Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent announcement that Canada will modernize the Senate appointment process comes at an important moment. A new Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments is being established, and five Senate vacancies are expected before the end of 2026. As Canada rethinks who should help shape one of its most important public institutions, it also has an opportunity to broaden how representation is understood in an increasingly diverse society.That raises a broader question: when public institutions talk about Black representation, how precisely are they measuring it?Diverse, fast-growing Black populationCanada’s Black population is growing rapidly and becoming increasingly diverse. In 2016, close to 1.2 million people in Canada identified as Black. By 2021, that number had grown to about 1.5 million. Nearly half of Black Canadians are immigrants, and Statistics Canada identifies Black populations as among the fastest-growing in the country. Yet public discussions and diversity reporting often treat Black Canadians as though they are a single, uniform community.In reality, Black Canada includes African immigrants, Caribbean Canadians, African Nova Scotians, Haitian Canadians and many other communities with distinct histories, migration experiences and policy priorities. Some communities have been in Canada for centuries, while others have arrived more recently through immigration. Their relationships with Canadian institutions, labour markets and public policy are therefore not always the same.Recognizing this diversity does not weaken Canada’s commitment to equity. It strengthens it.Meaningful progressPolitical scientists distinguish between _descriptive representation,_ meaning who occupies positions of leadership, and _substantive representation_, meaning whose experiences and interests shape public decision-making. A public institution may appear representative because it includes Black leaders while still overlooking important differences within Black communities.Recent Senate appointments illustrate why this distinction matters. Sen. Paulette Senior brings the perspective of a Jamaican Canadian leader with decades of experience advancing gender equity and community development. Sen. Suze Youance, born in Haiti and now a Canadian, brings the experience of a Haitian Canadian professional and community advocate. Sen. Tony Ince has long been recognized for his leadership within African Nova Scotian communities. Together, these appointments demonstrate that Black representation is itself diverse, reflecting different migration histories, regional experiences and community priorities rather than a single Black perspective.These appointments also represent meaningful progress. They illustrate why simply counting the number of Black leaders no longer tells the whole story. As Canada’s Black population becomes more diverse, our understanding of representation should evolve as well.Vastly different experiencesIn my research on Nigerian-trained health professionals in Canada, I found that Black immigrants often experience Canadian institutions through the combined effects of race, immigration policy, professional regulation and labour market barriers. Credential recognition, licensing requirements and the recognition of international education continue to shape opportunities long after people arrive in Canada. Read more: Broken immigration promises are based on false narratives My findings suggest that understanding representation requires paying attention not only to race, but also to migration history and the different ways Black communities encounter Canadian institutions.A Black immigrant who arrived in Canada five years ago, a sixth-generation African Nova Scotian and a Jamaican Canadian whose grandparents arrived in the 1960s may all experience anti-Black racism. But they may also have very different relationships with immigration policy, education systems, professional licensing, employment, housing and public institutions. Complexity of Black lifeThose differences shape how communities engage with government and how they experience public policy.Recognizing these differences does not divide Black communities. It acknowledges that broad racial categories cannot fully capture the complexity of Black life in Canada.The implications extend well beyond the Senate. Governments, universities, corporations and public agencies increasingly rely on diversity metrics to measure progress toward equity. Counting the number of Black people in leadership positions is an important first step. But it should not be the final measure of success.More detailed and separate data on the wide array of Black communities in Canada, more nuanced reporting and broader engagement with different Black communities would help institutions understand which communities have access to leadership opportunities, which remain under-represented and which perspectives may be missing from decision-making.Canada’s commitment to equity has never been simply about filling seats. It has been about ensuring that public institutions benefit from a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives.As Canada modernizes how senators are selected, it also has an opportunity to broaden its understanding of representation. That means asking not only whether Black Canadians are represented, but also whether the diversity of Black Canada is reflected in the voices helping shape the country’s future.Sheri Adekola does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.