Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson

This Shelburne resident is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in her community.

November 25, 2024 | | Local Heroes

Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson moved to Shelburne in 2014, and you have to wonder if she’s taken any time to sleep since she got there. She is president and founder of the Dufferin County Canadian Black Association. She’s an Upper Grand District School Board trustee. She has hosted three seasons of In Conversation with Alethia, a Rogers TV show. All this on top of a full-time job with the Royal Bank as director of continuity and third-party disaster readiness, and being a mother of three. She is, in short, a force of nature.

Alethia immigrated to Canada from Jamaica when she was 13 and by 15, she was living on her own. Despite the challenges, she put herself through university, eventually earning a BA in political science from York University and an MBA in leadership and innovation from Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. She says, “It’s important to recognize education, and those letters after my name, because often Black women are not recognized.”

Alethia O'Hara-Stephenson
Alethia holds her copy of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women, where she was named a 2024 honouree. Photo by Pete Paterson.

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 gave Alethia the spark to start the Dufferin County Canadian Black Association, something she says, “I had it in mind before. I thought there was a need for a voice to do advocacy work in an effort to make Dufferin more inclusive.” 

Even a partial look at the initiatives she has championed in the last few years shows she knows how to take that on. She helped to get Dufferin County to recognize Black History Month for the first time, and helped organize the first Black History Month celebration in partnership with the Museum of Dufferin. She approached Dufferin County council with a recommendation to establish their first diversity, equity and inclusion committee. She sat on a number of community committees and chaired the Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force for the Town of Shelburne. She was also director of the youth advisory committee at Centre Dufferin District High School. For her efforts Alethia received the Town of Shelburne’s highest honour, the Community Excellence Award, in 2020.

In a press release at the time of her appointment, Alethia said her motivation to serve as a school board trustee stemmed from her belief in the “transformative power of education,” but it is also because young people give her hope. “There are so many amazing individuals across Canada, in Dufferin, and at Shelburne’s high school.”

On her TV show she approaches things from a different angle. While the program often features people of colour, Alethia says, “It’s not just Black people. I try to feature individuals with inspiring stories, who can educate and empower in some way. And they are stories that are often not told.” 

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  • Earlier this year Alethia was named a 2024 honouree by 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women. The organization publishes a book every two years celebrating women who have made a remarkable social, educational, political or professional impact.

    Alethia is quick to credit her husband, Alton Stephenson, for helping to make her crazy schedule possible. “Alton plays a huge role,” she says. “From staying on top of the house to taking care of a million other things, I couldn’t do what I do without his support.” She also acknowledges her busy life involves some sacrifices. “I don’t take in much entertainment, or even watch TV,” she says. “Sometimes I have to miss family events. But they still love me because they know I’m following my passion.”

    About the Author More by Jeff Rollings

    Jeff Rollings is a freelance writer living in Caledon.

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