A year after it was announced by the Rideau Hall Press Office, professor of history James Walker was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada this past Friday, August 25. The Faculty of Arts warmly congratulations Jim, a widely respected and influential scholar and teacher.
The official citation for the investiture ceremony states:
James Walker is a leading scholar of Canadian racial relations and Black history. A professor at the University of Waterloo, he has reclaimed forgotten Black stories, highlighting how the struggle for equality has shaped our country. He is best known for his book The Black Loyalists, and his influential publications have inspired popular books and films including The Book of Negroes. Committed to social justice, he has established several community initiatives, including a long-standing program that supports the success of Black and Aboriginal students at Dalhousie University.
When Professor Walker's Order of Canada membership was announced in July 2016, two other notable former members of the Department of History were also announced. John English, distinguished professor emeritus, was promoted to Officer of the Order of Canada; Joe Mancini, MA History ’82 and BA ‘81, along with his wife Stephanie Mancini, BA English '82, were to become Members of the Order of Canada -- they are the founders of The Working Centre in Kitchener.
Read Joe Mancini's recent Waterloo Alumni blog, Stretching the Imagination of Canada, about the shared history with his former professors and their shared desire for a better country.