In May 2025, BC Black History Awareness Society and REP HERE in CANADA embarked on an ambitious partnership to create a new kind of community space in downtown Victoria.
Located at the prominent corner of Douglas and Johnson Streets, in Victoria, BC; the Black & Here Community Centre was developed in response to a long-standing need for accessible, welcoming, and culturally relevant gathering spaces for Black communities, newcomers and other equity-deserving groups. More than a physical space, the Centre represents a shared commitment to belonging, creativity, community connection, and civic participation.
Designed as a flexible, multi-purpose hub, the Centre will host arts and cultural programming, creative workshops, exhibitions, performances, community conversations, training opportunities, storytelling initiatives, and special events. It will also serve as a home for collaborative projects that bring people together across cultures, generations, and lived experiences.
The Centre reflects a simple but powerful belief: when people have opportunities to gather, create, learn, and share their stories, stronger and more connected communities emerge.
As the first initiative of its kind in the region, the Black & Here Community Centre aims to be both a community gathering place and a catalyst for new ideas, partnerships, and possibilities. Together with our partners, supporters, artists, volunteers, and community members, we are building a space where people feel welcome, represented, and inspired to participate fully in community life.
The Black & Here Community Centre will open its doors to the public at 1327 Douglas St. in August 2026. Everyone is welcome.
Learn more at blackandherecentre.ca
AND …
The Community Centre’s address is 1327 Douglas Street, Victoria. Did you know it was Sir James Douglas who, in 1858, sent an invitation to the Black Community in San Francisco to come to Vancouver’s Island – and Douglas Street was named for him?
Why They Came and the Pioneer Committee
Sir James Douglas