By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Between 1850 and 1860, Black residents made up nearly 40% of Oakville’s population — a significant presence shaped by both freedom seekers escaping slavery in the United States and established Black families who had lived in the area for generations, according to the Halton Black History Awareness Society. Today, Black residents account for only 3.3% of Oakville’s population (2021 Census). Beyond population numbers, what’s even more striking is the absence of Black stories in Halton’s historical record and public memory.
Where did these voices go? And why does it seem so little is known about the Black experience in Halton today — even as Black residents still call this region home?
This silence stands in sharp contrast to the deep historical roots of Black communities in Halton, including Oakville’s role as a port of entry for the Underground Railroad. Yet despite this legacy, Black representation in public life and governance has remained scarce. According to the Communications Specialist at the Region of Halton, Tony Lambert is the only known Black councillor to have served on Halton Regional Council, holding office from 2010 to 2013. “No publicly available record tracks the racial identity of past or present municipal councillors in Burlington, Oakville, Milton, or Georgetown,” the representative stated.
A quick online search for “Tony Lambert, councillor” brings up countless stories about his removal from council — but almost nothing about the contributions of Black politicians in Halton’s history.
Dennis Scott, chair of the Halton Black History Awareness Society, says the lack of documented history isn’t because Black residents haven’t contributed. “I’m amazed at the fact that all around us, we exude Black history — but there is so little documented or promoted within Burlington,” Scott said. The Halton Black History Awareness Society works to change that through its annual essay and video contest for high school students in the region.
Burlington resident Geoffrey Pitters, who has lived in the city since August 8, 1975, has witnessed these shifting narratives firsthand. Pitters arrived in Burlington as a teenager, part of one of the few Black families in the city at the time — an experience that was both isolating and eye-opening.
“We said, my brother and I, you know what, we don’t see people that look like us. Maybe we should go back,” Pitters recalls. His father, sensing their unease, took them to Hamilton, where they finally saw a more diverse community. “Once we saw other Black people in Hamilton, we were okay to settle in Burlington.”
Even so, adjusting to life in Burlington wasn’t easy. Pitters describes the culture shock of arriving in a city where he and his family stood out everywhere they went. “It was pretty shocking,” he says. “You look around, and you’re thinking, ‘I don’t know about this.’”
The struggle to find belonging extended to school. Pitters remembers his first day of high school vividly. “I got on the bus to go to school — and I never got off,” he says. “When the bus pulled up and I looked out the window, I just couldn’t do it. The school wasn’t for me.” Instead of finishing high school, Pitters chose to enter the workforce and complete an apprenticeship.
Despite those early challenges, Burlington eventually became home. One experience that left a lasting impression was attending the Sound of Music festival. “Every year we go down to the Sound of Music, and you walk through Spencer Smith Park, and it’s just cosmopolitan now,” Pitters says. “The world is here — every culture is represented. I think it’s great to see so many different cultures all together in Burlington.”
It’s clear that Halton’s demographics are shifting, with more Black families choosing to call the region home. But the question remains: Where are our stories being told? Where is our seat at the table — in leadership, government, and public memory?
Between 2001 and 2006, Halton’s visible minority population grew by 76% — more than four times the region’s overall population growth. In Milton, the visible minority population surged by 178%, making it the fastest-growing community in Canada during that period.
Despite these numbers, Black residents still struggle to see themselves reflected in leadership roles, public institutions, and historical narratives.
Gennile Thomas-Smith, executive director of Halton Black Voices, says this absence of representation creates real barriers for Black youth who want to engage in civic life.
“If Black students don’t see themselves reflected in leadership, they don’t see a pathway to those roles,” Thomas-Smith explains. “It’s not that they lack the talent or ambition — it’s that there’s no intentional structure in place to nurture that leadership.”
Halton Black Voices is working to change that. Through its Black Student Union (BSU) program, the organization offers leadership training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in community advocacy. Students campaign for leadership positions within the BSU, practicing democracy, and learning public speaking and organizational skills.
The BSU also works closely with local organizations — including Conservation Halton and the Town of Oakville — to connect Black youth with summer jobs and leadership opportunities.
“We’re trying to build confidence and community,” Thomas-Smith says. “So when these students graduate, they don’t just leave with skills — they leave believing they belong at the table.”
Halton Black Voices’ Pathways After High School conference, hosted twice a year, helps Black students explore career options, university programs, trade opportunities, and emerging fields like AI and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics).
“Our goal is self-determination and economic agency,” Thomas-Smith says. “We want Black youth to have the power to choose their career paths and the economic freedom to pursue them.”
A call to action for Halton’s leaders
The absence of Black stories in Halton’s historical narrative raises larger questions for local governments and institutions: Why has the story of Black Haltonians largely disappeared from public record? What role can local councils, school boards, and historical societies play in preserving and amplifying these stories? How can municipalities actively create pathways for Black leadership and community representation?
With no comprehensive database tracking the racial identities of past and current elected officials, and little public promotion of Black contributions to the region’s development, there is a growing call for intentional documentation, preservation, and amplification of Black voices — both past and present.
“History isn’t just something we remember — it’s something we actively choose to tell,” Scott said. “If Halton wants to be an inclusive community, it must choose to tell all of its stories.”
For Pitters, the hope is simple. “I want my grandchildren to know their family history and their culture. I want our people, when they see opportunities, to take them. Don’t wait for somebody to give you something — grasp the opportunities with both hands when they come. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t turn back” Pitters says.
What comes next? As Black organizations, long-time residents, and youth leaders work to reclaim these stories, the question now sits with Halton’s government leaders and historical societies: what action will they take to ensure Black history, Black voices, and Black leadership are no longer invisible in Halton?
