Canadian Jazz Pioneer Eleanor Collins Remembered for Breaking Down Racial Barriers in Music and Community

Canadian jazz pioneer Eleanor Collins, known as “Canada’s First Lady of Jazz”, passed away at the age of 104. Collins, an inspiration to countless music students in Surrey and White Rock, was remembered for her impactful career as a jazz pioneer and her efforts in breaking down racial barriers.

During last year’s Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival, Collins was honored for her contributions to music and her role as a Black Canadian paving the way for inclusion and diversity. Collaborators, educators, and community leaders praised Collins for her talent, hard work, and perseverance.

Originally born in Edmonton, Collins moved to Vancouver in the 1930s to pursue a singing career. She began performing gospel music on CBC Radio with the Swing Low Quartette in the early 1940s before transitioning to jazz with the Ray Norris Quintet.

In the early 1950s, Collins ventured into stage and screen performances, showcasing her talents in productions by Theatre Under the Stars. She later joined the cast of the groundbreaking CBC series Bamboula: A Day in the West Indies, which featured the first interracial cast in Canada. Subsequently, Collins headlined The Eleanor Show, making history as the first woman, person of colour, and jazz singer to host a national television program.

Throughout her career, Collins faced racial discrimination, including opposition to her family’s move to Burnaby in the late 1940s. Despite these challenges, Collins stood against racism, refusing opportunities that would require her to work in segregated parts of the United States and addressing inequalities in the industry.

Besides her musical endeavours, Collins was a community leader, using her platform to raise funds at events like Victory Bond rallies and World Brotherhood. Her daughter, Judith Maxie, highlighted Collins’ commitment to social causes and promoting understanding among diverse communities.

Even in her passing, Collins remains an inspiration to generations of students, a sentiment she expressed during her recognition at the Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival. Her legacy of advocacy, talent, and resilience continues to influence aspiring artists, educators, and supporters of diversity across Canada and beyond.