Kamala-Jean Gopie

Who is Kamala-Jean Gopie?

Kamala-Jean Gopie, formerly known as Jean M. Gammage, is a Canadian political activist.

Gopie, whose ancestors went to Jamaica from India as indentured labourers, was born in Jamaica, and moved to Canada in 1963 after graduating from high school. She holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from the University of Toronto, and worked as a teacher with the North York School Board in private life. She is best known for her community activism within Toronto.

She served as president of the Jamaican Canadian Association from 1979 to 1980, and was a member of the Ontario Advisory Council on Multiculturalism and Citizenship from 1980 to 1984. She later served as chair of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, and was a founding director of the Black Business and Professional Association in 1982.

She campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1981, and received 4,171 votes in Oakwood for a third-place finish against New Democratic Party incumbent Tony Grande. She campaigned for the Liberal Party of Canada nomination in York—Scarborough in 1984, but was unsuccessful.

In early 1986, she was appointed to the Ontario Housing Corporation and became chairman of the Harry Jerome Scholarship Fund for black Canadian athletes. Later in the same year, she helped to organize a Toronto dinner for South African anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu.