Tony Ince is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Nova Scotia and a lifelong advocate for social justice, equity, and diversity – particularly within African Nova Scotian communities.
Mr. Ince was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia in 2013, representing the riding of Cole Harbour-Portland Valley, re-elected in 2017, and again in 2021, this time to represent Cole Harbour. He served as an MLA until his retirement from politics last year. During his time in the Legislative Assembly, he held various Cabinet positions, including Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs, Minister of Communications Nova Scotia, Minister of the Public Service Commission, and Minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives.
Prior to his career in politics, Mr. Ince contributed to his community in various ways, including as a counsellor for the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services, an educational assistant for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, and a regional educator for the Black Educators Association. He also served in Canada’s Reserve Force and worked as a sales representative for Xerox Canada.
Mr. Ince also co-founded and co-chaired the Canadian Congress of Black Parliamentarians, where he advocated for Black Canadians’ rights. He was a member of the African Nova Scotian School Board and the Africville Genealogy Society, and he chaired the Nova Scotia Community College African Nova Scotian Advisory Board.
In recognition of his contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion in his province, Mr. Ince received the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award in 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University.