We are lucky to be able to live in Canada, a beautiful and diverse country where people of all different backgrounds and races receive equal treatment. Sadly, our country has not always been this way. There was a time of racism in Canada's history when black people were mistreated simply because of the colour of their skin. This injustice was horrific and tragic, but also resulted in cases of extreme bravery and courage that changed Canadian society for the better. Black people have contributed immensely towards Canada's heritage and culture, but many of their achievements have unfortunately been forgotten.

Most Canadians have heard of the phrase "the real McCoy," which means something of the highest quality that is not an inferior imitation. However, most do not know that this phrase originated from the black Canadian inventor Elijah McCoy, who was issued more than 57 patents during his lifetime. McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario to parents who had fled slavery by the Underground Railroad. He showed strong interest in mechanics from an early age, and at the age of fifteen started a five year apprenticeship to become an engineer. However, when finished, racial barriers prevented him from being able to find work in his field, despite his qualifications. He was forced to take the only job that he could find, which was applying lubricant to locomotives for the Michigan Central Railroad. Many workers of this job, most of them young black boys, were suffering severe injuries and deaths while attempting to lubricate moving machinery. Elijah McCoy wanted to help stop this injustice, so he invented an ingenious self-lubricating device that not only drastically improved working conditions but also greatly improved efficiency of trains. It became so desired that other manufacturers attempted to copy it, although they could never match McCoy's supreme quality.

Just like most Canadians are unaware of Elijah McCoy, Viola Desmond is an unknown name in Canada. It is unfortunate that few people know that there was a courageous Canadian woman who challenged racial segregation nine years before Rosa Parks did. Viola Desmond was a black business woman from Nova Scotia. One night, she went to the Roseland Film Theatre in New Glasgow, and wanted to watch a movie from the main floor where she could see better. However, the theatre demanded that she sit in the balcony designated exclusively for blacks. Viola Desmond refused, and ended up being forcibly removed from the theatre. She was injured, arrested, kept in jail overnight, and fined. Despite the advice of her husband to let the matter drop, she made the brave decision to fight. Desmond brought Roseland Theatre to court, which resulted in a long and drawn-out court battle consisting of several trials. Ultimately, her conviction was upheld, but her courageous efforts were not in vain. A newspaper published an article supporting her, and the case against her soon gained notoriety. Eventually, Viola Desmond's actions became instrumental to the abolishment of racial segregation in Nova Scotia and Canadian society in general.

Elijah McCoy and Viola Desmond are just two out of many examples of how black Canadians defined Canada's heritage and identity. They came from different backgrounds, but at the same time had much in common. Both were ordinary people who were mistreated by society simply because of their skin colour. They both responded to the injustices inflicted upon them by gallantly fighting back. Elijah McCoy had to work an unpleasant, arduous, and unsafe job because no other place would hire him because of his skin colour. He made the most of a bad situation by using his intelligence to invent something that not only improved safety for workers, but also improved the efficiency of trains and the overall transportation system, thus greatly benefiting broader society. Viola Desmond was treated with violence, thrown in jail, and charged a fine simply for wanting to watch a movie from the main floor of a theatre. She reacted by maintaining her dignity throughout the whole incident, and bravely deciding to fight through a lengthy court process, which helped eradicate racism from Canadian culture.

Elijah McCoy and Viola Desmond are both heroes worthy of being remembered. It is a shame that their stories, like those of many black people, are often forgotten. We should take the time to reflect upon the contributions they made to our culture, because without them, Canada would not be the great tolerant and multicultural country that it is today.