Honouring Black brilliance across generations - from Lorraine Thomas, Manager, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Accessibility and Anti-Racism (IDEAA) 

When I reflect on the words HonoringBlack Brilliance Across Generations,  I am deeply grateful that I’ve always been grounded in my Caribbean culture as part of my journey. In my family, brilliance looked like persistence. It looked like values being passed down quietly through example, not speeches. 

I grew up in rural Trinidad with a Black Trinidadian father and a white Canadian mother. Those were the days when it was uncommon to see mixed race marriages, unlike today. My father experienced the hardships of growing up Black and poor in colonial Trinidad, beginning his teaching career at 14 and eventually earning a university degree in his 40s because he wanted his children to see that anything was possible. My mother, a second-generation Italian Canadian, came to Trinidad as a teacher with CUSO International and spent her life embracing its culture. They navigated their challenges as a couple in a society that was not always accepting, raised a family, and went on to influence hundreds of students throughout their teaching careers. Therefore, early on, I learned that brilliance is about discipline, care, and responsibility.

Embracing brilliance also means refusing to accept the limits placed on oneself. My deafness was only diagnosed when I was four years old but my parents refused to believe that I could be limited.  My father’s guiding principle was “Where there is a will, there is a way.” At times, this relentless encouragement to excel, especially academically, and to always strive for greatness felt exhausting. Yet, with time, I have come to appreciate the value of that drive and high expectation.

I work at Holland Bloorview, Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital. My role as manager IDEAA centres on creating spaces where every individual’s needs and strengths are recognized and valued; and in advancing an inclusive and equitable healthcare environment to ensure all children and families receive respectful, accessible, and culturally responsive care.  

That foundation laid down by my family and culture continues to shape how I show up at work, the way I lead and the way I will continue to advocate within systems that are still learning to make room for Black excellence and to embrace diversity as a powerful asset.

Lorraine Thomas, Manager, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Accessibility and Anti-Racism (IDEAA)