Not long after Dr. Don Oliver (LLB鈥�64, LLD鈥�03) retired from Canada鈥檚 Senate in 2013, he was diagnosed with a rare and fatal heart disease. Most people in this situation would have chosen to disengage from work and settle their affairs as they began their good-byes.
Don Oliver 鈥� lawyer, lifelong advocate for racial equality, the first Black man to become a Senator 鈥� was not most people.
He was given six months to live. Through participation in a clinical drug trial at the Mayo Clinic, and sheer determination to continue giving back to the community for as long as he could, even as peripheral neuropathy impeded his mobility, Oliver purposefully carried on for 12 more years.
Oliver died on Sept. 17, 2025.
鈥淎t Dalhousie, we mourn the loss of Senator Oliver while also celebrating a life of remarkable impact,鈥� said Dalhousie President Kim Brooks. 鈥淗is generosity of spirit, his principled approach, and his commitment to justice will long be remembered.鈥�
To encapsulate his life and summarize the breadth and depth of his interests and contributions to Dalhousie, Nova Scotia and Canada is nothing short of impossible. Instead, what you will read here is an overview and reflections from Dal community members who knew him. (For a more fulsome accounting you can read 翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 book, .)
Early days
翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 social activism traced back to his grandparents, who fled U.S. slavery to settle in Canada. As he grew up part of the only Black family in the Wolfville, N.S. area at the time, 翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 parents also imbued him with a sense of social responsibility. When receiving Schulich Law鈥檚 2023聽Weldon Award for Unselfish Public Service, Oliver said of his ancestors: 鈥淭hey taught me that no matter how poor you were, you always gave back to the church or to somebody else in need.鈥�
Oliver pictured outside the Schulich School of Law after receiving the Weldon Award in 2023. (Margarita Brighton)
While he enjoyed a long career as a civil litigator, and as a businessperson, Senator and teacher (including at Dal鈥檚 law school), he also engaged in pro bono legal work and unpaid political activity, plus served as director and committee member on governance boards. This included serving on the first board of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi'kmaq (IB&M) Initiative at Dalhousie, established in 1989 to聽increase representation in the legal profession聽to reduce discrimination.
Dal law professor Michelle Williams, who was IB&M director for 16 years, says Oliver mapped and created possibilities for African Nova Scotians and others, continuing his family's legacy. 鈥淗e showed us that we belong wherever our hearts can envision,鈥� Williams said, noting Oliver delighted in the world around him and gave back in expansive and tangible ways.
Dalhousie Chancellor Rustum Southwell, who was the founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative, admired 翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 vision for a strong presence of Black entrepreneurs in the Canadian economy. 鈥淗e [Oliver] was one of the titans in the Canadian Black community who worked diligently for a prominent place for Black Canadians in all aspects of society. And he did this without fanfare in his own聽inimitable way.鈥�
Valuing education
Access to education for all was of paramount importance to Oliver, who studied history at Acadia University before coming to Dal. notes he was valedictorian for his 1960 graduating class at Acadia and received the Sir James Dunn Scholarship in Law while a student at Dal.Oliver embodied Dalhousie鈥檚 Schulich School of Law鈥檚 of unselfish public service, giving back to the community and making the world a better place. While a law student, he chaired the Halifax Neighbourhood Centre Project through which he not only empowered Black people in the city鈥檚 North End to speak up for their rights, but through which he also offered cooking classes.
鈥淚n the best expression of the Weldon tradition, Don Oliver showed us how public service and commitment to place could be harnessed to create a fairer, more inclusive society,鈥� said Brooks.
Don Oliver showed us how public service and commitment to place could be harnessed to create a fairer, more inclusive society
Oliver also helped shape the law. While still a Dal Law student in 1962, he was denied entry to a Halifax pool hall one day because of its 鈥榥o Blacks allowed鈥� policy. After complaining to the Department of Justice, Oliver was invited to help draft legislation that became the Fair Accommodation Practices Act, making it illegal to ban anyone from public spaces based on race.
鈥淒on Oliver not only excelled academically but also had the courage to challenge injustice head-on,鈥� said Brooks. 鈥淗is activism as a young man reshaped the laws of this province and his example continues to inspire our students today to match excellence with purpose.鈥�
Senator Don Oliver Scholarship at Dalhousie
After law school, Oliver practiced at Stewart McKelvey in Halifax, taught, and ran businesses including real estate and Christmas trees farming enterprises. He was also active in the Progressive Conservative Party, serving both provincial and national party executives.
Brian Mulroney appointed Oliver to the Senate in 1990. As the first Black man to become a Canadian Senator, Oliver quickly called out lack of diversity in the House of Commons and the Senate. And for the next 23 years, he continued championing racial diversity and inclusion from his Senate seat.
鈥淗e actively went about creating change and leveraging the role to improve the quality of life in all of Canada,鈥� said Southwell. 鈥淗is leadership and vision were immense.鈥�
Oliver, centre, pictured with entrepreneur Wade Dawe and Dal Chancellor Rustum Southwell. (Nick Pearce photo)
Atlantic Canadian entrepreneur Wade Dawe was close friends with Oliver. At a Dal event in 2023, Dawe spoke of their relationship, recalling a time Oliver challenged him around the lack of racial diversity amongst his company鈥檚 employees.
翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 observation impacted Dawe and sparked his commitment to build a more diverse workforce. It also inspired Dawe to create the Senator Don Oliver Scholarship at Dalhousie, which offers financial support as well as access to mentoring, advice, and other supports to help African Nova Scotian students excel in their studies and careers.
鈥淲hile receiving an Oliver Scholarship does not rectify the injustices of the past 400 years, it will enable young Black students to continue walking the path that Senator Oliver has so courageously opened for them,鈥� said Dawe.
翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 legacy
In his lifetime, 翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 professional accomplishments led to five honorary degrees (including one from Dalhousie), memberships in the Order of Nova Scotia and Order of Canada, and dozens of other medals and awards.
His personal interests were as vast as his professional endeavours. He grew up surrounded by music 鈥� his aunt was famed Canadian contralto Portia White 鈥� and he enjoyed gardening, cooking, and wine. A true Renaissance man, Oliver once did a summer stint as a cub reporter with the Chronicle Herald, and later penned not only his memoir, but also a gourmet cookbook.
Amongst 翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 final charitable acts was establishing the through the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia in 2023. It helps African Nova聽Scotian and Black writers overcome barriers they face as they pursue mentorship and training, and write books.
When Dalhousie instituted its notable alumni program in 2024, Oliver was among the first inductees: 鈥淗e is a renowned Dalhousie Alum whose remarkable life continues to inspire future generations, leaving behind a legacy that exemplifies true leadership and dedication to national progress,鈥� Southwell says.
Oliver at a Dal event. (Nick Pearce photo)
Don Oliver is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Carolynn, and by scores of Dalhousians and community members, Nova Scotians and Canadians who have and will continue to benefit from his wisdom, guidance, and the positive change he effected.
鈥淒on Oliver leaves a profound mark on Dalhousie. As a Senator, an alumnus, and a generous friend of our university, he was tireless in his advocacy for equity and for opening doors to others,鈥� said Brooks. 鈥淲e are deeply saddened by his passing, and we honour his legacy with gratitude and respect.鈥�
鈥淗e could have well and rightfully rested in his later years, but he kept giving back until the end,鈥� said Williams. 鈥淸He was] a beacon for us all.鈥�
Campus flags will be lowered to half-mast in Senator 翱濒颈惫别谤鈥檚 honour.
If you would like to support the Senator Don Oliver Scholarship at Dalhousie, please visit