Montreal advocate advances Black health initiatives

For more than 20 years, Sheron Edey has worked to strengthen Black communities by creating spaces where health, culture and community are treated as essential parts of collective well-being. Through advocacy, education and grassroots organizing, the Montreal based leader has dedicated her career to expanding access to resources that support healing while celebrating Black identity and history.

Edey has earned national recognition for her efforts to improve mental health and wellness among Black Canadians. She argues that meaningful change requires more than access to healthcare, emphasizing the importance of connecting with cultural heritage, building relationships and creating environments where people feel valued and supported.

As vice president and co founder of the Black Lives Living Well Initiative, Edey helps lead a national organization focused on addressing the health consequences of systemic anti Black racism. The initiative develops culturally responsive programs through education, advocacy and partnerships with community organizations across Canada.

Throughout her career, Edey has organized health fairs, wellness campaigns and educational workshops that encourage greater use of mental health services while reducing stigma. She believes emotional wellness, physical health and strong community networks are closely connected.

She has also been a leading advocate for preserving Black history through arts and culture. While serving with Montreal’s Black Community Resource Centre, Edey coordinated the award winning Standing on Their Shoulders project, documenting the history of Little Burgundy, one of Canada’s oldest Black communities.

“The only history people seem to know is American history or European history,” Edey said during a 2016 interview, stressing the importance of documenting local Black experiences to foster pride and preserve cultural knowledge.

Storytelling has remained central to her work. She later coordinated Sharing Our Stories, Telling Our Lives, a community theatre initiative that encouraged members of Montreal’s English speaking Black community to share personal experiences through performance, strengthening cultural identity and resilience.

Edey has also promoted the arts as an important contributor to mental wellness, particularly for young people. She says creative expression provides safe spaces where individuals can process difficult experiences, build confidence and develop lasting social connections.

Her decades of service were recently recognised when she was named one of CBC Quebec’s 2026 Black Changemakers. The honour acknowledged her leadership in expanding wellness resources, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening Black communities. Those who nominated her described her as an “unsung pillar” whose compassion, vision and collaborative approach have transformed countless lives.

Across every stage of her career, Sheron Edey has remained committed to the belief that healthier communities are built when people feel connected, respected and empowered.

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  Montreal Quebec