Leonard Lane (Black Strathcona)

Leonard Lane, one of the unsung heroes of Black Strathcona once lived at the corner of East Georgia and Gore Avenue. He is a man who dedicated his life to bettering his community.

Born in Saskatchewan in 1921, Leonard moved to Vancouver when he was drafted into the army. After the war, Leonard became an active member of the Fountain Chapel, where he performed in dance groups, sang in the choir, and organized sports programs for Black youth. By the 1950s, Leonard had married, started a family and was working at a sawmill in False Creek.

It was during these years that Leonard became politicized when he was refused service in local restaurants. Those incidents moved Leonard to begin fighting prejudice and discrimination. In 1958, Leonard attended the first meeting of the British Columbia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. Leonard became one of the full time staff members of the Association.