The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine speaks at NBS

Earlier this week, Canada’s National Ballet School welcomed the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine for a special assembly, where she shared her groundbreaking  journey as the first Black woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons and her legislative success in leading the historic Black History Month Motion. 
 
Dr. Augustine served from 1993 to 2006 and her roles included Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Minister for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee, and Deputy Speaker. She also played a key role in the legislative success of the “Famous Five” Motion to honour women’s suffrage. From 2007 to 2015, she was Ontario’s first-ever Fairness Commissioner. In 2008, the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora was launched at York University to help advance education, equity and inclusiveness. 
 
Today, also in her name are a Girls' Leadership Academy in Scarborough, a Centre for Young Women's Empowerment and municipal park in Etobicoke, a Secondary School in Brampton, and a multi-purpose complex and district park in Vaughan. She is a Member of the Order of Canada and Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Jean Augustine holds honourary doctorates from the universities of McGill, Toronto, York, Windsor, Guelph, Trent and Toronto Metropolitan University; is a senior fellow at Centennial, Humber and Massey College; and supports scholarships at George Brown, Centennial and Humber College.
 
When asked what advice she would give her 16-year-old self, Dr. Augustine shared these inspiring words: “Take risks, have a passion for something, volunteer, because that's where the learning takes place. Be part of community and community engagement. Don't be a bystander just standing and watching things happen. There are pretty close to 8 billion of us in the world, and each one of us has a purpose, and we need to find what that purpose is. We have a responsibility to contribute, to be part of, to participate, to learn, to expand the horizon, to breathe and breathe and breathe. ...We need to read, we need to know, and we need to participate. ...You can work to your full potential when you recognize the importance of participation.” 
 
Dr. Augustine is a trailblazer and her impact and contributions not only to Canadian politics, but to Canada as a whole, are immeasurable. We are extraordinarily grateful that our students and staff had this incredible opportunity to hear her speak as we honour Black History Month at Canada's National Ballet School.

Watch the following clip from Dr. Augustine's talk to hear her full answer to the question of what advice she would give to her 16-year-old self. 

Photos: The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine is photographed with NBS' Artistic Director and Executive Director, NBS staff and students, and friends of NBS and event attendees dance Immersion.









Learn more about Dr. Jean Augustine’s journey and legacy at: https://jeanaugustine.ca