Toronto mourns Beverley Salmon, city’s first Black female councillor

Toronto is mourning the loss of Dr. Beverley Salmon, the first Black female city councillor who was known as a trailblazer and advocate for more inclusive practices in municipal government.

Salmon’s daughter, Heather, confirmed on social media that her mother passed away on Thursday at the age of 92.

Salmon was born in Toronto in 1930. She began her career as a nurse initially in Detroit in the 1950s where she became involved with the civil rights movement before returning to Toronto to continue her activism in the 1960s. In 1985, Salmon became Toronto’s first Black female city councillor, representing North York until her retirement in 1997.

Salmon was awarded the Order of Ontario in 2016 and the Order of Canada a year later.

Several Toronto politicians took to social media to remember Salmon. Mayor-elect Olivia Chow shared a message of remembrance, citing their time on Metro Council together and praising her leadership in advancing human rights and racial justice.

As friends and colleagues on Metro Council, I learned a great deal from her leadership advancing human rights and racial justice. Thank you Bev for inspiring so many https://t.co/CXZZXGxByD

— Olivia Chow (@oliviachow) July 8, 2023

Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie also shared her condolences, including a photo she took with the late city councillor. McKelvie echoed her admiration for Salmong and commended her work in furthering anti-racism initiatives in Toronto.

Saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Beverley Salmon. Beverley was a health professional, educator and civil rights activist, who worked to further anti-racism initiatives in the city of Toronto. In 1985, she became Toronto’s first Black female City Councillor and her many… pic.twitter.com/JSLN4T5tYn

— Jennifer McKelvie (@McKelvieTO) July 8, 2023

Salmon’s daughter said in a Facebook post that the funeral would be held on July 20 with a visitation on July 18 and 19 in Toronto, with additional details to come.