It is Black History Month and each day this month I am sharing stories from Canada's Black history. Today it is the story of Violet King. She became the first Black Canadian to earn a law degree in Alberta and the first Black female lawyer in Canada. 🧵1/7 - ThreadSky

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social • 2 days ago

It is Black History Month and each day this month I am sharing stories from Canada's Black history.

Today it is the story of Violet King. She became the first Black Canadian to earn a law degree in Alberta and the first Black female lawyer in Canada.

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Violet was born on Oct. 18, 1929 in Calgary. Her parents had come to Alberta from the American South years earlier and settled in Amber Valley. The Black community prospered north of Edmonton. Her father worked as a railway porter.

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Wanting to become a lawyer, King paid for her University of Alberta tuition by teaching piano. She was one of only three women enrolled in the Faculty of Law.
An excellent student, she received an Executive A Gold Ring along with future premier Peter Lougheed.

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

King graduated in 1953 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar one year later.
She then practiced criminal law in Calgary with E.J. McCormick. This included work on murder cases.
In 1956, she moved to Ottawa to work for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

In 1963, she moved to the USA to work in executive roles with the YMCA and YWCA. She became the first woman appointed to a senior management position with the American National YMCA.
She sadly died of cancer in 1982 at the age of only 52.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PxOXmpjwYw

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

In 2021, the Federal Building Plaza in Edmonton was renamed Violet King Henry Plaza. The University of Alberta also created a scholarship in her name. In 2023, a Google Doodle was released for her birthday.

Learn more in my deep dive 👇
https://canadaehx.com/2023/04/18/violet-king/

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

I hope you enjoyed that look at the life of Violet King.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇
http://www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu

*sources in next post*

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workingwordseditor.bsky.social•2 days ago

I used to teach at Crescent Heights High School in Calgary and have found her graduating class photo in the hallways. They also have her photo and information about her in the school library.

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