By Doug Draper
If you want to bestow this province’s most prestigious civic award – Order of Ontario – on anyone in Niagara, few people are more deserving than Wilma Morrison.
This 81-year-old Niagara Falls, Ontario resident has invested years of her life, out of her love for history and her heritage, documenting Black history here. She has been a leading force in restoring the more than century and a half year old Nathaniel Dett Memorial Church on Peer Street in Niagara Falls – also known as the British Methodist Episcopal Church and one of the oldest surviving Black churches on the Ontario side of our greater Niagara region.
Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor with Wilma Morrison during Order of Ontario ceremonies.
“It was the most wonderful thing,” Morrison told Niagara At Large of receiving the Order of Ontario Award at Queen’s Park this January 27. “When I listened to the stories about all of the other people (a total of 30 including herself) who received the award,” she added, “I was pleased to be in their company. Before this reporter had a chance to ask Morrison more (as if some of us already don’t know) about her own accomplishments, she scooted beyond that to say that there were others receiving the same award who had worked for the United Nations to fight global poverty, a doctor working on cancer treatment, philanthropists and others that made her feel “inadequate” for such an award.
But others, including Gail Benjafield, a retired St. Catharines librarian and that library’s last ‘special collections’ librarian, is one of many who feel Morrison is most worthy of the award. Benjafield, who played a lead role in getting Morrison’s Black history archives into the St. Catharines Library, said Morrison’s Order of Ontario award “is the most wonderful thing.
“I call her Mrs. Black History of Niagara,” said Benfafield.
Last year, at graduation ceremonies at Brock University, Wilma Morrison also received an honourary doctorate degree for her work.
Posted below is the media release from the office of Liberal Niagara Falls riding MPP Kim Craitor, who attended the Queen’s Park event.
Friday, January 28, 2011
NEWS
NIAGARA FALLS: In a colourful, very formal and regal ceremony at Queen’s Park, Wilma Morrison of Niagara Falls joined 29 of the province’s most distinguished and honoured citizens to receive the Order of Ontario. The award recognizes individual excellence and achievement. It is the highest official honour the province can bestow.
Morrison who has lived in Niagara Falls for fifty years was cited for her work as a black history advocate and received the award Thursday from the province’s Lieutenant-Governor with Premier Dalton McGuinty and Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor in attendance.
“I was amazed at the quality of excellence and achievement these 30 exceptional people represent,” said Craitor. “I was so pleased that Wilma was recognized by the province for her work in highlighting the contribution the black community has made in Niagara. Because of her I have so much respect for the contribution that the Black community has made to enrich our lives. This award recognizes the work Wilma has done to insure the legacy of the Black community lives on for future generations.”
(Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to our greater binational Niagara region.)
Niagara At Large 