Zanana Akande | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Community and Social Services | |
| In office October 1, 1990 – October 21, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Beer |
| Succeeded by | Marion Boyd |
| Ontario MPP for St. Andrew—St. Patrick | |
| In office 1990–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Kanter |
| Succeeded by | Isabel Bassett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1937 (age 86–87) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | New Democrat |
| Spouse | Isaac Akande (died 1991) |
| Education | University of Toronto |
| Occupation | Teacher, principal, politician |
Zanana Lorraine Akande (born c. 1937) is a Canadian politician in Ontario. She was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1994 who represented the downtown Toronto riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick. She served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae. She was the first woman from the African Diaspora elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the first Black woman to serve as a cabinet minister in Canada.
A daughter of immigrants from the St. Lucia and Barbados, she became a teacher and school principal in the Toronto public school system. After her election in 1990, she was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Community and Social Services but resigned because her private financial arrangements appeared to violate cabinet guidelines. A subsequent review cleared her of any wrongdoing. In 1992, she was named parliamentary assistant to Premier Bob Rae. In 1994, she quit politics after a dispute over the handling of an investigation and firing of Ontario civil servant Carlton Masters.
As of 2009, Akande is retired but continues to be involved in the community, serving as a volunteer on boards and committees of local organizations including the YWCA and Centennial College.