Bill White

William Andrew White, III, (February 7, 1915 – January 23, 1981) was a Canadian composer and social justice activist, who was the first Black Canadian to run for federal office in Canada. Family and education He was born in 1915 in Truro, Nova Scotia, the son of Baptist minister William A. White and his wife Izie Dora (White). (They were not related before marriage.) Among his twelve siblings were internationally renowned Canadian concert singer Portia White, labour union leader and politician Jack White, and television performer Lorne White. Another sister married a Mr. Oliver, and they were the parents of Donald H. Oliver, the first black man to be appointed a Canadian Senator. His family moved to Halifax where his father was minister of the Church for nearly 20 years. After attending local schools, he got an education and music degree. He taught music. He was also a composer and choral group leader. Marriage and family Bill White and his wife Vivian had children including software designer W. Romney White, folk musician Chris White, Toronto physician Laurie White, social activist and politician Sheila White, and professional musician Tim White.