[2] Aged nine he moved to Boisbriand, where he was required to use the name "Steven",[2] which he maintained in his pro football career.

[3] While studying law at McGill University,[4] he ran for borough mayor of Montréal-Nord for Projet Montréal in the 2017 Montreal municipal election but lost to Christine Black.

[5] After the 2017 election, Holness launched a petition calling for the city to hold a public consultation on systemic racism and discrimination.

[6] Founder of a social justice lobby group "Montreal in Action," Holness was profiled on November 21, 2020, by the CTV Television Network as "an inspirational view of a man confronting systemic racism.

On June 7, 2022, Holness announced the creation of party Bloc Montreal, being a part of the 2022 Quebec general election.