The Historian Laureate Program seeks to engage Edmonton residents by enhancing awareness and participation in heritage through a variety of activities. The term ‘Laureate’ was selected to honour the individual’s abilities to relate stories and traditions in engaging ways, rather than to focus on a scholarly career. There have been 9 Historians Laureate to date.

Donna Coombs-Montrose is Edmonton’s current Historians Laureate for 2024-2026, selected by the Edmonton Historical Board and the Edmonton Heritage Council following an open application process.

Donna Coombs-Montrose

Donna Coombs-Montrose is a Community Activist and History Advocate who has resided in Edmonton, Alberta for over 20 years. Donna’s activism began while a student in Toronto during the 1970s and continued her heritage exploration in her home country during the succeeding years, after completing her academic training in librarianship and archives.

Since coming to Edmonton with her family she has served on the board of CARIWEST – Western Carnival Development Association – 1999-2017, including the last 10 years as its President. Her core intent was to raise the contributions of Caribbean and other diaspora immigrants to building this society. She has also served as founding member of the Alberta Labour History Institute (ALHI) from 1999/2000 and as a Director for the past seven years. A Founding Member of the Caribbean Women Network, an Elder to CCACH (Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage), an active member of the Congress of Black Women (Edmonton Chapter), WAWT (When African Women Talk) and CURC (Council of Union Retirees) Donna is also contributing to these and several other organizations. She has also served as a juror for many different grant streams and written many anecdotes.

With a passion for story telling as an essential platform for documenting a community’s history, Donna has recorded with online access, many interviews of community members in labour, culture, health, education, entrepreneurship, in various trades and professional occupations, on the ground of transforming our society. Current projects include Caribbean Oil Workers Contribution to Alberta’s economy, and Jasper Place – The Black Community.

A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal in 2022, Donna is an avid painter who plays in the music band iLand.+

Energized by a visionary agenda and nurtured by a community with high expectations, the coming period will be pivotal in her role as City of Edmonton Historian Laureate, 2024-2026.