Season 3 Ep 31: Nancy Oliver-Mackenzie, Historian & Social Justice Advocate
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This week on Older & Bolder, Debbie McCulloch sits down with the extraordinary Nancy Oliver-Mackenzie, whose lifelong dedication to education, history, and justice has left an indelible mark on her community and country.
Nancy, now 83, shares how her personal interest in her family’s past—tracing back to slavery in the United States—sparked years of historical research that ultimately led her to create a public exhibit on Black history in Montreal. That work, along with decades of activism, earned Nancy the honour of being named Montreal’s 2024 Black History Month laureate.
Her stories are filled with rich details—from teaching in an Inuit community in Northern Canada to educating students in Africa. Nancy reflects on what it meant to teach through the lens of art, identity, and community. She also discusses her continued work hosting anti-racism workshops and highlights pivotal moments in her life—like welcoming Nelson Mandela to her home church in Montreal.
Nancy’s voice is one of wisdom, truth, and tireless commitment. This episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of the power of storytelling, the impact of lived experience, and how advocacy never retires.