An ardent community advocate and trailblazer, Beverley Salmon was the first black female municipal Councillor in Toronto. She chaired the National Action Committee on Race Relations for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Metro's Anti-Racism Access and Equity Committee. As a founding chair of the Toronto Board of Education's Black Liaison Committee, she tirelessly advocated for an inclusive curriculum and anti-racism training for teachers. She was also one of the founders of Caribana. Before venturing into municipal politics, Beverley worked as a public health nurse.

Her extensive contributions earned her numerous accolades, including the Afroglobal Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement, an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Ryerson University, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She is a recipient of the prestigious Order of Ontario as well as the order of Canada. Beverley and her family established the Dr. J. Douglas Salmon Award for Black Medical Students at the University of Toronto in honour of her late husband, Dr. John Douglas Salmon, Canada's first Chief of Surgery at a large Canadian Hospital. Until her passing on July 6, 2023, Beverley remained a steadfast advocate for the marginalized, a tireless champion for diversity, and an enduring symbol of inspiration.