Nova ScotiaBorn in Wolfville, N.S., in 1938, Oliver made history in 1990 by becoming the first Black man to be appointed to the Senate of Canada.He was the first Black man to be appointed to Canada’s Senate Vernon Ramesar · CBC News · Posted: Sep 17, 2025 3:54 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 17Donald Oliver was the first Black man appointed to the Canadian Senate. He retired in 2013 after 23 years of service. In a 2022 interview with CBC Radio’s Atlantic Voice, Oliver said his greatest desire was to see ‘a more tolerant Canada, where the concept of equality is first, and tolerance and acceptance are all part of the fabric of what it is to be a Canadian.’ (Submitted by Don Oliver)Donald Oliver, a retired senator, lawyer and one of the founding members of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, has died at age 86.Russell Grosse, CEO of the Black Cultural Centre, announced Oliver’s death in a Facebook post Wednesday, saying he died after a long battle with cardiac amyloidosis.He described Oliver as a “true pioneer” who was instrumental in the creation of the centre, which opened its doors in 1983 in Cherry Brook.”It’s bittersweet because today, September the 17th, the day of his passing, is also the 42nd birthday of the Black Cultural Centre,” Grosse said.”He’s moved the bar for equality for all and … he’s created an opportunity and an important legacy that will never be forgotten.”Historic Senate appointmentBorn in Wolfville, N.S., in 1938, Oliver made history in 1990 by becoming the first Black man to be appointed to Canada’s Senate.He served for 23 years until his retirement in 2013. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said in a statement that the province was lucky to have someone of Oliver’s “calibre and integrity on the national stage.””He proudly represented Nova Scotia for over two decades with grace, wisdom and a relentless commitment to inclusion and justice,” the statement said.A post from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia said “he served with distinction … championing diversity, equity, and human rights.”Reflecting on the significance of Oliver’s Senate appointment, Grosse said it created a vital sense of visibility and belonging, noting that for too long marginalized communities were not seen as foundational to the country. “[Oliver’s appointment] was something that created an opportunity where Black Canadians felt that they were being seen.”He said the 1990 milestone serves as a reminder that change is happening, but not at a fast enough pace.’A very humble man’In 2015, Oliver was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, a buildup of abnormal proteins in the heart, and given six months to live.But he defied the odds after seeking experimental treatment, and went on to be appointed to the Order of Canada in 2019. A year later, he was made a member of the Order of Nova Scotia.His memoir, A Matter of Equality: The Life’s Work of Senator Don Oliver, was published in 2021. In an interview the following year with CBC Radio’s Atlantic Voice, Oliver spoke of the diagnosis he received years earlier.”I’m supposed to be dying … and I guess I’m not ready, and I don’t think the Lord is ready to take me,” he said. “And so I feel I must continue to give back.”Despite Oliver’s numerous achievements, Grosse said Wednesday he believes his friend and mentor would want to be remembered for the change he helped create. “He was a very humble man,” Grosse said. “I think that he wanted to be remembered by the capacity that he helped build and the change that’s happened across the country.”A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at New Horizons Baptist Church in Halifax.For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. (CBC)
Donald Oliver, pioneering senator and influential Black Nova Scotian, dead at 86
