Celebrating Black Trailblazers

The Toronto Police Service celebrated generations of Black trailblazers at the Black History Month (BHM) launch at police headquarters January 30.

“Black History Month provides an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black people and to celebrate their achievements,” he said. “It is also an opportunity to reflect on the work we continue to do to make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed,” Chief Myron Demkiw said.

The first Black officers – the late Larry McLarty and Gloria Bartley – joined in 1960, paving the way for future generations including retired Sergeant Terry James, who was among 10 women in her new class officers in 1980, the largest at the time.

James was instrumental in starting the BHM celebration at police headquarters in 1994 and was promoted to sergeant in 2001 alongside now retired Inspector Sonia Thomas as the first women to hold the rank in Toronto.

To mark her contribution in in making the Service more inclusive, a Trailblazer Award was established in her name last year.

Staff Superintendent Kelly Skinner was the recipient of the second annual honour.

“During my career as a police officer, I have had the opportunity to recruit and mentor many amazing individuals,” said James. “Staff Superintendent Kelly Skinner is one of those amazing people.”

Skinner was inspired to join TPS after meeting James while in high school.

“To be the first Black female to be promoted to the rank of Staff Superintendent at TPS is an achievement I owe to Terry’s guidance and example,” said the 25-year veteran. “She showed us that the path to progress is not always easy, but it was always worth it. Her dream was marked with challenges, but she faced them with strength and grace. She taught me that true leadership is about lifting others as you climb, fighting injustice and standing up for the members in our care. For that, I am eternally grateful.”

Demkiw noted that the Service is made up of members from diverse backgrounds that reflect the city’s diversity.

“Building trust and strengthening relationships are essential for good policing,” he said. “This is why we will continue to work together with Black communities, with partners and with all Torontonians.”

The Pan-African flag was raised for the first time last year at police headquarters and again before the ceremony.

“The flag serves as a unifying symbol and it honours the shared heritage that connects people of African descent around the globe,” said Demkiw.

Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll, Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell and members of the Caribbean Consul corps in Toronto attended the celebration.

“As a Board, Black History Month has always and continues to be an extremely significant event as we pay tribute to the contributions of Black communities, to our city, to our country and to this police service,” Carroll said. “We celebrate the past while looking forward.”

She said the celebration exemplifies the impressive results that can be achieved when the community, police and partners work together.

“Over the last several years, the Board has heightened our emphasis on enhanced connection with the community, consistently looking for ways to more meaningfully incorporate the voices and expectations of the public into our policy-making and decision-making process,” she said. “We continue our work on comprehensive policing reform which includes building and supporting new community safety response models, initiatives to address systemic racism and concrete steps to improve trust with our communities.

“Fundamental to this reform remains a categorical recognition of the significant role of anti-Black racism, discrimination and marginalization in our city, impacting policing along with many other public and private systems. We must look to the past, incorporating all of its important lessons if we are to truly create a better future. As a Board, we recognize that much work remains to be done and that it must be done in meaningful partnership with others – our diverse communities, including Black communities. As we continue to reimagine our current approach to public safety, we know that Black communities are, and must be, a vital voice in this work.”

The Service’s Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit (CPEU), led by Constable Curtis Celestine, co-ordinated this year’s event.

Black History Month evolved from the work of American scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson who, in an attempt to spread the concept of African-American history, suggested its celebration during a week in the middle of February.

That month was chosen because it is the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and the chosen birth month of Frederick Douglass who was born a slave and therefore unsure of his actual birth date.