Nalda Perry-Callender: Trailblazer who transformed Canadas Black and Caribbean communities [Video]

A life devoted to justice, community and empowerment

Canada’s Black and Caribbean communities are mourning the loss of  Nalda Icylma Perry-Callender, a pioneering leader, advocate, and mentor who dedicated more than four decades to championing racial equality, women’s rights, and community development.

She passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2025, at the age of 80, surrounded by her family in Vancouver.

Born July 25, 1944, in St. John’s, Antigua, Callender was a force of nature—unyielding in her pursuit of justice, unwavering in her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities.

Her journey from the West Indies to Canada was one of courage and determination, shaping a legacy that will continue to inspire generations.

A legacy rooted in advocacy and action

Callender arrived in Montreal in 1967, during the city’s Expo 67, where she quickly became a pillar in the  Caribbean and Black Canadian community.

Thirteen years later, in 1980, she moved to Vancouver, where she would carve out an indelible legacy as one of British Columbia’s foremost community leaders.

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