10 Facts About Harry Gairey

Harry Ralph Gairey was a Jamaican-born Black Canadian community leader and activist who worked as a railroad porter for much of his life.

Harry Ralph Gairey was born in Jamaica in 1898, one of seven siblings.

Harry Gairey worked for the Grand Trunk Railway as a dishwasher, cook and waiter until 1932, when Black waiters were laid off in the competition for remaining jobs resulting from the railway's absorption into the operations of Canadian National.

Harry Gairey married a skilled dressmaker Elma, who he described as "Jamaican and part Hindu" and they had a son Harry Junior.

In 1936, to support his young family, Harry Gairey returned to railway work, this time for Canadian Pacific as a porter.

Harry Gairey was promoted to the position of porter instructor in the late 1940s.

Harry Gairey appealed to his alderman and the city council, spurring the creation of Toronto's first anti-discrimination ordinance in 1947.

Harry Gairey argued that since military conscription was extended to all young Canadian men, regardless of race, the rights of every citizen should be the same as well.

Harry Gairey received the Jamaican Order of Distinction in 1977 in recognition of his long service to the Caribbean communities of Toronto.

Harry Gairey was awarded the Order of Canada in 1986 and the Order of Ontario in 1987, its inaugural year.