Mr. Speaker, Black History Month is a time to celebrate, recognize and remember the significant contributions made by black Canadians to build our great country. From Hogan's Alley in Vancouver to Africville north of Halifax, black Canadians have a rich culture and generations-long history and have persevered through adversity and discrimination to thrive in Canada.
Our party is home to many trailblazers who have served our country with distinction, like Lincoln Alexander, Canada's first black member of Parliament, cabinet minister and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Closer to home, the 2019 Manitoba provincial election saw three MLAs of black heritage elected to the legislature for the very first time, including my friend and former colleague, Audrey Gordon, MLA for Southdale. Their elections are points of pride for Manitoba's strong black Canadian communities.
I will give a special acknowledgement to my constituent Devon Clunis, who rose through the ranks of the Winnipeg Police Service over his 29-year career to become Canada's first police chief of black heritage.
My colleagues and I look forward to celebrating Black History Month across this country.