Rosemary Brown First Black Woman Legislator
New Democratic Party Leadership Candidate in British Columbia
Her wide-ranging contributions are seen by many as instrumental in the advancement of equality locally, federally, and internationally. She was not simply the first in many cases, she was an amazing individual much admired by all who worked with her
First Black Woman Elected to Provincial Legislature
Rosemary Brown (née Wedderburn), the first Black woman in Canada elected to a provincial legislature, served in British Columbia’s government from 1972 until 1986. The first woman of colour to seek the leadership of a federal political party, she placed a close second to Ed Broadbent of the New Democratic Party (NDP). She argued that though it’s a very difficult arena, women should enter politics to bring about change.
Rosemary was born in Kingston, Jamaica on June 17, 1930 and raised there within a household of strong, educated, political women headed by her progressive grandmother. She emigrated in 1951 to Canada to enrol at Montreal’s McGill University. She continued her studies at the University of British Columbia where she completed her Master of Social Work. Married to Dr. Bill Brown, she was mother of three children.
Surprised by the amount of racism they encountered in Canadian society, she and her husband joined the British Columbia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (BCAAP). Rosemary also joined The Voice of Women. In her book, “Being Brown: A Very Public Life”, she said, “…to be Black and female in a society which is both racist and sexist is to be in the unique position of having nowhere to go but up!”.
Vancouver-Burrard Riding
She was a founding member of the Vancouver Status of Women Council, the Vancouver Crisis Centre, and the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
During her terms in the legislature, Rosemary established a committee that would eliminate sexism in school textbooks and curricula. She introduced legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex and marital status. As a direct result of her continuing efforts, there was an increase in the number of women represented on boards and commissions.
Rosemary left politics in 1986 to become a professor of Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University. In 1989 she began her job of CEO for MATCH International in Ottawa. The development agency is run by and for women in developing countries to promote their issues on a global basis.
“My heart is with international development now,” Brown said, “trying to work with women’s groups trying to make changes where they are.” No matter how much progress Canadian women make towards equality, she believed, “if you are surrounded by other countries where women have not achieved the same, then your achievements are at risk.” She was CEO for three years, then special ambassador, then president.
Human Rights Commission of Ontario
From 1993 to 1996 Rosemary served as Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She was also a member of the Judicial Council of British Columbia In 1993 she was named to the Canadian Security Intelligence Review Committee for a five-year term.
Dr. Rosemary Brown spoke with a strong voice for justice and equality as a professional speaker nationally and internationally. She died April 26, 2003 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Robin Geary, a personal friend and constituency assistant to Brown while she was in office, said that Dr. Brown was a personable human being who loved gardening and her family. Geary also said that Rosemary Brown was extremely funny and charismatic, and truly believed in the possibility of achieving equality.
Sources:
Being Brown: A Very Public Life by Rosemary Brown, Random House 1989
Rosemary Brown Commemorative Stamp 2009
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Rosemary Brown
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