Celebrating African Heritage Month

My late Uncle Robert "Buddy" Jones was well-known in Canada's Black community for his work on Black history, and in particular, our Jones family genealogy dating back to slaves in the United States (Read more about my uncle at https://valourcanada.ca/military-history-library/robert-bud-jones/).

After his passing, both of my daughters have taken over his research which now includes DNA results leading to our roots in Nigeria. This is a picture of one of my distant relatives, William Francis Jones. The name Francis has been passed down through many generations including my grandfather, father, my middle name and the middle names of both of my daughters (f. Frances).

Nova Scotia officially opened the 2026 African Heritage Month at the Black Cultural Centre, where some of my great-grandfather's belongings are on display. George A. Jones was a sleeping car porter on the Intercolonial Railway between Halifax and Montreal. He was best friends with the first Black lawyer who graduated from Dalhousie University Law School - James Robinson Johnston. In fact they married the Allen sisters from Windsor Junction, so I am related to Johnston through the Allen connection.

As a retired physicist (BSc and MSc), I was the first in my family history to achieve an advanced science degree. My experience in the Physics Department at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia was inspiring and inclusive. My bachelor's graduating class of 5 students included two Blacks and a woman. Indeed, both of my daughters have achieved even more academic success, one a postdoc and the other a Ph.D. candidate.

After retirement from a career designing naval sonar, I took up astronomy as a hobby once again. In 2020, we moved from the bright city lights of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to a small farm in Kempt Shore where I could see the Milky Way at night in our pastures. Living in rural Nova Scotia has been a wonderful experience. My wife and I are involved in several community programs and activities, and with our youngest daughter living nearby on her small farm, we are enjoying a real country lifestyle. We have horses, a pony, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs, cats, and even a lovely pig named Stevie Wonder.

In 2025 I rejoined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, after many years since I last was a member, only to find that Black representation is still almost non existent. Nicole Mortillaro, science journalist, author and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, in her 2022 article entitled "Where are all the Black astronomers and physicists? Racism, isolation keeping many away," writes

"Black astronomers are few and far between in North America, but especially in Canada. Inside the community, members share stories of discrimination, micro-aggressions and feelings of isolation, which can ultimately dissuade others from pursuing careers in the sciences."

In 2020 Forbes published an article entitled "This is why there are so few Black physicists and astronomers (and how to fix it)," by Ethan Siegel. The article puts the issue front and centre, and I quote:

"The importance of representation cannot be overstated when it comes to fostering a sense of belonging. Under-representation among Black professors, postdocs, graduate students and undergraduate students in Physics and Astronomy is a problem that demands a specific, focused, concerted effort if we wish to change the status quo."

Forbes results for the various disciplines in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) puts Black representation in astronomy right at the bottom at about 2%.

What is the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada doing to address this problem?

One of the RASC Values is "Enrichment of our community through diversity." There are currently over 5000 members ranging from amateurs to professionals.

Here is my count of Black RASC members from publications and public online sources such as seminars, workshops, invited speakers, event organizations, YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. as of January 31, 2026. These numbers are only for individuals who have identified themselves publicly.

4 of 5000+ (~0.08%)

RASC Centres reviewed for Black programs and outreach from public online sources such as websites, publications, and other online media (January 19, 2026):

Halifax, St. John's, New Brunswick,

Thunder Bay, Montreal, Prince George

Vancouver, London, Calgary, Saskatoon

Yukon, Sarnia, Victoria, Edmonton, Okanagan

Belleville, Kitchener-Waterloo, Sudbury

Kingston, Windsor,  Regina, Ottawa, Niagara

Sunshine Coast In the December 10, 2020 issue of The Local Weekly Community Newsletter on their website is a touching story of the Centre helping Harry Andlinda of Kabale, Uganda realize his dreams of becoming an astrophysicist one day. They bought him a go-to telescope when he was in his early teens. By now Harry must be about 20 years old. Sure would be nice to know how his dreams have worked out. This is such a wonderful story about the Sunshine Coast Centre supporting a young Black boy in Africa.

Winnipeg A huge shout out to the Winnipeg Centre for their Telescopes For Kids program. The recipients are an amazing collection of diverse children who have their pictures on the Winnipeg website. Every Centre should have a program like this! What I would have done for a telescope when I was 10 or 11 years old! My family couldn't afford one - I used my Dad's binoculars though. I would join Winnipeg Centre in a heartbeat if I lived there.

Toronto The Toronto Centre has a comprehensive Anti-Harassment Policy that all Centres should include on their websites or as a section in their constitutions! And, that should also include an anti-harassment statement for the RASC Facebook Group, where I can say with experience on the receiving end, is a real problem for RASC!

Hamilton The RASC Hamilton Centre has an Anti-Harassment Policy.

Mississauga You have to be a member to see their by-laws and policy manual. That's not useful.

"An Act for the preservation and enhancement of multiculturalism in Canada."

[1988, c.31, assented to 21st July, 1988]

Section 3(1c) states the following:

"It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of Canada to promote the full equitable participation of individuals and communities of all origins in the continuing evolution and shaping of all aspects of Canadian society and assist them in the elimination of any barrier to that participation;"

This raises the question, why are several RASC Centres permitted to not include a policy statement on inclusion and diversity on their websites and in their constitutions?

Photo: My father Francis Archibald Wilkinson "Corkey" Jones. These are all surnames of distant relatives. The military called him Frank but the Township of Petawawa, Ontario where he retired knew him as Corkey. He was involved in everything!