Trailblazers reflect on politics, progress and purpose

Roundtable honours the legacy of Black women in leadership

By Twylan Best

TORONTO – There is excellence and then there is the kind of excellence forged through resistance, persistence and purpose.

On Tuesday morning, inside the Ontario Legislative Building at 111 Wellesley Street West in Queen’s Park, that legacy was front and centre during a special roundtable discussion hosted by Speaker Donna Skelly in recognition of Black History Month and dedicated to Black women in politics.

The main lobbywas  filled with attendees eager not only to listen, but to witness history being shared firsthand. The event marked the third installment of the Speaker’s Black History Month series at Queen’s Park.

The panel brought together three pioneering leaders whose careers reshaped politicalrepresentation in Canada: Zanana Akande, the first Black woman to serve as a cabinet minister in Ontario; Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons; and Charmaine Williams, the first Black woman elected to Brampton City Council and now an MPP ( Member of Provincial Parliament).

Their conversation moved beyond titles and milestones. It was a deeply personal reflection on the barriers they faced – from systemic exclusion and stigma to the emotional weight of being “the first” in spaces where they were rarely expected to be.

Each woman spoke candidly about navigating politics while carrying the responsibility of representation, and about the importance of ensuring younger generations feel they belong in leadership spaces.

Black History Month itself stands as part of that legacy. In 1995, a motion introduced by Augustine in the House of Commons led to the official recognition of Black History Month across Canada, with the first national observance taking place in February 1996. Thirty years later, in 2026, Canadians continue to reflect on its meaning and impact.

The panelists emphasized that representation is not simply symbolic – it changes conversations, policy and perspectives.

Their presence at the decision-making table, they explained, allowed communities previously overlooked to  be seen and heard.

For young people considering public service, the advice was practical and direct. Williams encouraged volunteering as a pathway into leadership, explaining that community involvement builds networks, confidence and real-world experience.

Akande urged youth to remain curious, take risks and trust their voices.

“Your voice deserves to be heard,” she stressed, reminding attendees that there is space for them in every room they enter.

The morning was not only a celebration of achievements, but a reminder that progress is built by those willing to step forward – even when the path has not yet been cleared.

At Queen’s Park, the message was clear: legacy is not only about who opened the doors, but about who walks through them.