Anne Clare Cools became the first Black Canadian to be named to the Senate in 1984. She served as a Liberal, Conservative and independent senator for more than 30 years, and was known as the Dean of the Senate for her knowledge of parliamentary history and procedure. Cools was born on 12 August 1943 in Barbados.
An influential Black Canadian activist, Anne Cools served four months in jail for her role in the Sir George Williams Affair, for which she was pardoned in 1981. Cools was one of six West Indian students of Sir George Williams University who in May 1968, accused biology professor Perry Anderson of discrimination because of alleged unfair grading. Eight months later, students took matters into their own hands by organizing meetings, sit-ins and peaceful protests
She also founded Women in Transition, one of Canada’s first shelters for female victims of violence and served on the National Parole Board of Canada.
