Welcome to the Varsity Pool stop of the Black History Here & Now Virtual Tour, where we will learn about Black Canadians in swimming.
For many years, Black people in Canada were commonly barred from public swimming pools and beaches. This practice was driven by racist fears around Black people contaminating the pool, along with racist fears around keeping white women away from non-white men.
While the presence of “whites only” signage in Canada was rare and inconsistent, Black people were prevented from swimming on beaches through police presence and discriminatory practices. Socio-economic factors also played a role in keeping Black people out of swimming pools: facilities were often located in higher-income neighborhoods and access came at a significant cost .
One example that illustrates the conditions that Black Canadians faced is highlighted in Ornella Nzindukiyimana & Ellen O’Connor’s research paper, Let’s (not) meet at the pool: A Black Canadian social history of swimming.
In 1948, a Calgary pool manager refused to let a Black girl into his pool because of her skin colour, claiming that he needed to please White patrons who had made complaints about racialized swimmers in the pool.
The incident highlighted the circumstantial, inconsistent and arbitrary practices that characterized racial segregation in Canada. Swimming spaces played a role in the preservation of a racial hierarchy, defining and reinforcing the relationship of power between White and Black Canadians.
That said, where Black people settled near bodies of water, they engaged in swimming for both of leisure and utilitarian purposes.
Despite barriers, Black Canadians have continued to pursue leisure and competitive swimming. Below, we highlight some of the Canadians that have made their mark on the sport.
Athlete Spotlight
DEBBIE ARMSTEad
Debbie Armstead, who hails from Calgary, was the first Black Canadian swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Games and was a member of the 1980 team that ultimately did not compete due to a boycott. Armstead was the University of Calgary Female Athlete of the Year and National University Swimmer of the Year for 1980-81. She competed for Canada at the 1982 FINA World Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Armstead (or Debbie Grant, as she was known) coached for 25 years. She became a coach at the University of Calgary in 1983 and was Head Coach of the Saskatoon Goldfins before moving on to the Windsor Aquatic Club, where she coached until retiring in 2019.
Learn more about Debbie Armstead
Joshua Liendo
Joshua Liendo was the first Black Canadian swimmer to win an individual medal at a major international championships or Games. He was also the first Black Canadian to win a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
A Scarborough, Ontario native who spent part of his childhood growing up in Trinidad before returning to Canada, Liendo made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Learn more about Joshua Liendo
Sources
Swimming Canada: Meet Debbie Armstead, Canada's First Black National Team Swimmer
Swimming Canada: Get to Know Joshua Liendo
Be sure to explore the other stops on the Black History Here & Now virtual tour to delve further into the experiences of Black Canadians in sport and physical activity.
