Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard: Honourable senators, I acknowledge that we gather today on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe Peoples.
I rise today on behalf of the Progressive Senate Group to honour my friend and mentor the Honourable Senator Donald Oliver.
Senator Oliver made history in this chamber — as you’ve already heard — as the first Black man and the first African-Nova Scotian appointed to the Senate of Canada.
A trailblazer in human rights, his contributions to social justice and equality are profound and enduring. When I joined the Senate, a few years after his retirement, he graciously met with me to reflect on his journey. I was deeply moved by his wisdom and the timeless advice he shared. I carry his words with me every single day.
I’ve often spoken about the significance of Senator Oliver’s work and proudly shared that I stand on his shoulders. One of the greatest lessons I learned from him is that when you are a “first,” especially as an African-Nova Scotian entering spaces our ancestors were once excluded from, it is never by accident. We are here because of their sacrifices. And with that legacy comes a responsibility to continue the fight for equity and justice.
It was a pleasure to present him with the Senate of Canada’s 150th commemorative medal. Many of you would have been here when he received that.
One of my fondest memories was a fireside chat we shared for Lincoln Alexander Day in January 2022. Like Lincoln Alexander, Senator Oliver believed deeply in the power of government to enact meaningful change for African-Canadians and others. He offered invaluable strategies for working across party lines on matters of equity and diversity.
His legacy lives on in the institutions he helped shape and in the lives he touched. A powerful example of this is his work with the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia to establish the Senator Don Oliver Black Voices Prize, a prize that supports emerging Black-Nova Scotian writers.
His mission was always very clear: simply to remove barriers. Senator Oliver’s words and actions will continue to inspire generations. My heartfelt condolences and those of our senate group go out to his beloved wife, Linda, their daughter, Carolynn, son-in-law, Oliver, his sisters and all African-Nova Scotians — all Nova Scotians — all Canadians who knew and loved him. We will miss you, Senator Don Oliver. Thank you, asante.