By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Dorothy Wright-Wallace has been named Chatham-Kent Senior of the Year 2025.
The Chatham resident, renowned for her dedication to preserving C-K’s Black history, has been devoting her time to the effort for the past 12 years. The energetic 82-year-old served for more than a decade as president of the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society and Black Mecca Museum.
Wright-Wallace joked that she didn’t set out to be so deeply involved.
“I was thinking I was just going to help, not to be at the helm of it,” she said of when she decided to volunteer. But the life-long resident of Chatham’s east side said the people of the neighbourhood “have always been there for her” and she wanted to give back.
Wright-Wallace has taken on various roles with the historical society and museum, but her specialty is giving tours detailing the rich Black history of the city.
“This is my pride and my joy,” she added. “I am fortunate that I have a good memory. It just seems as I’m walking along, I have no problem with visualizing what was there and what is not there now.”
Wright-Wallace points out that she never learned much about Black history until well into adulthood. That’s another reason she stays true to the cause.
According to Wright-Wallace, the only thing she learned early on was the annual celebration of white abolitionist John Brown’s birthday in May. Brown, who was immortalized by the folk song “John Brown’s Body,” is renowned for radical action against slavery.
“That was the sum of the Black history that I got,” Wright-Wallace said, adding she only received bits and pieces about the King settlement in North Buxton and little about Dresden’s Josiah Henson.
Wright-Wallace said she continues to be amazed by C-K’s Black history and its importance.
“You have to know whose shoulders you are standing on. For what they paid and the price they paid in order for you to make the choices that you have now in your life. The opportunities we have now weren’t always offered to us. This is so serious.”
According to Wright-Wallace there were many Black heroes who called Chatham home. She hopes their stories will continue to be shared.
“You can’t put a price on education,” she stressed. “Once you have the knowledge, you can’t take it away.”
Wright-Wallace married husband Wyatt Wallace and raised three children on the East side. Wallace is also well-known as he headed up Chatham’s Public General Hospital laboratory for more than 30 years.
Despite experiencing racism as a Black person, Wright-Wallace said her childhood was happy and her needs were met.
Racism still exists in Canada, she said, noting it’s subtle compared to south of the border.
“I’m so proud of my East Side community. For them to entrust me with this, is very much an honour for me. For all the good, the bad and the ugly, it’s made me who I am,” Wright-Wallace concluded. “And I like it.”
The other nominees for Senior of the Year were presented with certificates and messages from Chatham-Kent–Leamington Member of Parliament Dave Epp and Member of Provincial Parliament Trevor Jones.
The other nominees were: Chatham area residents Deb Johnson; Dianne Lloyd; Edwinna Rawlings; Cindy Cadotte; Jarka Pelisek; Judy and Rod McKenzie; Anne Gibson; Robert Hughes; Leanord Joseph Maynard; and James Snyder.
Wallaceburg area residents Fran Betts and Cathy Underwood were also nominated, as was Tilbury resident Madeline Blain. Dr. John Mann, and Ken and Rose King of Blenheim were also nominated.
Be the first to comment