Donald H. Oliver CM ONS KC (born November 16, 1938) is a Canadian lawyer, developer and politician.
[1] A lawyer and real estate developer, Oliver is a member of Nova Scotia's black minority.
He is descended in part from African-American slave refugees who were resettled by the British in Canada from the United States after the War of 1812.
His maternal grandmother Izie Dora White (her maiden name) was born in Nova Scotia, descended from black refugees who went to Canada from the United States during the War of 1812.
Senator Oliver was also Co-chair of the Special Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians.
Oliver was active in community service: "serving in positions that have included President and Chairman of the Halifax Children's Aid Society; Chairman, President and Director of the Neptune Theatre Foundation; Director of the Halifax-Dartmouth Welfare Council; Founding Director of the Black United Front; and Founding President and First Chairman of the Society for the Protection and Preservation of Black Culture in Nova Scotia.
"[3] On December 28, 2019, Governor General Julie Payette announced that Oliver had been appointed as a member of the Order of Canada.