Stennie Noel arrived in Canada from Trinidad & Tobago in 1974. After receiving certification in welding/pipefitting, he moved to Edmonton. He worked on contracts for Syncrude in Fort McMurray until the early 1980s recession and then for several contractors across the province. He experienced racial incidents on several job sites and as he searched for housing in Edmonton.
In 1990, Noel purchased a house in Britannia-Youngstown near Britannia School and has lived there ever since. He speaks about the area in the video clip on this page. In another video clip on the Alberta Labour History Institute’s page, he speaks about his work with other Caribbean oil workers and provides examples of the racism he’s faced.
Noel is a leading member of Edmonton’s Caribbean community. He has welded many costumes for the Cariwest Festival and performed in the festivals in his role as “king.” Noel was an award-winning musician in Trinidad and Tobago where he perfected his drumming skills, playing an instrument that was banned under colonialism. He currently performs in the Wajjo Drummers, has toured internationally, and composes and sings calypso. He is the dad of a Dene daughter.
[With thanks to the Alberta Labour History Institute for permission to reproduce the full transcript of his interview conducted for the Caribbean Oil Workers Project]
