Rita M. Cox, D. Litt. C.M.

Rita Cox was appointed to the Board of the Ontario Arts Council in April 2004. She is an educator, a librarian, and an award-winning storyteller who has performed internationally. During the 22 years she served as Head Librarian at the Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library, Ms. Cox pioneered several arts and literacy programs. An active member of the Black community, she established Cumbayah, a festival of black heritage and storytelling. A number of her stories have been published, including her own children’s book entitled How Trouble Made the Monkey Eat Pepper.

Ms. Cox has held board and committee memberships on a variety of arts and community organizations and is widely recognized for her accomplishments. Both Wilfrid Laurier University and York University awarded her honorary doctoral degrees. She is the recipient of the African-Canadian Achievement Award, presented by Pride News Magazine, the Metropolitan Toronto’s Gardiner Citizens of the Year Award and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation awarded by the Governor General. In 1997, she became a member of the Order of Canada, and in 2000, she was appointed a Citizenship Court Judge by the Government of Canada.