Violet King

At a time when women, and even more so Black women, were excluded from Canadian courts, Violet King refused to bow to an unjust system. Determined and courageous, she became Canada's first Black female lawyer, paving the way in a male-dominated world marked by institutional barriers.

Her journey illustrates the power of perseverance and audacity: each obstacle becomes a springboard, each victory a legacy for those who follow. But her commitment did not stop at the law: she moved from the bar to social prevention, becoming the first woman to head the YMCA nationally, transforming her convictions into concrete actions for the community.