and legal support, while fostering cultural pride and connection to heritage.  

Vie Moore: Cultural Anchor and Community Mentor  

Vie Moore represents the often-unseen labour of Black women sustaining movements and institutions over decades. Her restaurant, Vie’s Chicken and Steak was a cultural anchor in Vancouver, a place where community members, artists and activists gathered and felt valued. Known for her warmth and mentorship, Moore nurtured emerging leaders and supported grassroots organizing, leaving an imprint recognized in community histories and oral accounts. According to BC Restaurant Hall of Fame, "regardless of one’s background in life, socio-economic status, where one lived or came from, Vie had a way of welcoming everyone and making you feel special! She was the ‘heart and soul’ of this legendary establishment, for over thirty years, in the annals of Vancouver’s restaurant and entertainment history.”  

While her work may not have been preserved in formal archives, Moore’s contributions endure through the memories and stories of those whose lives she touched. She exemplifies the quiet yet profound leadership that builds and holds communities together.  

Barbara Howard: Olympic Athlete and Educator  

Barbara Howard broke barriers in sport and education. Born in Vancouver, she represented Canada at the 1938 British Empire Games, earning silver and bronze medals and becoming one of the first Black women to compete internationally for Canada. Beyond athletics, Howard dedicated her life to teaching and served as a physical education teacher and school principal, advocating for youth, sport and education, especially for marginalized students.  

Through both her athletic and educational achievements, Howard challenged societal limitations, inspiring generations of young women to pursue excellence despite systemic obstacles.  

These women’s legacies demonstrate that Black history in BC is not only about celebrated figures but also about everyday leaders, community builders, educators and advocates whose impact resonates across generations. This Black History Month, we honour their stories, their courage and the pathways they created for those who follow.