Where Rivers Meet, a celebration of Canada's first black mayor

MATTAWA - When regional historian and author Doug Mackey heard US President Obama say: "a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath," in his inauguration speech, he couldn't help but make comparisons to a pivotal incident in the story of the election of Canada's first Black mayor in Mattawa in 1963. Mackey tells the story in his new book Where Rivers Meet: The Story of Dr. S. F. Monestime Canada's First Black Mayor.

What happened when a Black doctor from the Caribbean nation of Haiti, on his way to Timmins from Ottawa, stopped for lunch at the Chez Francois Restaurant Mattawa in 1951 has become a local legend. "Dr. Monestime thought they were going to challenge him when he entered the restaurant but what did happen eventually led to his historical election as the Mayor of Mattawa twelve years later. His election was national and international news at the time. He eventually served nine terms as mayor until his death in 1977," Mackey recalled.

Mackey has captured that story, as well as the many other trials, tribulations, successes and accomplishments that made up the life and times of Dr. S. F. Monestime. He went on to have a national political presence and he and his wife Zena, who was a refugee from wartorn Europe, founded the respected Algonquin Nursing Home in Mattawa which continues today under the direction of their daughter Vala.

2009 marks the 100th anniversary of Dr. Monestime's birth in Haiti, and the 125th anniversary of the town of Mattawa. Mackey was asked to write the biography by the Monestime family as part of the celebrations around these significant milestones. On May 21 Mackey's book, was Launched on Mattawa's Main Street junction with Highway 17, followed in the evening by a book signing at the Moon Café on Mattawa's Main Street.

Doug Mackey is heritage columnist and the award-winning author of The Fossmill Story, and The Kiosk Story, which won the CBC Northern Ontario Reads competition in 2008.


Mackey will sign books Friday at Gulliver's Book Store on Main Street, North Bay.

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