Buddy Daye

Delmore W. (Buddy) Daye was a Canadian boxer and community activist from Nova Scotia.

Born in New Glasgow, Daye moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia some time later.

As a young man Daye was a merchant mariner.

He started his boxing career in 1953 and became Canadian Junior Lightweight Boxing Champion on June 30, 1964, after defeating Jackie "Kid" Carter in a 12 round bout. Daye held the title until 1966. During his career, Daye lost only 6 times, winning 81 of 88 bouts. He knocked out 71 of his opponents including 22 in the first round. He only had had one draw. Daye was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1981.

Daye was a community activist in Halifax's North End and ardent supporter of Africville. Daye ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party in the electoral district of Halifax Needham in the 1967 provincial election.

In 1990 he became the first African Nova Scotian Sergeant-at-Arms for the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. He served until his death from cancer in October 1995.

In 1996 his photograph was placed as a permanent memorial in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. In June 2006, a street was renamed in his memory in the North End of Halifax, between Göttingen and Maynard streets.

References

• Halifax Regional Library Black History Month Resource List
• Halifax Regional Library African History Month Timeline
• Article: Halifax welcomes Buddy Daye Street (CBC)
• Buddy Daye Profile
• Article: Walking Black Through Halifax (Shunpiking)
• Article: Buddy Daye Wins Canadian Light Weight Championship (Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame)
• Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame Page on Daye