Linc day is official

This January, Ontario will celebrate the first official Lincoln Alexander Day. A bill proposing the annual holiday passed unanimously at Queen’s Park Thursday.

Elise Copps has the details.

This decision is incredibly significant for Hamilton. Lincoln Alexander, or Linc as he’s affectionately known is one of our city’s most important historic figures.

The bill was co-sponsored by Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MPP Paul Miller and Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott. With its passing, January twenty-first will now be celebrated as Lincoln Alexander Day. While it won’t be a statutory holiday, it will be a province wide day of recognition.

Lincoln Alexander was Canada’s first black Member of Parliament, representing Hamilton West from 1968 to 1980. He went on to become Ontario’s first black Lieutenant Governor.

He died last year at age 90. His widow, Marni Beal was at Queen’s Park for Thursday’s vote: “It’s important to me for personal sake. That his name is kept alive and that his legacy lives on, that even if one or two kids learn a little bit more about how Canada works, how Parliament works then it’s worth it.”

Linc was a great champion of Hamilton, and loved his city dearly. In turn, he was, and is dearly loved by Hamiltonians, who will celebrate Lincoln Alexander Day with pride come January.