Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Black History Month -- Viola Desmond


Viola Desmond (1914 - 1965)

Canadian businesswoman, civil and women's rights activist,
arrested, convicted and fined for challenging racial segregation
in a Nova Scotia cinema in 1946 (pardoned in 2010);
in 2018, she became the first Canadian-born woman
to appear alone on a Canadian bank note (our current $10 bill),
with the Canadian Human Rights Museum on the reverse.

15 comments:

Moving with Mitchell said...

We ALL owe so much to women like Viola Desmond.

Boud said...

Maybe she could be a Beautiful Woman of the Month?

Tom said...

...I'm glad to meet you, Viola!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Boud -- Yes, she was! This post did first appear on my other blog -- recycled now to She Who Seeks.

Marie Smith said...

Love that photo. Such an inspiration!

Milleson said...

A remarkable woman of whom we can all be proud. Strength and integrity have no color nor borders.

Bob said...

Once again, it's women leading the way!!
Thanks for sharing he rstory.

Jamie Ghione said...

New to me, but it's always good to learn something new.

Rade said...

I love Canada.

Travel said...

Always be brave and stand up for what is right.

Pixie said...

I knew she was on the $10 bill, but I didn't know anything about her, so I looked her up. I know there is racism in Canada, especially in Alberta, but it still makes me so sad. We need to do better.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Pixie -- Yes, there was and still is lots of racism right across Canada. Canadians have nothing to feel smug about in that department.

Shammickite said...

Hooray for Viola! So good to see her photo on the $10 bill.

whkattk said...

Successful women are everywhere. They simply are not given credit for the things they accomplish and do for society at large. Racism is everywhere. Sadly, the world can't seem to grasp the actuality of "race." There is only one: Human.

sirkkis said...

Beautiful woman, Beautiful note 🤩
Thanks for sharing 💖
P.S. Never have a Canadian note 🤔