Honouring Lincoln Alexander Day, beloved Hamiltonian and first Black member of Parliament

Honouring Lincoln Alexander

Lincoln Alexander Day is a national day of recognition held every Jan. 21 to honour one of Hamilton’s most historic and distinguished figures. The Hamiltonian was the first Black member of Parliament (1968), a cabinet minister (1979), and Ontario’s lieutenant-governor (1985), and a champion of equality and excellence his entire life, before he died in 2012.

Hamilton, March 3, 1997 – Lincoln Alexander enjoys a moment to read a book during his busy day.Barry Gray / Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, October 10, 2002 – Queen Elizabeth talks with participants at a ceremony to present the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders with new colours at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. The Queen was on a 12-day Golden Jubilee tour of Canada.KEVIN FRAYER / CP file photo Lincoln Alexander on the steps of Parliament Hill in 1972.Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, May 4, 1998 – Former Lieutenant-Governor Lincoln Alexander was in attendance at the Chief’s Dinner.Barry Gray / Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, April 9, 2009 – Lincoln Alexander thanks Charles Juravinski for his donation, MPP, Hamilton as Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP Hamilton Mountain, left, applauds along with, Donna Cripps, president St. Peter’s Hospital, on right during Grand opening of the Alexander Pavilion, an innovative new home for patients with Alzheimers and dementia.Ted Brellisford/ Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, August 14, 2009 — Lincoln Alexander is a fixture on Hamilton downtown streets on his scooter. Linc stops by Denninger’s nearly every day for lunch.Barry Gray / Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, February 2, 1998 – Lincoln Alexander’s joke was on him. He didn’t realize he was telling one until after he had given his acceptance speech on being elected member of Parliament for Hamilton West in 1964, to replace the Right Honourable Ellen Fairclough. The audience roared with laughter, much to his puzzlement, when he promised to do his best to fill the shoes of the former member. It wasn’t until later he realized she wore size 4 shoes and his were size 14!Ted Brellisford / Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, Friday, August 14, 2009 – Lincoln Alexander is a fixture on Hamilton downtown streets on his scooter. Elvira Morley stops Linc for an impromptu chat on the street.Barry Gray / Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, October 5, 1997 – The parkway’s namesake, Lincoln Alexander, applauds one of the speeches at the opening ceremonies of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway Sunday.Scott Gardner / Hamilton Spectator file photo Lincoln Alexander campaigning on James Street North in June 1974.Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, June 8, 1997 – Former Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander arrives to the reviewing stand.Gary Yokoyama / The Hamilton Spectator Hamilton, August 14, 2009 – Lincoln Alexander is a fixture on Hamilton downtown streets on his scooter.Barry Gray / Hamilton Spectator file photo Hamilton, July 16, 1997 – Lincoln Alexander Parkway, the new official name for the east-west parkway was announced . The former Lieutenant Governor of Canada was thrilled to have this honour bestowed upon him.Paul Hourigan / Hamilton Spectator file photo