Operation Black Vote Canada (OBVC) and the Canadian Club of Toronto hosted a reception on Tuesday for Black candidates who ran in the June 2 Ontario provincial elections.

The event held at the Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto, was “to congratulate and celebrate all the Black candidates who ran in the provincial election and to recognize those who were elected.”

“This is the first time the Provincial Conservatives elected Black MPPs and first time we have Black candidates on both sides of the aisle,” OBVC noted.

“At a time when issues of equal rights and justice are front and centre and racism, while on the rise, is being actively discussed on the frontlines and in C-suites, we know that change comes when we lift our voices and our political power for good, ” said Velma Morgan, chair of the OBVC.

David Simmonds, Canadian Club Toronto’s President, introduced the candidates.

Four of the six Black candidates who were elected were present at the reception. They were as follows:

Charmaine Williams – Conservative MPP for Brampton Centre and Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity

Patrice Barnes – Conservative MPP for Ajax

Mitzie Hunter – Liberal MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood

 Jill Andrew – NDP MPP for Toronto-St. Paul’s

The two other Black MPPs were not present at the reception were Laura Mae Lindo, NDP MPP for Kitchener Centre, and David Smith, Conservative MPP for Scarborough Centre.

The event was sponsored by the Canadian Club of Toronto and TD Bank Group.