A civil rights pioneer and the first Canadian-born Black lawyer is being honoured by the University of New Brunswick.
The first roadway on the UNB Saint John campus dedicated to a person will be named after Abraham Beverly Walker.
Walker was the first Black student to enroll at Saint John Law School — now UNB’s faculty of law — in 1882.
But despite being highly educated and influential, he faced insurmountable discrimination and systemic racism.
Walker opened his own law office in uptown Saint John after being admitted to the bar in 1882, but it ultimately failed “in part because of racism,” said a news release from the university.
He was excluded from local events for solicitors and even denied for a Queen’s Counsel and King’s Counsel appointment.
Up until recently, Walker had been a forgotten part of New Brunswick history, despite being a Saint John local.
In 2019, the New Brunswick government honoured the late lawyer and civil rights pioneer with an Order of New Brunswick.
Two years later, the New Brunswick Black History Society unveiled a headstone to mark Walker’s grave in the Church of England cemetery in Saint John.
A plaque with Walker’s story was also installed at the Saint John Law Courts in 2022.
“We are pleased that such a notable UNB Law alumnus is being recognized on the UNB Saint John campus,” Michael Marin, UNB Law Dean, said in a news release.
Abraham B. Walker Way is one of three street names being added at UNB Saint John. The other two are Campus Ring Road and Residence Lane.
Up until now, all buildings on the campus have the same civic address of 100 Tucker Park Road, which a city staff report to council said can cause confusion for first responders.
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