History

1848

William Wright, first person of colour to earn a medical degree in Canada

Born in Quebec City, William Wright graduated with a degree from McGill’s Faculty of Medicine in 1848, becoming the first person of colour to earn a medical degree in British North America (now known as Canada).

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

1910

Dr. Ernest Melville DuPorte, leading entomologist and parasitologist

Born on the island of Nevis, British West Indies, Dr. DuPorte was a ground-breaking entomologist and parasitologist.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

West Indian medical students protest admission quotas

In 1916, a group of West Indian medical students rallied the Gamma Medical League to protest and petition the Board of Governors over “quotas” put in place by McGill’s Faculty of Medicine.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

1926

Kenneth Melville, a towering champion of pharmacology and civil rights

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kenneth Melville graduated at the top of his class, earning the Holmes Gold Medal for his year (1926). In 1930, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the prestigious Institut Pasteur in Paris.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

1936

Juanita Corinne DeShield, first Canadian-born Black woman graduates from McGill

In 1936, Juanita Corinne DeShield became the first Canadian-born Black woman to graduate from McGill. She earned a BA Honours degree in French, graduating at the top of her class.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

1940

McGill’s first Black student group

The British West Indian Society, the first known Black student group at McGill, was established in 1940.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

1949

Beryl Dickinson-Dash, first Black woman to become Carnival Queen

In 1949, Beryl Rapier (then Beryl Dickinson-Dash), a third-year Arts student, became the first Black woman to be crowned Carnival Queen. Winter carnival was considered a staple of student life, and thousands of McGillians voted on the Carnival Queen title.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

The McGill African Students’ Association is founded

The McGill African Students’ Association, the second Black McGill student organization, was founded in the fall of 1951.

1956

Frederick Phillips, first Black McGill Law graduate and first Black lawyer in Quebec

In 1956, Frederick Phillips became McGill’s first Black Law graduate, the first Black lawyer in Quebec upon passing the bar.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

1957

Neville Linton, first Black McGillian to head a student publication

Guyanese-born Neville Linton was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the McGill Daily in the 1957-1958 academic year.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

Anne Cools, first Black member of the Senate of Canada 

Born and raised in Barbados, Cools immigrated to Canada in 1957 and first drew public attention as a student leader during the Sir George Williams (Concordia) sit-ins. After graduating from McGill, Cools pursued a pioneering career as a social worker before being appointed as Canada's first Black Senator in 1984.

1985

Student activists campaign against Apartheid

After a prolonged student-led campaign organized by the McGill African Student Society (MASS) and the Black Students Network (BSN), McGill became the first Canadian university to announce it would divest in companies with ties to Apartheid South Africa.

2017

First full Black History Month at McGill

In February 2017, McGill hosted the University’s first official Black History Month celebration. This was an especially important year as it marked the 10th anniversary of February being officially recognized by the Quebec government as Black History Month.

See the full story on the McGill Bicentennial site.

2020

Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism

In September 2020, McGill launched its Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism.