About the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre
Housed at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communications, the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging was founded in 2023 by journalist and educator Nana aba Duncan, with permission from the Shadd family, to highlight Shadd Cary’s contributions to journalism in Canada.
Through a combination of research, student training, community building, and media production, and by partnering with industry organizations, community leaders, and youth, the Centre emphasizes diversity and inclusion. Its efforts address race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, and their intersections, aiming to foster a more inclusive journalism industry.
About Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Learn about the woman who inspired the name of the centre!
Mary Ann Shadd Cary holds the distinction of being the first Black woman newspaper publisher in North America and the first woman publisher in Canada.
The Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging honors her groundbreaking legacy by advocating for, supporting, and engaging in inclusive, belonging-focused journalism.
Through a combination of research, education, community-building, and media production, the Centre strives to create a more equitable and diverse journalism landscape in Canada.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary was a remarkable leader who championed education, equality, and liberation. Concerned about the well-being of the Black community in North Buxton, Ontario, she took bold steps to address systemic challenges.
In 1853, Shadd Cary founded and edited The Provincial Freeman, a newspaper that advocated for equality and education for Black people and supported women’s rights. This historic achievement made her the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America and the first woman to edit a newspaper in Canada.
Beyond journalism, Shadd Cary actively fought against discrimination and enslavement. She established a racially integrated school in Windsor, Ontario, to support the education of Black refugees fleeing enslavement in the United States.
Despite her significant contributions, Shadd Cary’s impact remains underrecognized in Canadian journalism and education.
The Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging seeks to address this gap by creating an institution that advocates for, supports, and participates in inclusive, belonging-focused journalism in Canada.