Canada’s First Lady of Jazz

Hey everyone and welcome to my blog! The past few weeks we’ve been working on a project called “Cray, Cray, Yay, Yay.”

As a class we’ve began to explore what it means to create change and truly impact others. Recently we were tasked with identifying an impact maker in our own community. The woman I discovered through this assignment is a true inspiration.

Often referred to as the “Canada’s First Lady of Jazz” Eleanor Collins is an extraordinary person. I was really shocked that I had never heard about her before…

This phenomenal Jazz singer was born in Edmonton in 1919. Collins’s family had moved from Oklahoma to Alberta in search of a better life. Collins was extremely talented from a young age and after winning a singing contest her career began.

By 1938, Eleanor Collins – a now professional Jazz singer, moved to Vancouver. Collins and her young family were the very first African-Canadians to move into their community. Due to their race, they faced instant backlash and prejudice from others. Their neighbours even began a petition, to attempt to remove the Collins family from their neighbourhood. Eleanor Collins refused to be chased from her new home. She began volunteering in her community, teaching Girl Scouts music  and helping at the local school. Despite being treated with complete disrespect, Collins continued to treat her community with kindness. Eleanor had an entirely positive impact on those around her.

Eleanor Collins is a brilliant jazz singer and sang on CBC radio with numerous quintets and groups. By the 50’s Collins began singing on T.V, and eventually had her own national show “The Eleanor Show”. Eleanor Collins was the very first woman to host a national show in Canada, and additionally the first person of colour in North America to have their own television  show. Her work brought about more representation and talent to the Canadian music and entertainment industries.

---

Eleanor went on to sing and perform with many amazing artists, she sang for fundraisers and anti-racism programs. Eleanor additionally went on to win many awards due to her role in Canadian history and her amazing talent.

Here are some of the awards Eleanor received…

• Distinguished Centennial Pioneer Award, City of Vancouver (1986)
• Induction and Starwalk Star, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame (1992)
• Sam Payne Lifetime Achievement Award, ACTRA (2006)
• Member, Order of Canada (2014)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Black Canadian Awards (2014)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Black Women in Jazz (2015)
• Award of Excellence, Black Cultural Research Society of Alberta

Additionally this year (2022), Canada post awarded Eleanor with her very own stamp.

Overall Eleanor Collins is an extremely important figure in Canadian history. She is a true impact maker.

Thanks for reading and see you soon!