Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. The theme for 2022 is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day. Black History Month is in appreciation of Black culture and arts and there is an emphasis on history, especially local Black history. The month seeks to highlight historical contributions to Canadian society. It’s estimated that between 20,000 and 40,000 black people arrived in Canada during the first half of the nineteenth century. Some consider that the number could be as high as 60,000. Many people came to Canada by their own means, but the Underground Railroad, an informal network of people and places organized to help black people escaping slavery, was an important feature of immigration to Canada in the nineteenth century. Almost 2 million Black Canadians reside in Canada now.
Our feature resource for Canadian Black History Month is Reel Canada, a charitable organization that celebrates Canada through film. Their goals are to inspire audiences, innovate and bring transformative experiences and provide diverse opportunities to participate in cultural dialogue that reflects the diversity of Canadian life.
Follow the links to more information and learning experiences for Canadian Black History Month
These videos are just a glimpse into Canadian Black History.
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Learning together on the ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Nation.
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