Home / Arts and Entertainment / Black Students Sparked Canada's Biggest Protest
Black Students Sparked Canada's Biggest Protest
19 May
Summary
- Student protest erupted in 1969 at Sir George Williams University.
- The protest began with complaints about a racist biology professor.
- It resulted in arrests and significant property damage from fire.
In 1969, a significant student uprising occurred at Sir George Williams University in Quebec, now Concordia University. This event, orchestrated by black students, became the largest campus protest in Canadian history. The demonstrations led to numerous arrests and substantial property damage, with fires destroying a computer lab, resulting in approximately C$2m in losses.
The documentary "True North" details this critical period, weaving together interviews with key leaders like Norman Cook, Brenda Dash, and Rosie Douglas with extensive black-and-white archival footage. The film traces the protest's origins back to a complaint against a biology professor named Perry Anderson, whose racist actions fueled student discontent.
These events were also influenced by broader contexts, including the legacy of colonialism and slavery, the destruction of Africville in Nova Scotia, and the ongoing civil rights movement in the United States. Despite facing deportations and prison time, many protesters went on to become influential politicians and community leaders, transformed by their experiences.
