Roy Perry

Roy Prince Edward Perry (1905–1972) was a Canadian dentist, politician, and community leader from Windsor, Ontario. He was the first Black Canadian to be on Windsor's governing Board of Control, President of the Essex County Dental Association, and a long-serving alderman for his ward. As an elected official, he focused on redeveloping certain areas of the city and increasing recreational opportunities for the local youth.

He was active in the Windsor community as a member of many local organizations, and as the host of a well-known and well-attended annual skating party for local children. He was recognized for his contributions locally and nationally.

Early life and education Roy Perry was born in 1905 and lived on a farm in Chatham, Ontario. He lost his father at a young age. He then moved with his family, at the age of 2, to Windsor, Ontario. While attending school, Perry was noted to be an excellent athlete. He was involved in many sports such as football, baseball, basketball, and track and field while attending Patterson Collegiate in Windsor. During the election year, newspapers noted that his campaign was unlikely to succeed, though they argued that race did not play a factor in the election.

Community involvement Roy Perry and his wife Charlotte Brontë Perry were known for hosting social events well-attended by members of their community. Beginning in 1949, they hosted an annual skating party . In January 1952, a crowd of 500 attended and a performance was provided by performers from the Windsor Figure Skating Club. In February 1955, around 2000 children attended at the Windsor Arena. The Perrys would also host parties at their home during Christmas, providing 200 children with gifts from Santa Claus.

Roy Perry was involved with the Essex County Dental Association, and was the first Black Canadian to be a member. He also founded, and was the first president of, the Armstead Athletic Club, which helped students obtain scholarships and grants. He was also named Citizen of the Year by the Windsor Citizen's club in 1970 in recognition of his work with underprivileged youth. The couple met while Charlotte Brontë Perry was attending the Virginia Seminary and College. They initially lived in Los Angeles, where Charlotte Brontë Perry worked in the advertising department of a newspaper, before returning to Windsor in 1940. Charlotte Brontë Perry was an acclaimed historian, author of at least two books. The first, The Long Road: The history of the coloured Canadian in Windsor 1867 - 1967, focused on the history of the Black-Canadian residents in Windsor. This text is considered a definitive work on black history in Windsor, a project since expanded by researchers at Biblioasis and the North Star Cultural Community Centre through a 2018 sequel titled The Long Road Continues. The second was a biography on her husband's life and successes: One Man's Journey: The biography of alderman Dr. Roy Prince Edward Perry.