Former BU president inspires youth at Emancipation Day celebration

Gervan Fearon, who made Canadian history as the country’s first Black university president when he was appointed to lead Brandon University in 2014, was honoured Saturday as part of the city’s inaugural Emancipation Day celebration.

During the event, Fearon encouraged youth to pursue education, overcome barriers and use their success to uplift others.

Fearon, who is now president of George Brown Polytechnic in Toronto, told youth his historic appointment at BU was about more than being first.

“It meant being able to support other individuals to take up the mantle of becoming leaders of post-secondary educational institutions,” Fearon told the Sun.

“Canada wants to be a multicultural and inclusive society, and all members of society need to see themselves represented at every single level of an institution, from professors, from individuals working in administration, all the way up to people being presidents.”

Emancipation Day is an annual observance held on Aug. 1 that commemorates the legal abolition of slavery across the British Empire. It marks the date in 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 officially took effect, freeing more than 800,000 people of African descent.

The city’s inaugural Emancipation Day celebration featured a Youth Fireside Chat with Fearon on Saturday morning in BU’s Louis Riel Room, held in collaboration with the Brandon University Students’ Union, followed by the Dr. Gervan Fearon Diamond Legacy Award Gala in the evening at the Clarion Hotel.

Fearon said the progress made since his appointment shows the importance of representation, pointing to the growing number of Black leaders in Canadian universities and colleges.

“The major item for me in being the first was to be able to support other individuals,” he said.

“When people see themselves represented, they feel a part of the society and also feel a part of the possibilities of Canada.”

Reflecting on his time in Brandon, Fearon said one of the moments that stayed with him was a message from the city’s former mayor when he arrived.

“The then-mayor welcomed me and said to me, ‘You are now a member of Team Brandon,’” Fearon recalled.

“For me, it was such a meaningful statement because what it meant was that my contributions to the city, to the community and to the university meant that I had a role to play as being a member of Team Brandon.”

Fearon said that same mindset applies across Canada, encouraging people to see themselves as contributors to their communities.

“All of us in Canada are members of Team Canada,” he said in an interview. “Any positive contributions that we can find to make is our contribution to the betterment of society.”

During his time in Brandon, Fearon said he and his wife, Kathy, were actively involved in the wider community, including working with community organizations, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council.

“We were a part of the community. We weren’t isolated at the university,” he said.

“Our engagement with the broader community allows us not only to move ourselves forward, but to build something that is shared.”

Speaking to high school students, university students and newcomers, Fearon shared three key messages: the importance of education, finding inspiration in others and overcoming barriers.

“Education, to me, is foundational in being able to create possibilities, but also building the capacity to realize those possibilities,” he said.

Fearon said his own journey — from Birmingham, England, to Jamaica, Canada and the United States before returning to Canada — demonstrates the power of education and determination.

“I’m here not simply because of who I am, but because of the education that I sought, acquired and achieved, and why that’s so important,” he said.

He also encouraged youth not to allow challenges to distract them from their goals.

“We have to think about how we navigate barriers and challenges, but we also have to be careful that barriers and challenges don’t become a distraction from the pursuit of our goals.”

The event was organized by the Black Manitoba Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Brandon University Students’ Union and the United Nigerian Brandon Association.

Black Manitoba Chamber of Commerce founder and president Deborah-Zita Somakoko said bringing the celebration to Brandon was part of a broader effort to recognize Black contributions outside Winnipeg.

“Most of the time, celebrations are centred in Winnipeg, but it is equally important that we recognize other communities across Manitoba,” Somakoko said.

She said Brandon was chosen because of the growth and contributions of its Black community.

“Brandon is the fastest-growing Black community in Western Canada, in the Prairies,” she said.

Somakoko said the decision to honour Fearon was also about reclaiming and sharing local history.

She recalled learning that the first Black Canadian university president began his historic leadership journey in Brandon.

“Many people did not know that,” she said. “And that is why we are bringing him here today, so they know who opened the door for them, who paved the way for them, and what he has done.”

She said that Fearon’s leadership extended beyond the university, especially during a challenging period when BU experienced labour tensions.

“He was instrumental in bringing this community together, and his leadership transcended beyond the walls of this university,” she said.

Former BU international student Rabonae Morris, who is originally from Jamaica, said Fearon’s story left a strong impression.

Although it was her first time meeting Fearon, Morris said his journey was inspiring.

Her biggest takeaway from the session was the importance of pursuing dreams and helping others.

“Live my dream, go after my goals and always try to help others — not for money, but for the sake of helping and sharing,” Morris said.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola