The city is preparing to honour the resident who became the first Canadian-born Black lawyer.
Abraham Beverley Walker opened a law practice in Saint John, and eventually was named to the Supreme Court of New Brunswick.
“Mr. Walker was an important trail-blazing resident of the city, and in honour of February being Black History Month, we’re recommending the city work with the community to recognize him through the naming of a space in his honour,” says Kate Wilcott of the Saint John Community Arts board.
February also marks 170 years since Walker’s birth.
At Monday’s meeting, council moved to put together a committee which will find a property to be named after Walker.
Posted: Feb 09, 2021 9:33 PM AT | Last Updated: February 10
Ralph Thomas, program coordinator of the New Brunswick Black History Society, said it s time Black people got some recognition for their contributions to the city and to the province.(Matthew Bingley/CBC)
When historian Ralph Thomas looks at Saint John, he sees a city whose history is interwoven with the contributions of Black people who helped to build it.
He also sees a city where not a single street, building or highway bears their name.
Thomas, program co-ordinator of the New Brunswick Black History Society, thinks that should change. And on Monday night, Saint John city council took the first steps in that direction.