L-R: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Councillor Rawslon King, Councillor Stéphanie Plante, BHO President June Girvan, grandson Albert Bedward,

Wednesday 4 September 2024

Stéphanie Plante – Rideau Vanier

34m  · 

The Herbert and Estelle Brown park is official! I am excited to work with Black History Ottawa to recognize these pillars of the Caribbean community. Each and every member of the Black and Afro-descendant communities in Ottawa has a story to tell and soon generations will know the amazing story of Brown’s Cleaners. 👍

Thanks to my City of Ottawa colleagues who supported this commemoration and extra special thanks to June Girvan and Jean-Marie Guerrier of BHO as well as the Brown’s grandson Albert Bedward who came all the way from Toronto to watch the proceedings. As always thanks to Rawlson King who supported this idea from the beginning. 🙏

Le parc Herbert et Estelle Brown est officiel ! J’ai travaillé avec Black History Ottawa pour rendre hommage à ces piliers de la communauté caribéenne. Les membres des communautés noires et afrodescendantes d’Ottawa ont une histoire à raconter et bientôt des générations connaîtront l’historique de Brown’s Cleaners.👍

Merci à mes collègues de la ville d’Ottawa qui ont soutenu cette commémoration et un merci tout particulier à June Girvan et Jean-Marie Guerrier de BHO ainsi qu’au petit-fils des Browns, Albert Bedward, qui est venu de Toronto pour suivre les débats. Comme toujours, mille merci à Rawlson King qui a soutenu cette idée depuis le début.

Source: Facebook

Email from Albert Bedward, grandson of Hebert and Estelle Brown

Friday 6 September 2024

From:[email protected]

To:Plante, Stéphanie

Cc:Jean- Marie Guerrier,Godwin Ifedi,Neeff, Alan,Joan Robinson,June Girvanand 8 more…

Fri, Sep 6 at 9:35 a.m.

Good morning Councilwoman Plante

I am proud of what you, Alan BHO accomplished Tuesday, September 4, 2024. 

And of the small number who initially opposed, 80 – 90% switched and supported because it was more than obvious you more than checked all the boxes. 

There will always be a few. No worries. We are here. 

Thank you. My grandparents Herbert and Estelle Brown are sitting in the park now: “Can you believe it Herbert? A park named after us for doing what we did naturally?”

We are proud of you, honored. Appreciate the Major, councilwomen and men’s support. 

Sincerely 

Albert

Albert Bedward

(416) 417-8201

Previous edition 2016

Herbert and Estelle Brown – Earliest Black Ottawa migrants – Black Ottawa Scene