William White III
*Bill White III was born on this date in 1915. He was a Black Canadian composer and social justice activist.
William Andrew (Bill) White, III., O.C., was the son of a Baptist minister, the brother of famed Canadian concert singer Portia White, labor union leader Jack White, and television performer Lorne White. He was the father of software designer W. Romney White, folk musician Chris White, Toronto physician Laurie White, social activist and politician Sheila White, and professional musician Tim White.
He was the first Black Canadian to run for federal office in Canada, running as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation candidate in the electoral district of Spadina, Canada, in the 1949 election; he was not elected.
In 1970, Bill White was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and joined the Order in 1971. The Order of Canada appointment was for "services to the community and his contribution to better relations and understanding between people of different racial backgrounds." In 1976, White received the Scarborough Citizen of the Year award. Bill White died in New Zealand on January 23, 1981.
