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Melanistic Magazine - Vol. 12
MARY BURLIE
WHO IS THE ANGEL OF BOYLE STREET
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Images courtesy of: The Burlie Family
Mary Burlie was an African American woman born in 1935 in Arkadelphia Arkansas. Mary grew up in the Southern United States during the “Jim Crow era”. The Jim Crow Laws were government policies that were put in place in Southern States of America to keep the Black Community under segregation. The Black community were denied the right to vote, hold jobs, or attain an education.
Despite the hardships- Mary dreamed of a place called Canada. Mary and her husband John Burlie, along with their six children would come to Canada, in 1969. In 1970 the Burlie family would settle in the community of McCauley, and later move to the community of Oliver.
MARY’S ADVOCACY
Mary began her work in the community as a volunteer. Mary spent twenty-six years serving the inner-city on the front lines for Boyle Street Community Services from 1971-1995. Mary was drawn to the people living in the innercity. Mary related to the struggles the Indigenous people of Canada had endured. Mary understood what it was like to live in poverty, to face discrimination, and recognized the hardships of having to navigate a system that was built on systemic racism. Mary found joy in lending
a compassionate ear and providing a loving shoulder to lean on for those seeking understanding. The inner-city community loved Mary so much they gave her the title the Black Angel of Boyle Street.
MARY BURLIE PARK
Mary Burlie passed away on July 13th of 1996 following Mary’s passing the city of Edmonton began to recognize her length of work and love for the community. In September of 1999 a park naming committee and the community voted that the green space located at 10465 97 St NW, be named Mary Burlie Park, our hope is that the contributions of the Black citizens of Canada will be respected and honored and that our children will know what those contributions have been historically. On July 13th, 2021, the City of Edmonton Proclaimed July 13th Mary Burlie Day in the City of Edmonton Alberta.
