Daurene Lewis
Encyclopedia
Daurene E. Lewis, CM
is a Canadian politician and educator.
Born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
, Lewis is a descendant of freed Loyalist African Americans
who settled in Annapolis Royal in 1783. She is a descendant of Rose Fortune
, a Virginian who became the first female police officer in North America
In 1984, Lewis was elected Mayor
of Annapolis Royal, making her the first female black mayor in Canada.
Lewis attempted to enter provincial politics in the 1988 election
, making an unsuccessful bid to represent Annapolis West
in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for the Liberal Party. She was the first black woman in Nova Scotia to run in a provincial election.
Trained as a Registered Nurse
, Lewis holds a Diploma in Teaching in Schools of Nursing from Dalhousie University
, a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary's University
, and in 1993 was awarded an honorary
Doctorate in Humane Letters from Mount Saint Vincent University
.She has 30 years experience in health care
In 1994 Lewis was added to the Nova Scotia Black Cultural Centre Wall of Honour. In 1995, she was recipient of the United Nations
Global Citizenship Award. In 1998 she received the Progress Club of Halifax Woman of Excellence award for Public Affairs and Communication.
In 2002, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. That year she also received the YWCA
volunteer award, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal
.
Lewis is the former Executive Director of the Centre for Women in Business at Mount Saint Vincent University. She is principal of the Institute of Technology Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College. In 2001 she became the first African Canadian senior administrator in the history of the College. She recently completed an extended terms on the Board of Directors of Canada Post and the Governor General's Order of Canada Advisory Council. She is currently on the executive of the Vanier Institute of the family and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts
. She is a member of the International Women's Foundation.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
is a Canadian politician and educator.
Born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Lewis is a descendant of freed Loyalist African Americans
Black Loyalist
A Black Loyalist was an inhabitant of British America of African descent who joined British colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War...
who settled in Annapolis Royal in 1783. She is a descendant of Rose Fortune
Rose Fortune
Rose Fortune was an African American who came to Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia with the Black Loyalists where she became a successful businesswoman and the first female police officer in Canada.-Biography:...
, a Virginian who became the first female police officer in North America
In 1984, Lewis was elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Annapolis Royal, making her the first female black mayor in Canada.
Lewis attempted to enter provincial politics in the 1988 election
Nova Scotia general election, 1988
The 32nd Nova Scotia general election was held on September 6, 1988 to elect members of the 55th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party.* Vote share included in "other"...
, making an unsuccessful bid to represent Annapolis West
Annapolis West
For the Nova Scotia school, see Annapolis West Education CentreAnnapolis West was a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elected one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It existed from 1956 to 1993...
in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
for the Liberal Party. She was the first black woman in Nova Scotia to run in a provincial election.
Trained as a Registered Nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
, Lewis holds a Diploma in Teaching in Schools of Nursing from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
, and in 1993 was awarded an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctorate in Humane Letters from Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University
Mount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:...
.She has 30 years experience in health care
In 1994 Lewis was added to the Nova Scotia Black Cultural Centre Wall of Honour. In 1995, she was recipient of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Global Citizenship Award. In 1998 she received the Progress Club of Halifax Woman of Excellence award for Public Affairs and Communication.
In 2002, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. That year she also received the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
volunteer award, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
.
Lewis is the former Executive Director of the Centre for Women in Business at Mount Saint Vincent University. She is principal of the Institute of Technology Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College. In 2001 she became the first African Canadian senior administrator in the history of the College. She recently completed an extended terms on the Board of Directors of Canada Post and the Governor General's Order of Canada Advisory Council. She is currently on the executive of the Vanier Institute of the family and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts
Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts
The Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts is a Canadian performing arts school in Halifax, Nova Scotia that offers courses in higher education in music, dance, and theatre. The school was founded in 1954 when the Halifax Conservatory of Music and the Maritime Academy of Music merged after the...
. She is a member of the International Women's Foundation.
External links
See also
- Black CanadianBlack Canadian'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...