To commemorate Black History Month, the University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues will be celebrating the achievements of Black Varsity Blues athletes, highlighting their stories and showcasing their impact in shaping the history of U of T.
John Braithwaite is believed to be the first Black athlete to play on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's basketball team.
Although he played on the junior team in 1948-49, Braithwaite suited up for the Varsity senior team in 1949-50 and became the first Black player to do so. This would be just one of many 'firsts' the Toronto native would achieve in his lifetime.
Braithwaite, sixth from the left, and the 1949-50 senior Varsity team
Braithwaite earned three degrees from U of T: a bachelor of arts in 1951 from University College, a bachelor of science in social work in 1955 and master's of social work in 1956.
Following the completion of his master's degree, Braithwaite moved to the West Coast, where he looked to establish a strong foundation and make an immediate impact in his local and surrounding communities. He created, endorsed and participated in numerous organizations, such as the North Shore Neighbourhood House, the Black Action Coalition Committee and the National Action Committee on Race Relations.
In 1972, he was first elected to the North Vancouver city council and was one of only three Black politicians in British Columbia.
He served on the North Vancouver City Council until 1976, when he took a brief break from municipal politics. He rejoined council in 1983 and was then re-elected consecutively until his retirement in 2002. Altogether, Braithwaite spent 23 years in elected office.
Since 1956, when the North Shore Neighbourhood House offered him a job, he has clocked almost 40 years of experience as a social worker, working with troubled youth.
Braithwaite set up a boys program at the House and made it his goal to build a lasting connection with the community of North Vancouver by the end of his first year there.
He then worked closely with the Squamish Nation as a social worker, along with others in his field to set up the band's first internal social worker program.
Then, in 2004, the John Braithwaite Community Centre in North Vancouver opened its doors, honouring a man whose decades of social work helped the city's troubled youth and broke down barriers in the community. 