In 2005 my father, Owen Rowe, a Black Second World War from Barbados who volunteered to fight for Canada passed away. I’ll never forget our final conversation. He made me promise to highlight the stories of unrecognized Black veterans.

 

For almost two decades, I have worked tirelessly as a public historian to keep the promise I made to my father. I have devoted my efforts to documenting, digitizing and videotaping the stories of our Black Canadian veterans. I have collaborated with multiple organizations such as The Canadian War Museum, Library and Archives Canada, Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs Canada. I have also made educational presentations to municipalities, schools and cultural centres to promote inclusive historical storytelling and documentation.

My efforts were formally acknowledged in 2012, when I received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. A decade later in September 2022 I received the Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal from the Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia. In 2023 I received the Mary Matilda Winslow award for Advocacy in Public Education and In April 2023, our film Black Liberators WWII won a Canadian Screen Award

 I’ve done this work at great personal expense and time.

It’s been my privilege to preserve the legacy of Black Canadian veterans over the years and we have completed many but now I need your help for a new project, raising the $7,000 required to create educational resources and learning guides for the men and women who served Canada in war time and in peace.

Can we count on you to donate today?