On Febrary 2nd, 2009, Canada Post began issuing a stamp commemorating the life and times of Rosemary Brown. Perhaps not as well known as Rosa Parks or Harriet Tubman, Ms. Brown certainly deserves her place beside them as not only a woman of accomplishment, but a pioneer who fought against sexism and racism in her adopted country of Canada.
Born in Jamaica, she came to Canada in 1950, and eventually established herself in politics, becoming the first black woman to be elected to a provincial legislature (she served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia from 1972-1986). She was also the first black woman to run for federal office, and though defeated, she came in at a strong second to Ed Broadbent. Her favourite slogan: Brown is beautiful!
Rosemary Brown died at the age of 72 in Vancouver of an apparent heart attack.