Best, who was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, in 1903, is remembered for laying the groundwork for journalism in the province, and co-founding the province’s first Black-owned newspaper.

Her biweekly paper, The Clarion, was founded in 1946, and made a significant impact on Canadian civil rights history, after featuring the story of Black Canadian civil rights activist and beautician Viola Desmond. Desmond, who was also from Nova Scotia, received Best’s support and solidarity after refusing to leave a racially segregated, whites-only section of a movie theatre in 1946.

The incident occurred at the Roseland theatre, in Best’s hometown of New Glasgow, where Best had previously experienced racial discrimination.