Black History Month

Lenya Wilks poses for a photo in Surrey, B.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Wilks says she felt like the “only Black person in Surrey” when she first moved to the city east of Vancouver last year. But the Black population in the region is growing fast and residents who who once might have left in search of community are increasingly staying to forge their own, says Wilks, senior manager of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel

‘You’re not the only one’: Vancouver’s Black population rising fast, census shows

Metro Vancouver has historically had one of the smallest Black populations in the country

 

Deress Asghedom, who has been shortlisted for a $25,000 prize in a national contest for Black entrepreneurs, poses for a photograph at his home in Vancouver on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Funding woes inspire $25,000 pitching competition for Black entrepreneurs

2 finalists are from B.C.

 

In the latest Vital Victoria podcast from the Victoria Foundation, host Lucky Budd welcomes Silvia Mangue Alene, president of the BC Black History Awareness Society, to explore what it means to support equity, diversity and inclusion, and how we can do that here in Greater Victoria. Photo courtesy the Victoria Foundation

Vital Victoria explores equity, diversity + inclusion: what it means, how we can do better

Podcast looks at Black history and fostering diversity and inclusion

  • Feb 20, 2023

 

Vant Hayes, 88, visits a cemetery in Breton, Alta., on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Originally called Keystone, which was established in 1909 by a group of African-American immigrants. The new Black Canadian homesteaders arrived from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, just four years after Alberta became a province in 1905. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘The only Black one left:’ Alberta village remembers its African-American roots

The early 1900s saw an exodus of African Americans to four tiny communities in Alberta

Vant Hayes, 88, visits a cemetery in Breton, Alta., on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Originally called Keystone, which was established in 1909 by a group of African-American immigrants. The new Black Canadian homesteaders arrived from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, just four years after Alberta became a province in 1905. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
File - In 2023, are celebrations such as Black History Month still needed? This writer weighs in. Picture shown is an event promoting Black history month at the The Nanaimo African Heritage Society in lieu of their second annual online gala. (News Bulletin file photo)

HITCHINS: In 2023, yes, Black History Month is still important

Recognizing accomplishments by those of African origin vital to identity

File - In 2023, are celebrations such as Black History Month still needed? This writer weighs in. Picture shown is an event promoting Black history month at the The Nanaimo African Heritage Society in lieu of their second annual online gala. (News Bulletin file photo)
FILE - Georgia Jackson, center, accompanied by the Rev. Cecil Williams, right, of Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, arrive at the Hall of Justice on Aug. 24, 1971, for a court appearance of two surviving Soledad Brothers - John Clutchette and Fleeta Drumgo. Jackson’s son, George Jackson, was killed on Saturday, Aug. 21, 1971, at San Quentin prison. First celebrated in 1979, Black August was originally created to commemorate Jackson’s fight for Black liberation. Fifty one years since his death, Black August is now a month-long awareness campaign and celebration dedicated to Black American freedom fighters, revolutionaries, radicals and political prisoners, both living and deceased. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

VIDEO: Black August uplifted as alternative Black History Month

The month celebrates Black freedom fighters, revolutionaries, radicals and political prisoners

FILE - Georgia Jackson, center, accompanied by the Rev. Cecil Williams, right, of Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, arrive at the Hall of Justice on Aug. 24, 1971, for a court appearance of two surviving Soledad Brothers - John Clutchette and Fleeta Drumgo. Jackson’s son, George Jackson, was killed on Saturday, Aug. 21, 1971, at San Quentin prison. First celebrated in 1979, Black August was originally created to commemorate Jackson’s fight for Black liberation. Fifty one years since his death, Black August is now a month-long awareness campaign and celebration dedicated to Black American freedom fighters, revolutionaries, radicals and political prisoners, both living and deceased. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
A new piece of wall art at the James Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library was unveiled in June to help tell the stories and history of B.C.’s Black pioneers. (Courtesy of B.C. Black History Awareness Society)

New James Bay wall art helps tell story of B.C. Black pioneers

The new artwork connects to a virtual exhibition by the B.C. Black History Awareness Society

A new piece of wall art at the James Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library was unveiled in June to help tell the stories and history of B.C.’s Black pioneers. (Courtesy of B.C. Black History Awareness Society)
Former Victoria resident Stephen Dorsey saw his first book, Black and White, released last month. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Dorsey)

Former Victoria man looks to bridge gaps in understanding of the Black Canadian experience

Stephen Dorsey’s teen years in Victoria helped shape the subject matter of his first book

Former Victoria resident Stephen Dorsey saw his first book, Black and White, released last month. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Dorsey)
Coun. Sharmarke Dubow said he was incredibly humbled to learn about the award via Twitter. (File contributed/ City of Victoria)

Canada declares Victoria councillor a noteworthy historical figure

Coun. Sharmarke Dubow shares the title with likes of Viola Desmond and Harriet Tubman

Coun. Sharmarke Dubow said he was incredibly humbled to learn about the award via Twitter. (File contributed/ City of Victoria)
Pulcherie Mboussi, executive director of Issamba Centre, has lived in Victoria since arriving from Montreal in 2010. (Black Press Media file photo)

Members of B.C.’s African diaspora call for better Black representation

Issamba Centre couches Black History Month discussions around release of provincial racism report

Pulcherie Mboussi, executive director of Issamba Centre, has lived in Victoria since arriving from Montreal in 2010. (Black Press Media file photo)
Pulcherie Mboussi, executive director of Issamba Centre, has lived in Victoria since arriving from Montreal in 2010. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria members of African diaspora call for better Black representation in B.C.

Issamba Centre couches Black History Month discussions around release of provincial racism report

Pulcherie Mboussi, executive director of Issamba Centre, has lived in Victoria since arriving from Montreal in 2010. (Black Press Media file photo)
4,200 people were slaves in what's today Canada between the 17th and 19th centuries, according to historians. (Government of Canada)

B.C. and Canada officially recognize Emancipation Day on Aug. 1

An effort confront history across the country and promote change seen around the world, says gov’t

4,200 people were slaves in what's today Canada between the 17th and 19th centuries, according to historians. (Government of Canada)
Victoria Coun. Sharmarke Dubow faced said the racism he faced after his holiday travels are a reminder that anti-Black racism exists in our community. (Photo by Quinton Gordon)

Victoria councillor faces racism after holiday travel

Sharmarke Dubow’s career focuses on marginalized communities

Victoria Coun. Sharmarke Dubow faced said the racism he faced after his holiday travels are a reminder that anti-Black racism exists in our community. (Photo by Quinton Gordon)
Mifflin Gibbs poses in this undated handout photo. The first Black person elected in British Columbia was an American abolitionist and entrepreneur who won a Victoria city council seat in 1866 and played a role in Canada’s Confederation. (Library of Congress photo)

Mifflin Gibbs: First Black man elected in B.C. won a Victoria council seat in 1866

Mifflin Gibbs was among the early arrivals to Victoria and nearby Salt Spring Island

Mifflin Gibbs poses in this undated handout photo. The first Black person elected in British Columbia was an American abolitionist and entrepreneur who won a Victoria city council seat in 1866 and played a role in Canada’s Confederation. (Library of Congress photo)
Actors Louis Gossett Jr. (centre) and Matthew Modine (right) are shown in a scene from the film “Foster Boy.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Black Film Festival MANDATORY CREDIT

Toronto Black Film Festival founder says 2021 edition is ‘more significant’ than ever

Founder says she’s had film lovers from around the world express interest in buying tickets this year

Actors Louis Gossett Jr. (centre) and Matthew Modine (right) are shown in a scene from the film “Foster Boy.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Black Film Festival MANDATORY CREDIT
Sylvia Okonofua, of the University of Regina’s Stem Cell Club. (YouTube)

Most Black Canadians won’t find a stem cell donor in time; this group is working to change that

Less than 3 per cent of stem cell donors are Black

Sylvia Okonofua, of the University of Regina’s Stem Cell Club. (YouTube)
Barbara Hudlin, left, and aunt Bernice Alexander get together for a photo on Doug Hudlin Day at Jerry Hale Field, the home of National Little League baseball in Victoria. Doug Hudlin, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame umpire, and Bernice were cousins and all three are descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander, two of the first Black pioneers to arrive in Victoria in 1858. (Photo courtesy Barbara Hudlin)

Black family matriarch hopes to pass down stories of Greater Victoria heritage

Sidney’s Bernice Alexander encourages everyone to look into Black history this month

Barbara Hudlin, left, and aunt Bernice Alexander get together for a photo on Doug Hudlin Day at Jerry Hale Field, the home of National Little League baseball in Victoria. Doug Hudlin, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame umpire, and Bernice were cousins and all three are descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander, two of the first Black pioneers to arrive in Victoria in 1858. (Photo courtesy Barbara Hudlin)
A few of the books available on the topic of Black history in Canada.

If you think Black history isn’t Canadian history, think again

‘In a community with a relatively small number of Black residents, it would be easy to let Black History Month pass without pausing’

  • Feb 10, 2021
A few of the books available on the topic of Black history in Canada.
Lola Adeyemi, a Nigerian entrepreneur, poses with a few of her African soup products, which are now sold in Sobeys and other Canadian grocery retailers, in Toronto on Friday, February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

‘I don’t want to be a unicorn’: Black founders struggle to raise venture capital

Quantifying how much less funding Black business owners get is tough because it’s seldom tracked in Canada

Lola Adeyemi, a Nigerian entrepreneur, poses with a few of her African soup products, which are now sold in Sobeys and other Canadian grocery retailers, in Toronto on Friday, February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Lama Mugabo, a board member at the Hogan’s Alley Society, poses for a photograph at the remaining portion of Hogan’s Alley, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The historic black neighbourhood was demolished to make way for the construction of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in the early 1970s. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Reclaiming Hogan’s Alley: Society pitches new life for historic Black Vancouver area

At the height of its vibrancy, the viaduct was an entertainment district attracting the likes of Sammy Davis Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald

Lama Mugabo, a board member at the Hogan’s Alley Society, poses for a photograph at the remaining portion of Hogan’s Alley, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. The historic black neighbourhood was demolished to make way for the construction of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in the early 1970s. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck