1857Who was the first Black letter carrier in Canada?
Albert Calvin Whitley Jackson, born into slavery in Delaware in 1857, became the first Black letter carrier in Toronto and all of Canada. His pioneering appointment in 1882 not only challenged racial barriers within the Canadian civil service but also galvanized Toronto's Black community to rally for his fair treatment and training. Despite initial resistance and discrimination from colleagues, it took the intervention of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald—amidst a looming federal election—to secure his rightful post. Today, Jackson’s legacy is recognized across the country, including a commemorative Canada Post stamp issued in 2019 and a plaque at the former site of the Toronto General Post Office.
