Educator. Community advocate. Politician.
Jean Augustine has advocated for women's rights, community initiatives, black lives, diversity and equality for her entire adult life. Jean immigrated to Canada in 1960 on the Canada Caribbean domestic program. She already qualified as a teacher but went on to study at Toronto's Teachers College before earning a BA from the University of Toronto.
Jean worked as an elementary school teacher with the Metropolitan Separate School Board where she was promoted to principal, then supervisory officer. Jean was first elected to the House of Commons as MP for Etobicoke Lakeshore.
In 1993, she was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and then Minister of Multiculturalism and the Status of Women.The first black woman to serve as Minister of the Crown. She was three-time chair of the National Women's caucus. Following her retirement from the House of Commons, she became the first Ontario Fairness Commissioner from 2007 to 2015. She has served on boards including York University, the Hospital for Sick Children, Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Harbour Front Corporation.
She also set up the Jean Augustine's Centre for Women's Empowerment making use of her expertise to share knowledge and help support women.
Jean is the subject of the 2022 documentary Steadfast: The Jean Augustine Story.
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