As Black History Month 2025 unfolds across Canada, this year’s celebration offers a unique opportunity to highlight the contributions of unsung heroes who have shaped Black Canadian culture, art, and civil rights. Among the many inspiring individuals is Yvonne Squires, a powerful voice in Canadian history whose contributions have not only impacted Black Canadians but also Canadian society at large. While she may not be a household name for some, her influence in the realms of activism, education, and social justice is undeniably profound. In this long-form exploration, we delve into her life, career, and the indelible legacy she leaves for future generations.
The Early Life of Yvonne Squires
Born in the 1960s in Nova Scotia, Yvonne Squires grew up in a time when segregation was a legal reality in parts of Canada, and racism permeated every aspect of life for Black Canadians. Raised in a working-class family, Squires’ early life was shaped by a community that was, as she often described, “tight-knit, but consistently under threat from systemic racism and economic inequities.”
In an interview conducted in 2010, Squires spoke about the sense of resilience that was instilled in her from an early age. “Growing up in the North End of Halifax, you knew that you had to work twice as hard to get half as far. But my parents, especially my mother, always made sure we knew our worth.”
Her activism began in high school when she took part in protests advocating for better educational resources for Black students. “The schools we went to were underfunded, overcrowded, and frankly, neglected,” she recalled. “We had teachers who didn’t expect us to succeed, and society that didn’t care whether we made it or not.”
This was the spark that ignited her life-long journey of advocacy, specifically focused on ensuring that the Black community had access to quality education and economic opportunities. “I realized then that in order to create change, you couldn’t wait for it to come to you—you had to demand it,” she said in another interview.
Squires’ Rise in Advocacy
Yvonne Squires’ activism took on a national focus in the 1980s when she joined the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), where she worked to dismantle the structural barriers that Black Canadians faced in education, housing, and employment. A tireless advocate, she quickly became known for her impassioned speeches, which often drew large crowds.
In 1991, she played a significant role in the push for the Employment Equity Act, which sought to ensure that marginalized communities—including Black Canadians, Indigenous people, and other racialized groups—received equal treatment in hiring practices. “It wasn’t just about filling quotas,” Squires explained in a 1998 interview. “It was about dismantling a system that was designed to exclude us.”
In addition to her work with the CCLA, Squires co-founded the National Black Canadian Coalition, an organization dedicated to the social and political advancement of Black Canadians. She also worked closely with Indigenous leaders to build coalitions around issues that affected both communities, including police violence and the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.
“I always saw the struggles of Indigenous people and Black people as interconnected,” she said in a 2015 interview. “We both faced the legacy of colonialism. We were both dealing with the fallout from a system that was designed to erase us, to silence us.”
Yvonne Squires’ Role in Education
A key area of focus for Squires throughout her career was education, particularly the systemic inequities that left Black students at a disadvantage. In the 2000s, she became a vocal critic of the public school system’s failure to adequately support Black students, noting that many were being funnelled into lower academic streams that limited their future opportunities.
“We had generations of Black kids who were being told they weren’t good enough—who were being failed by a system that wasn’t designed for them to succeed,” she said during a keynote speech at a Toronto educators’ conference in 2006. “It’s not enough to just put a few of us on a poster and say, ‘Look, we’re diverse.’ We need to completely rethink how we teach, what we teach, and who’s teaching it.”
Her advocacy led to the establishment of mentorship programs for Black students in several major cities, including Halifax, Toronto, and Vancouver. These programs aimed to connect Black youth with professionals in fields such as law, medicine, and engineering, providing them with role models and opportunities that had previously been inaccessible.
Her work also contributed to the development of the Africentric Alternative School in Toronto, which opened in 2009. The school’s curriculum integrates African and Black Canadian history, providing students with an education that reflects their cultural backgrounds.
“I wanted to give Black kids the chance to learn about themselves, their history, and their potential,” Squires said in a 2012 interview. “Too often, we’re left out of the narrative, and that has a profound impact on how we see ourselves.”
Celebrating Squires’ Legacy in 2025
As we celebrate Black History Month in 2025, Yvonne Squires’ legacy remains as relevant as ever. The inequities she fought against in education, housing, and employment continue to persist for many Black Canadians, but her efforts have paved the way for future generations of activists.
“I’m standing on the shoulders of people like Yvonne,” says Jamila Thompson, a young activist from Toronto who works in community organizing. “She showed us what it means to fight for change and not be afraid to challenge the system.”
Political commentator and journalist Desmond Cole also highlighted Squires’ legacy. “She understood that in order to address systemic racism, you had to challenge the entire structure,” Cole said in a 2023 interview. “It wasn’t just about getting Black people in the room—it was about changing the room itself.”
Though Squires officially retired from public advocacy in 2020, she remains an inspiration to many young Canadians, particularly those involved in the ongoing fight for racial justice.
“She was a trailblazer,” said Cole. “And she showed us that our voices matter.”
A Call to Action
Yvonne Squires’ legacy is not just a chapter in Canadian history; it’s a call to action for all Canadians to continue the fight for equality and justice. Her tireless work for Black Canadians, Indigenous people, and other marginalized communities is a reminder that systemic change is possible, but only if we demand it.
As we reflect on her contributions this Black History Month, we are reminded that the work is far from over. Black Canadians continue to face systemic racism in nearly every facet of life, from education to employment to housing. But thanks to the work of pioneers like Yvonne Squires, the path forward is clearer.
“Her work is not done,” Jamila Thompson says. “It’s now up to us to pick up where she left off and continue the fight.”
In celebrating Yvonne Squires this Black History Month, we are not just honouring the past—we are committing ourselves to the ongoing struggle for a more just and equitable future for all Canadians.
Yvonne Squires may not have the widespread recognition of some historical figures, but her impact on Canadian society is undeniable. Her life’s work, centred on breaking down systemic barriers for Black Canadians and advocating for broader racial justice, has left an indelible mark on the country.
This Black History Month, as we reflect on the challenges that Black Canadians still face, it is essential to remember the contributions of individuals like Yvonne Squires—people who, through their bravery, commitment, and vision, have shaped the course of history. And as Canada continues to grapple with its own history of systemic racism, Squires’ story reminds us that change is possible, but only if we continue to fight for it.
“We don’t get justice by waiting for it,” Squires said in 2010. “We get justice by demanding it.”
This Black History Month, let us honour her words by demanding the justice, equity, and recognition that Black Canadians deserve.
