Nerene Virgin, a pioneering figure recognized for her roles as an actor, public broadcaster, anti-racism advocate, and educator, passed away in Burlington, Ontario, at the age of 77.
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A fifth-generation Hamiltonian, Virgin initially worked as a teacher before gaining prominence for her portrayal of Jodie on the TVO children’s show “Today’s Special” in the 1980s. Her influence extended to hosting the CTV public affairs show “Eye on Toronto.”
In the mid-1990s, Virgin contributed to the CBC, where she anchored “Saturday Report” on CBC-TV and hosted programs on CBC Newsworld and Newsworld International. Subsequently, she ventured into politics by running as a provincial Liberal candidate in Hamilton. Over the years, she dedicated herself to writing and educating on Canadian Black history while actively championing anti-racism causes.
Virgin’s family informed CBC News in a statement that she passed away at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington on Monday morning, surrounded by loved ones, after her heart failed.
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Reflecting on her legacy, her husband, Alan Smith, shared in an interview with CBC Hamilton, “I’m filled with joy that I even knew her. Her whole purpose… was to hold herself as a role model and act accordingly… to fight racism and to make Black people in Canada proud.”
Describing her impact, her nephew, Amani (Burt Blackarach) Smith, an L.A.-based DJ and music producer, expressed, “She broke so many barriers consistently through her life. She was rewriting the script on how a Black person can move through the world. I’m so sad, but also, I got so much out of it — I’d be selfish to want more. I couldn’t ask for anything more… She helped guide me. We would talk for hours… I just loved her to bits.” Virgin’s legacy, marked by her commitment to breaking barriers and promoting equality, resonates in the lives she touched and the positive change she advocated for.
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