About Dr. Agnes Calliste

Dr. Agnes Miranda Calliste (1944–2018) was a pioneering scholar, educator, and social justice advocate whose legacy continues to shape academic and cultural life at St. Francis Xavier University and beyond.

Born in Grenada, West Indies, Dr. Calliste joined the Sociology Department at StFX in 1984, where she taught for nearly 30 years until her retirement in 2010. Her scholarship broke new ground in examining the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, and labour in Canada. Through her research on African-Canadian railway porters and Caribbean-Canadian nurses, she illuminated previously overlooked dimensions of Canadian social history, focusing not only on institutionalized oppression but also on the organized resistance of marginalized communities.

Dr. Calliste co-edited influential academic collections such as Power, Knowledge and Anti-Racism Education and Anti-Racist Feminism with Dr. George Dei, and her work remains widely cited in the fields of sociology, Black Canadian studies, and anti-racism education.

Beyond her academic contributions, Dr. Calliste was a tireless advocate for Black students at StFX. As the university’s Black Student Advisor, she provided mentorship and academic support, advised the Brothers and Sisters of the African Diaspora student society, and organized annual events including Kwanzaa celebrations, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and African Heritage Month activities.

Her commitment to equity and inclusion extended into collaborative campus initiatives, where she helped secure national research funding to study health inequalities and supported efforts to counter racism and celebrate African-Canadian achievements.

In recognition of her enduring impact, StFX named its new Black Student Success Centre the Dr. Agnes Calliste Academic and Cultural Centre in 2024. Located in Mount Saint Bernard, Room 225, the centre serves as a welcoming space for Black students to connect, thrive, and celebrate their heritage – a living tribute to Dr. Calliste’s vision and values.

The Dr. Agnes Calliste African Heritage Lecture Series, established by the Department of Sociology, continues to honour her legacy by bringing esteemed speakers to campus to engage with issues of race, resistance, and social justice.

Dr. Calliste exemplified the Xaverian ideal of striving for “whatsoever things are true.” Her life and work remain a beacon for those committed to justice, education, and community empowerment.