Mr. Speaker, Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions made by black Canadians to Canadian society.
Let us take this opportunity to remember influential black Canadians like Mary Ann Shadd, a lawyer, teacher, lecturer, suffragist and the first woman in Canada to become a newspaper publisher; William Hall, the first Canadian Naval personnel to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 1857; and Donovan Bailey, five time World and Olympic Champion in track and field who still holds the Olympic record for 100 metres and the World record for the 50 metre sprint.
In Canada Black History Month has become an annual event celebrated nationally since it gained acceptance in the 1960s. The contributions of people of diverse backgrounds are essential to Canadian society.