Sally Houston served the Ontario Black History Society with pride and distinction
February 28, 2024
Sally Houston’s warm smile and engaging personality were not hard to miss for those attending the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) Black History Month launch over the years.
The long-time Board member died on February 21 at age 87.
“She was a wonderful woman and friend,” said Jean Augustine who is Canada’s first Black woman parliamentarian. “I will miss her ever smiling face. The community has lost a revered member.”
Seeing Houston yearly at the launch was a highlight for Bernice Carnegie, the daughter of late hockey pioneer Herb Carnegie.
“Her infectious smile and warm hug always started the event off well for me,” she said. “I am going to miss her. She, however, lives on as she has not left us without disseminating her humanitarian qualities to her children.”
Houston was an OBHS Board member for 17 years up until 2017.
In 2018, the organization honoured her with a Lifetime Honourary Director Award.
Houston joined the OBHS after retiring in 1996 from Richardson Greenshields of Canada that was acquired by Dominion Securities the same year.
Royal Bank of Canada obtained 100 per cent ownership of Dominion Securities a few months later.
“I was with them for 20 years and when I left on the last day, I walked into the OBHS office which was a few blocks away and inquired if they needed help,” Houston told me in an interview six years ago. “The office manager told me to sit down and offered me the opportunity to send out membership records and help with some of the files. I have enjoyed every moment with the organization and I still help out by doing some work for them from home.”
Then OBHS President Rosemary Sadlier presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Sally Houston at the 2011 Black History Month launch (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
The fifth generation Canadian came from a family with deep ties to Owen Sound where she was born and raised.
From around 1830 to the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865, escaped slaves made their way across the Canada-United States border through the Underground Railroad. Many of them ended up in Owen Sound which was the railroad’s last stop.
Escaping from Baltimore, Houston’s great-great-grandfather -- John Green -- reached Owen Sound in 1856 and married Mary Ann Gordon. Their first child, Thomas Green, was born six years later. Blessed with a wonderful tenor voice, he delivered ice and was a preacher at the British Methodist Episcopal (BME) church.
The 13th of 15 children was a teen disc jockey winner, one of the first Black drum majorettes in an all-girls band sponsored by Lady Cavell Lodge and the host of ‘Hit Parade’ on Friday nights on CFOS which is an AM radio station broadcasting from downtown Owen Sound.
When Houston’s application for a full-time position was turned down, she quit the station and applied to Richard, Bond & Wright that grew into one of the most important printing establishments in Canada.
“I hadn’t completed high school as yet, so the receptionist told me to do that and come back for a job that would be waiting for me,” related Houston whose parents – Russell and Gertrude Green – were married for 66 years.
The promise was kept and she spent six months in the typing pool before becoming a receptionist, making her one of the very few Blacks in Owen Sound at the time to hold an office job.
After nearly five and half years and in her early 20s, Houston moved to Windsor in search of a better job and a male companion.
“Most of the males around my age group in Owen Sound were somehow related to me, so I had to go elsewhere,” she laughingly pointed out.
Houston got her wishes.
She secured employment at Burroughs Adding Machine Company, working on the assembly line and was promoted to a front-office position a few months later.
Marrying Bob Houston in July 1962, the couple had the first of their four children five months later and relocated to Toronto.
Member of Provincial Parliament Mike Colle presented Outstanding Volunteer Awards to Sally Houston, Gail Strachan and Charleen Moses in 2011 (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Every year, Houston and her family returned to Owen Sound for the Emancipation Festival and Picnic held annually since 1862 on the first weekend of August, marking the anniversary of the British Emancipation Act of August 1, 1834.
“I have missed just one and that was when my last daughter (Pam) was born,” she said at the time. “My family in the Greater Toronto Area take time off from their jobs to drive up there and spend a fun weekend. Of course, they have never left me behind. Every visit brings back fond memories and I meet new relatives.”
Just before her husband passed away in 1991, Houston joined the Christ Church-St. James British Methodist Episcopal Church.
Established in 1845 as a place of devotion for Blacks who did not feel comfortable worshipping in mainstream churches, members assembled at 94 Chestnut St. for almost 105 years until the congregation could no longer maintain the building.
Granted use to share space with the Afro-Community Church at 460 Shaw St., the two congregations amalgamated a few years later and worshipped under the administration of Revs. Thomas Jackson and Alexander Markham.
After the building at 460 Shaw St. was destroyed by fire in April 1998, members worshipped at various churches until a new home was found in October 2001 at the current location at 1828 Eglinton Ave. West.
Houston served as Assistant Clerk and Clerk and was a longstanding choir member until she became ill.
She is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Houston’s body was cremated today.
