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The Tom Miller Human Rights Awards

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is inviting nominations for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award.

The award recognizes a CBRM resident who has made a significant contribution to the community through the encouragement, promotion, initiation or development of human rights.

The award honours the legacy of the late Tom Miller, Nova Scotia’s first Black Alderman, and his lifelong commitment to equity, justice and opportunity for all.

Nominations close on December 18, 2026, and the recipient will be notified in early January 2027.

About the Award

Tom Miller was a dedicated, principled and tireless advocate for human rights. He supported the rights of all Canadians, particularly those disadvantaged by discrimination or poverty, and made lasting contributions to progressive work in the field of human rights.

The Tom Miller Human Rights Award recognizes residents who carry this work forward through their contributions to the community.

The award recipient and one guest will receive complimentary tickets to the African Heritage Month Gala in February 2027, where they will be seated with members of Tom Miller’s family.

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Nomimate an Outstanding Individual

To nominate outstanding individuals, submit the completed nomination form in one of the following ways:

  1. Email to recreation@cbrm.ns.ca
  2. Drop off at Suite 204, 320 Esplanade, Sydney.
Download the nomination form

Previous Award Winners

  • Cheryl Aucoin (1993)
  • Winston Ruck (1994)
  • Donald Marshall Sr. (1995)
  • Jean Murphy (1996)
  • Father John Webb (1997)
  • Joe Worrell (1998)
  • Rev. Donald Pierce (1999)
  • Alice Aucoin (2000)
  • Thelma Nobrega (2001)
  • Lem Skeete (2002)
  • Dan Christmas (2003)
  • Marie Green (2004)
  • Lynn and Rhonda Crawford (2005)
  • Scott Thomas (2006)
  • Edith Christmas (2007)
  • Edgar MacLeod (2008)
  • Sarah Hayward (2009)
  • Theresa Brewster (2010)
  • Joe Parris (2011)
  • Bea Leblanc (2012)
  • Ken Donovan (2013)
  • Chester Borden (2014)
  • Barry Waldman (2015)
  • Archbishop Vincent Waterman (2016)
  • Eddie Parris (2017)
  • Gary Borden (2018)
  • Bernie Mason (2019)
  • Clotilda Douglas Yakimchuk (2020)
  • Emma Stevens (2021)
  • Harman Singh (2022)
  • Tanya Johnson-MacVicar (2023)
  • Rubin (Rocky) Coward (2024)
  • Kendrick Douglas (2025)