Tracey Steele shares her experience growing up as a member of the black community in the West Island

50-year-old aerobics instructor, prize-winning bodybuilder and owner of the Tracey Steele Music Academy in Roxboro discusses her experiences as a Black woman growing up in the West Island. Racism towards Black communities in Canada isn’t new.

The current wave of protests across North America may shed light on more recent cases of discrimination and violence, but Black Canadians will attest to the many ways their communities have endured racism throughout our country’s history, both personally and through our education, healthcare and political systems. This interview is intended to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Black residents in the West Island.