26 Facts About Portia White

Portia White later completed tours throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

When vocal difficulties and cancer eventually contributed to her retirement in 1952, Portia White settled in Toronto and subsequently taught young Canadian musicians such as Lorne Greene, Dinah Christie, Don Francks, Robert Goulet and Anne Marie Moss.

One of Portia White's final major public appearances was a special command performance for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1964.

Portia White was declared a person of national historic significance by the Government of Canada.

In 2007, Portia White was posthumously awarded a lifetime achievement award by the East Coast Music Association.

Portia May White was born June 24,1911, in Truro, Nova Scotia, the third of 13 children born to Izie Dora and William Andrew White.

Portia White's mother was a descendant of Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia, while her father was the son of former slaves from Virginia; he moved to Canada independently.

Many other members of Portia White's family went on to achieve distinction in Canadian political and cultural life, including her brothers Jack, a noted Canadian labour union leader; Bill, the first Canadian of African heritage to run for political office in Canada; and Lorne, a regular performer for television show Singalong Jubilee.

Portia White became aunt to Senator Donald Oliver and political commentator Sheila Portia White.

Portia White began her musical career at the age of six as a choir member with the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church, where her mother was the musical director.

Portia White entered Dalhousie University in 1929, studying to become a teacher.

Portia White competed regularly at the Halifax Music Festival, winning the Helen Kennedy Silver Cup in 1935,1937 and 1938, until the festival organizers finally decided to award her the cup permanently.

In 1939, Portia White won a scholarship to continue her musical training at the Halifax Conservatory of Music with noted Italian baritone Ernesto Vinci, and Vinci taught her using the bel canto vocal style.

Portia White soon gave her first formal recital, and after the start of the Second World War she continued singing in concerts and radio shows.

Portia White won awards at provincial music festivals, and in mid-1941 she met Edith Read, a visiting headmistress from Branksome Hall in Toronto, who offered to arrange new performing opportunities for White.

In November 1941, with the support of Read, 30-year-old Portia White made her national debut as a singer in Toronto at the Eaton Auditorium.

Portia White was favourably received by audiences, even receiving a career management offer from Oxford University Press the day after her performance.

Portia White went on to sing at many more concerts across the United States.

The province of Nova Scotia and the city of Halifax provided new financial support for the rising star, purchasing a white fox cape for Portia White to wear at performances.

Portia White was the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.

Portia White became a vocal instructor herself and taught both at Branksome Hall and privately.

Portia White went on to teach some of Canada's up-and-coming musical talent, and her students included singers Lorne Greene, Dinah Christie, Don Francks, Robert Goulet, Anne Marie Moss and Judith Lander.

Portia White appeared in Halifax for a few rare performances during the 50s; although she announced her intention to resume a full-time singing career, her return to the concert circuit never fully materialized.

Portia White died in Toronto of cancer on February 13,1968, aged 56.

Portia White has been declared a person of national historic significance by the Government of Canada, and she was featured in a special issue of Millennium postage stamps celebrating Canadian achievement.

At the 2007 East Coast Music Awards, Portia White was posthumously honoured with a Dr Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award.