Guyanese-born historian and internationally recognized scholar Dr. Joanne Collins-Gonsalves has been named among Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch 2025, a prestigious honour bestowed by Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE). The awards ceremony was held in Toronto on October 25, 2025, where Dr. Collins-Gonsalves received the accolade from The Honourable Marci Ien, P.C., former Canadian Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.
In remarks shared after receiving the award, Dr. Collins-Gonsalves said she was “deeply appreciative to have received the award and humbled to be among the brilliant and impactful 2025 CIBWE Honourees.” She noted that she was the only historian selected this year, adding that the recognition strengthens her commitment to researching, documenting, and illuminating overlooked historical narratives.
“I will continue to be committed to accurately researching history and uncovering and sharing untold stories,” she said. “Through meticulous research and scholarly inquiry, I aim to illuminate these histories, providing a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of our collective past.”
Distinguished Scholar With Deep Guyanese Roots
Dr. Collins-Gonsalves holds a PhD in History and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (United Kingdom). She serves as Managing Director of Historical Research International Inc., an Edmonton-based firm specializing in corporate, organizational, and public history services for archives, museums, and government agencies.
Her published works include several landmark contributions to Guyanese and Caribbean historiography:
- The Portuguese in Business in Guyana 1835–1935: A History of Entrepreneurship, Expansion, and Diversification (2025)
- Iris de Freitas Brazao, Legal Luminary and Trailblazer: Caribbean, Canada, Wales, England, 1896–1989 (2023)
- From Ashes to Ferro-Concrete: A History of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Guyana) 1914–2014 (2014)
She has authored more than thirty research outputs, including academic articles, book chapters, conference papers, and biographical profiles, with contributions published in outlets such as the Portuguese Studies Review (York University) and The Law Society Gazette (United Kingdom).
Dr. Collins-Gonsalves’ research focuses on Business History, Guyanese History, Portuguese Diasporic History, Women’s Legal History, and the History of the Roman Catholic Church across Guyana, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic.
Leadership and Service in Canada and the Caribbean
In Canada, she sits on the Advisory Board of the Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society and serves on the Education Committee of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia. She is also the Canadian Representative and Research Fellow for History at the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs (Jamaica).
Her past service includes roles with the Guyana Heritage Society, Yellowknife Heritage Committee, and the Rotary Club of Edmonton.
Her numerous awards include:
- Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch 2025
- The Council of the University of Guyana Award
- Rotaract Caribbean’s President of the Year Award
- The Commonwealth Trust of Guyana Poetry Award
A Significant Recognition for Guyanese Scholarship
Dr. Collins-Gonsalves’ achievement highlights the global contributions of Guyanese scholars and the importance of historical research in shaping national and diasporic identity. Her work continues to amplify the stories, people, and communities whose narratives have too often remained in the margins of mainstream history.
