John Christie Holland Awards

He started out as a newspaper boy, dreamed of becoming a minister and became the First African American to be named "Citizen of the Year" in any community in Canada.

We honour those who continue to work diligently in the spirit of John Holland.

Who was John Christie Holland?

Reverend John Christie Holland was born in Hamilton in 1882 to parents who escaped slavery from southern United States and made their home in Hamilton. For 33 years he worked as a railway porter (one of the few jobs opened to Black men during that time).

Despite racial discrimination and bigotry, Reverend Holland worked his way up through the ranks to become head Porter and later to the position of private car attendant with the TH&B Railway.

In 1924, he became an ordained Minister and served as Pastor of Hamilton's Steward Memorial Church. The church has been designated an historic site by the Ontario government because its solid history and connection to the infamous Underground Railroad.

Reverend Holland was well loved by Hamiltonians from all walks of life and in 1953 he was honored as Citizen of the Year, the first African Canadian to be given that recognition. In 2003, he was inducted (post humously) into Hamilton's prestigious Gallery of Distinction.

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