Friends, family and colleagues of journalist and social justice advocate Nerene Virgin will remember her in a celebration of life on Saturday. She passed away on Jan. 15 in Burlington at the age of 77.
Virgin was a Canadian trailblazer and Hamilton native.
READ MORE: Journalist and social justice advocate Nerene Virgin dies at 77
She began her career in education and expanded to educational television and she spent many years as a writer and educator of Canadian Black history.
Virgin’s daughter, Nicole Virgin, told CHCH News just how much her mother meant to the community and those closest to her.
“The outpouring, and not just from local people who were fans, admirers, or friends and colleagues, but from all across Canada and all over the world.”
Nicole Virgin remembers Nerene Virgin as a trailblazer with a long list of accomplishments.
“She had many iterations of her career, and many journeys in life. She started in education, moved into educational television, went into international news and broadcasting, hosted her own television show, and all the while served as a social justice advocate.”
In the ’80s Virgin played Jodie in the TVO children’s show Today’s Special. She was also the host of CTV’s Eye on Toronto.
In the ’90s, she worked for CBC, anchoring Saturday Report, CBC News World and News World International.
She went on to run as a provincial candidate in Hamilton and was known for her anti-racism advocacy.
“I think her most impactful, are the times when young Black women would come to my mother and say ‘you have been a beacon of hope for me, you’ve been a north star. I’ve followed your model of leadership and strength.’ It’s been really beautiful to know she has had an impact that way.”
But at the end of the day, Nicole says she remembers her mother as just that.
“She was my mom, and so she taught me how to do so many different things, she taught me how to negotiate, how to find value in who I am, and be a woman and honour myself.”
The celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 15 at the Stewart Medical Church. The same church where Virgin’s great uncle, John C. Holland — was a pastor.