Canada Post issued a stamp honouring Albert Jackson just in time for Black History month this year. Born a slave in Delaware in the 1850s, Jackson came to Canada as a toddler on the Underground Railway. He grew up in Toronto and won a position as a letter carrier in 1882. The other Canada Post employees refused to train him because of the colour of his skin, and the media fuelled a heated public debate about “the coloured postman”.

The local black community came to Jackson’s defence publicly, and Sir John A. Macdonald, who was courting their vote, chimed in as well. He promised that the youth would go to work as a carrier “come what may,” according to one newspaper article.

Jackson persevered, and went on to work for 36 years with the postal service.

“Albert Jackson’s determination opened the doors for many Black Canadians to enter the postal service,” says Ann Therese MacEachern, chief human resources officer at Canada Post. “His courage laid the foundation for the diverse workforce we have at Canada Post today.”

—Brian Burchell, Gleaner News

READ MORE:

• ON THE COVER History delivered (Spring 2019)
• HISTORY: Delivering history in Harbord Village (Spring 2019)
• ARTS: Delivering history in Harbord Village (April 2015)
• ARTS: Resident costumes Postman cast (July 2015)
• BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Moving to the centre (FEBRUARY 2017)
• CHATTER: Plaque commemorates Canada’s first Black letter carrier(JULY 2017)