ANNE COOLS — THE FIRST BLACK SENATOR IN CANADA

Long before Anne Cools entered Canada’s Senate, she worked on the front lines of racial justice, domestic violence, and family advocacy. Born Anne Clare Cools on August 12, 1943, in Barbados, she immigrated to Canada with her family in 1957. They settled in Montreal, where she later studied sociology and psychology at McGill University.
As a young woman, Cools became involved in social justice activism. In 1969, she participated in the Sir George Williams University protest, in which students challenged the university’s handling of allegations of racial discrimination. Her commitment to public service continued through social work. In 1974, Cools founded Women in Transition Inc. in Toronto, one of Canada’s first shelters for women and children escaping domestic violence. She served as its executive director, helped establish other shelters, and helped organize a major Canadian conference addressing family violence. The Canadian Encyclopedia
Her work helped bring an issue often hidden behind closed doors into public discussion. Cools later served on the National Parole Board of Canada before entering federal politics. On January 13, 1984, Governor General Edward Schreyer appointed her to the Senate at the recommendation of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Anne Cools became the first Black person appointed to the Senate of Canada and the first Black woman to serve as a senator anywhere in North America. Her appointment placed a Black Caribbean-born woman in one of Canada’s highest political institutions. During her Senate career, Cools worked on legislation and parliamentary studies addressing domestic violence, divorce, child custody, constitutional government, and children’s rights to maintain relationships with both parents.
She became known for speaking according to her convictions, even when her positions put her at odds with party leadership. During her career, she served as a Liberal, Conservative, non-affiliated, and independent senator. Cools remained in the Senate until reaching its mandatory retirement age on August 12, 2018. After more than 34 years of service, she retired as the chamber’s dean and longest-serving sitting senator. Senate of Canada. Her story is larger than a historic appointment.
She was a social worker who created shelter for people in danger. She was a community organizer who confronted racism. She was a parliamentarian who insisted on independent thought and speech. Anne Cools opened the doors of Canada’s Senate to Black representation and remained there for more than three decades. Her journey from Barbados to Canada’s Parliament belongs in the history of the Caribbean diaspora, Black political leadership, and women who refused to remain outside the rooms where national decisions were made.
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