BC Black History Timeline
Junie’s debut book of poetry Eat Salt | Gaze at the Ocean (Talon Books, 2020) was short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Her second collection allostatic load (Talon Books) came out in April 2025. Junie is a mentor for poets at SFU’s Writers’ Studio and also teaches in SFU’s Leadership Essentials Certificate program. Junie is in conversation with author WADE COMPTON. Compton expertly guided the conversation delving into Junie’s recent work and what inspires Junie’s writing and her books. Watch the video of this event, provided by REP-HERE in Canada, videographer Tracy Guinchard More about Désil and Compton … JUNIE DÉSIL is of Haitian ancestry, born of immigrant parents on the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka on the island known as Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), and raised in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg). Junie has performed at various literary events and festivals. Her work has appeared in Room Magazine, PRISM International, The Capilano Review and CV2. A UBC alumnus, a participant in Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio, and current UVIC MFA student. Author and BCBHAS Keynote Speaker in 2024, WAYDE COMPTON hosted the evening. Wayde co-founded the Hogan’s Alley Society and Commodore Books, Western Canada’s first Black Canadian literary press. Wayde has published six books and has edited two literary anthologies.
An enraptured audience met and chatted with Barbadian-Canadian writer and author Jasmine Sealy. “The Island of Forgetting”, published in 2022 has received best book awards and won the 2023 Amazon Canada First Novel Award, and more. Caleb Hart released an album “Emancipation” in October 2024. He has been a much-loved performer at our events with his blend of gospel, soul, pop, rock, calypso, soca and reggae. Hosted by BCBHAS Member, Madison Bridal This BCBHAS Event was supported by the Government of Canada, Province of BC, and Pacific Opera Victoria (POV). Watch the videos of this event, provided by REP-HERE in Canada, videographer Tracy Guinchard. Highlights (49:43) Full length (1:09:04)
THE FUNCTION FESTIVAL took place at Ship Point, Victoria. All ages were welcomed. THE FUNCTION is one of the NEWEST festivals in downtown Victoria and made its debut in a big way! Featuring one main stage, BIPOC artists, vendor village, food trucks, live art, kids' zone & a barbershop! Yeah, that’s right – you could even get a haircut there. The event sponsors were BC Black History Awareness Society in partnership with City of Victoria, CreativeBC, City of Vancouver, CFAX1070, PHILLIPS Brewing and Malting, Virgin Radio 107.3, and Media Sponsor CTV
A Canada Multiculturalism Day Celebration We partnered with some of Victoria’s most dynamic cultural groups for this FREE event with FREE Entertainment and FREE food for Family fun! The event took place at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria and featured cultural cuisine and performances representing Africa, the Caribbean, China, Cuba, India, The Philippines, and South America.
“Black History Here, Now, Then, Always: A Conversation across Exhibitions” was a webinar hosted by Royal BC Museum and Archives bringing together the exhibition curators in a moderated conversation exploring intersections across these two powerful and important exhibitions that daylight Black History and Black Belonging in BC and beyond. The curators also talked about their experiences as curators of Black History generally, working in/with organizations that are generally white-centered and the challenges in working with archival records. Panelists: Joshua Robertson, Hope Meets Action; Nya Lewis, Sankofa; Nuno Porto, Sankofa; Titilope Salami, Sankofa; Moderator: Rachael Otukol, BC Black History Awareness Society “Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum” was open at the Royal BC Museum from August 14, 2021 to April 14, 2022 “…despite consistent efforts, our on-going story in these lands has yet to be heard when told by us. As stolen people on stolen land, our history is neither simple nor stagnant. In the face of racial discrimination... this exhibit daylights the living and on-going history of Black belonging in what is referred to as ‘British Colombia’.” Sankofa: African Routes, Canadian Roots” was open at the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia from November 4, 2021 – March 27, 2022. “... draws connections to historical contributions and the growing vitality of Black Canadians in Vancouver; the exhibit celebrates different ways of understanding the world through the lenses of African and Black communities, the wealth of their cultural and art practices, and their inspiring legacy. Watch the webinar
Vibes & Verses stimulated your senses through the flow of jazz, the movements of afro-beats, the bounce of reggae, and the sways of R&B and calypso. Your journey continued through powerful spoken word performances and the art of some of B.C.’s most talented painters and photographers; held at the spectacular Victoria International Marina. The evening ended with a 1 hour Sip N’ Paint for VIP ticket holders. Artists and Performers included *Valerie Mason-John aka Queenie *Yoro Noukoussi & Waaba Music, *Obed Psych *Dayo Fagbulu *Adelene da Soul Poet * Virline Leston *Noedy HD Trio *Sadé Awele with the Headliner CALEB HART . In love with a wide variety of music: Gospel, Soul, Pop, Rock, Calypso, Soca and more than anything Reggae, he has been taking his music across Canada, The Caribbean, Australia, USA and New Zealand since 2012, racking up over 800 shows releasing 5 records, 9 singles, and winning prestigious awards from Edmonton Folk Fest, the Western Canadian Music Awards and more.
Between February 2020 and March 2022, the African Ancestry Project, led by Alice Muthoni Mũrage in partnership with BC Black History Awareness Society, conducted research through a survey, interviews, and focus group discussions. The history, data and stories of over 160 participants from BC were woven together and made part of a comprehensive and inclusive report on the vast diversity of people of African ancestry in the province. The report was released on March 5, 2022. The Project’s work continued with a Youth Dialogue, a series of three virtual youth dialogues engaging 40 young people between ages 15 and 19. The final phase will produce three videos documenting the youth dialogue. Download the report
This event was the launch of the report "Worlds Within: Diverse Histories, Identities, and Experiences of Black People of African Ancestry in British Columbia". The report is the output of the African Ancestry Survey Project, highlighting the diversity of Black people in BC. It shares our stories in our own voice by centering stories of over 160 project participants. “We hope this resource will inspire dialogue around emergent themes and issues including multiculturalism and anti-racism and contribute towards positive social change. The report will be a resource for everyone in British Columbia, and particularly Black communities and those engaged in work around multiculturalism and racial equity. Understanding and acknowledging the diversity of the Black communities is an important step towards building authentic connections. The report will also form part of our historical records.” Alice Mũrage, project lead and author The report is based on surveys, community engagement and reviews that allowed for a quantitative data collection that gave context to the stories that were shared through the interviews and focus group discussions. More about this project and access the report
BCBHAS partnered with Vancouver Mural Fest (VMF) Winter Arts Fest to bring you “Dynamic Diasporas“. In the fall of 2021, Creative Doaa Magdy began doing collaborative research and project development with BCBHAS to source archival images as part of the artwork on display for Winter Arts Festival. "I am a Nubian Afro-Indigenous interdisciplinary artist living on the unceded stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.” Doaa works in documentary filmmaking, dance, and photography. Watch the live dance performance that took place on February 27th. Dancers personify 4 Black pioneers, highlighting their stories through visual storytelling while emphasizing Black joy.
This conversation will explore themes of economics, democracy, racial justice and Black identity. Dr. West is a professor at Union Theological Seminary and holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He has also taught at Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris. Of the 20 books he has authored, Dr. West is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. He has also made frequent appearances on the Bill Maher Show, CNN, C-Span and Democracy Now. This event is co-sponsored by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) – BC Office. Watch now
Dr. June Francis, PhD, MBA, LLB, Director, Institute for Diaspora Research & Engagement at SFU. Dr. Francis will address, discuss, and answer questions on the “History of anti-Black Racism in Canadian Schools and Universities – the significance of the Scarborough Charter for addressing anti-Black racism in Canadian institutions of higher education.” This talk will explore the ways in which the history of Canadian educational institutions have contributed to persistent and contemporary anti-black racism in the educational system. Watch now Dr. Francis' extensive experience spans the private sector, public sector national, regional and local organizations, as an entrepreneur with civil society on governance boards and as an academic including Co-Founder of The Co-Laboratorio (Colab Advantage Ltd.), Special Advisor to the President of Simon Fraser University on Anti-Racism, Director of the Institute for Diaspora Research and Engagement , Cofounder of the Black Caucus at SFU and an Associate Professor in the Beedie School of Business, Chair of The Hogan’s Alley Society’s Board of Director. Awards and recognition includes: Province of BC, National Congress of Black Women, City of Vancouver, recipient of the 2021 Rosemary Brown Award, and Service Award from the Beedie School of Business.
This two-day Graffiti Workshop, on August 16 and 17, 2021 brought together BIPOC professional artists and youth from around Lekwungen Territory. The event was free; the goal for youth to learn basic graffiti techniques and the history of graffiti in Hip-Hop. Their work was then featured in the Esquimalt Community Art Hub (ECAH), 901 Esquimalt Rd. Find out more about our Youth Engagement Project
BC Black History Awareness Society in partnership with the Royal BC Museum opened, opened Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum on August 14, 2021. The exhibit presented the story of Afro-diasporic ‘British Columbia’ history, past, present and future. Written, told and designed by Black voices, this exhibition reclaims and retells the complicated history of stolen people on stolen land, and how the contributions of Black leaders echo across the centuries into the present; a history that has long been whitewashed in the annals of colonial history. The exhibition was open at RBCM until March 31, 2022. It is now featured in the RBCM Learning Portal. About the project
The sensational Cuban pianist Pablo Cárdenas brings his top trio and reproduces many of Oscar’s most famous and beloved performances. On the line up Rob Johnson on bass, Cyril Lojda on drums. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson released over 200 recordings, won eight Grammy Awards, and received numerous other awards and honours. He is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time and continues to inspire and challenge new generations of jazz musicians.
Learn the rich history of the 5 Elements of Hip Hop; Knowledge, Djing/Lyricism, Breakdancing/African dance, and Graffiti with special guest speaker, Ernie Paniccioli, legendary Hip Hop photographer and member of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. Ernie has nearly 20,000 photographs at Cornell University Library’s Hip Hop archives. Ernie is joined by Shane Book, Canadian poet and filmmaker and Associate Professor of Writing at UVIC. Watch Image © Ernie Paniccioli, all rights reserved
In 1858, an estimated 800 men, women and children of African descent came to British Columbia. Questions include why they came, what was their impact, why many left, where they traveled and many others. This symposium presents continuing research that reveals informative insights on this period of Black history. Speakers: Dr. Adam Arenson, Professor of History at Manhattan College; Sherry Edmunds-Flett, doctoral candidate in History, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Stacey Smith, Associate Professor of History, Oregon State University. Moderator: Dr. Dana Elizabeth Weiner, Associate Professor of History, Wilfrid Laurier University. Commentator: Dr. John Lutz, Professor of History, University of Victoria Watch
Prof. Handel Kashope Wright, Director of the Centre for Culture, Identity and Education. "Paradoxically, it is no secret that the presence of Black BC is something of a secret. In other words Blackness appears to be so underrepresented in contemporary BC (with black people making up only 1.3% of the population and no discernible black ethnoburbs) that many outside and even within the province may be forgiven for thinking there is no Black BC per se and by extension, perhaps there never was a Black BC." "In this talk I try to address the persistent “absent presence” of Blackness largely in terms of history but also in terms of geography. More specifically, I take up named (and for the most part, somewhat known) historical figures (Mifflin Gibbs, Sylvia Stark and, if we dare colour him Black, Sir James Douglas) and use them to try to explain the strategy (racist erasure) by which Blackness has come to be rendered almost fully absent from the conception of BC and to assert the contemporary presence of a rich diversity (e.g. in terms of gender, sexuality, diaspora) of Blackness that belies and resists that erasure." Watch
Designed and developed by our Society, British Columbia Black Pioneers is a collection of short stories about women, men, families, and partnerships that show the intricacies of the events, experiences, and circumstances of everyday life of the Black pioneers, such as winning prizes at the earliest Saanich Fair in 1875, organizing by women in Victoria to raise money to support Black troops in the American Civil War, and confronting discrimination while still achieving many “firsts” in business, politics, and education. BC Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS) created this online exhibit to share their stories and describe the influence that they and their families had on the province’s historical development and diversity. The exhibit, which officially opened in December 2020, is hosted by Digital Museums Canada. Visit the online exhibit Read about this project Image depicts some of the intrepid pioneers who made Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island their home beginning in 1858. Images courtesy of City of Victoria Archives, Royal BC Museum and Archives, and Salt Spring Island Archives. This collage was compiled by Beth Cruise, ©BC Black History Awareness Society.
A new grave marker for Captain Paris Carter [1820-1890] and his wife Mary [c.1826-1890] was unveiled at the Ross Bay Cemetery and a wreath was laid. Paris Carter, served as Captain of the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps for a time. The restoration and unveiling ceremony was sponsored by the Last Post Fund (LPF). Their mission is to ensure that no Veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial, as well as a military gravestone, due to insufficient funds at the time of death. Image: Ron Nicholson, long-term member and Board Member of BCBHAS, places a wreath at the gravesite for Paris and Mary Carter. © BC Black History Awareness Society
At this event Adelene performed a number of her favorite poems and spent time after the performance with the audience. The event took place in the upstairs lounge at the Bent Mast in James Bay, Victoria About Adelene … She was born in San Francisco and raised in Vancouver, her direct descendants are the first of BC’s black pioneers, who settled on Salt Spring Island and Victoria in the mid-1800s. Her grandmother owned the famous restaurant Vie's Chicken and Steaks, in Hogan’s Alley that was the meeting place for the neighborhood and any number of Black performers coming to Vancouver in the early 1940s to the late 1970s. She started writing poetry at a young age, grew up in the Motown era; that music is a big influence on her style. She says that her mother told her poetry was healing … and we can all use some of that …. ”
Grafton Tyler Brown in his studio at the Occidental Hotel, corner of Wharf and Johnson street, Victoria B.C.,1883. Grafton Tyler Brown is the first professional Black artist in the Pacific North west and in 1883 he was the first artist to hold an art exhibition in Victoria. In March 2018 the Royal BC Museum and Friends of the BC Archives Society purchased one of Brown's paintings "Giant's Castle Mountain: A.L. Fortune's Farm, Enderby BC" dated October 6, 1882. This painting was displayed at the event along with other artifacts (photographs, documents) related to BC Black Pioneers. The BC Black History Awareness Society hosted the event in partnership with the Archives and the Friends of the BC Archives Society. Why June 25th? It was June 25th, 1883 when Brown opened the one week art exhibit. Find out more about Grafton Tyler Brown on this website.
Mifflin Gibbs was designated as a Person of National Historic Significance on April 20, 2009. On February 19, 2017, Canada presented a plaque to that effect to BC Black History Awareness Society and the City of Victoria. It was unveiled at a ceremony on May 4, 2019 at Irving Park where Gibbs’ home was located. Ceremonies continued at the sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay Library Branch, which also houses the “Mifflin Wistar Gibbs Study Room.” Dr. Verna Gibbs, great-great grandniece, attended the ceremonies dedicating the room and the unveiling of the plaque. Mifflin Wistar Gibbs 1823-1915 After helping lead the exodus of 800 Black residents from San Francisco in 1858, Gibbs became the recognized leader of their community on Vancouver Island. He strove to make these newcomers a force in colonial politics and, as a member of Victoria City Council; he became the first Black person to hold elected office in British Columbia. This innovative entrepreneur, who invested in mining and trade, also encouraged the integration of Black settlers and advocated for their rights. Though he returned to the United States in 1870, Gibbs remains a revered historical figure in the province’s African-Canadian community. Image: Shayli Robinson, Photographer; BCBHAS Collection
In 1946 she challenged racial segregation by refusing to leave a whites-only area of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. The award-winning $10.00 bill was unveiled in March 2018 and went into circulation in November 2018. In this same year, Viola Desmond was named a National Historic Person by the Canadian government.
Annie Djiotsa was born in Cameroon. She has been living in Canada for 25 years; and has worked as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly 20 years. Annie shared her story - a story of darkness and light, a story of peace and war; mostly a story of strength, love and hope.
This community room was opened at the newly built Greater Victoria Public Library sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ (James Bay) Branch. Dr. Verna Gibbs, great-great grandniece traveled from San Francisco to attend this event.
Michael Regis is a graduate of Seneca College Liberal Arts Diploma in Humanities, Philosophy, Natural Sciences, York University, Honours Double Major, History, Law and Society, and now holds a M.A. Dispute Resolution. University of Victoria, School of Public Administration. In his spare time Michael has managed a fast-paced manufacturing team environment which involved the management, supervision and development of a 30-person production crew, Environmental Auditor and Consultant for the Toronto District School Board, Media and communications consultant for Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, and has been the Human Rights Education Volunteer Coordinator at the Equity and Human Rights Office, University of Victoria. In completing his Masters, Michael conducted numerous focus groups and interviews with various Greater Victoria ethnic communities including Muslim, Chinese, African, Caribbean, Black and Indigenous Peoples on behalf of the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC). Through this partnership, he provided research-based recommendations to the Committee and the Greater Victoria Police to help them build cultural awareness and trust with the diverse communities of Greater Victoria. Today Michael is going to talk about this research project, the methodology and how his research is being used today. His thesis: "Policing in Greater Victoria: A Study in Addressing the Gaps in Engaging Greater Victoria's Diverse Communities"
Officer Davindar Dalep has been a police officer for 20 years; all of his experience has been with the Oak Bay Police Department. He was a volunteer police reserve constable for 4 years with Oak Bay prior to his full time employment. Some of the sections that he has worked in are: School Resource Officer, Community Liaison Officer and Homicide investigations. Officer Alex Omoding has been a police officer for approximately 8 years. He initially worked with the RCMP and then applied to the Oak Bay Police Department. Alex previously worked in a special unit in plain clothes with police officers from other agencies for approximately 2 years. Alex is currently on general patrol and he is the designated Acting Sergeant in a platoon. Both officers participate in the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee as Oak Bay department representatives. Image: Photographer Beth Cruise, ©BC Black History Awareness Society, all rights reserved
A descendant of the original 1858 BC Black pioneers, “Gentleman Umpire" Doug Hudlin was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Sports Hall of Fame on June 24, 2017. Read more about Doug Image courtesy of Barbara Hudlin. James Douglas “Doug” Hudlin in 1988
Doug Hudlin worked for the City of Victoria, but his love was being on the field as an umpire. He umpired generations of Vancouver Island ball players over four decades and is remembered as the “Gentleman Umpire". The City of Victoria commissioned this plaque. It was unveiled at the National Little League Park on Hillside Ave, Victoria on June 11, 2022. The plaque reads: In 2017, the City of Victoria recognized June 11 as Doug Hudlin Day. Doug was a long serving employee of the City and was chosen as the first non-American umpire — and the only Black non-American umpire — to work the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and did so twice. Doug was inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame, the BC Baseball Umpires Association Hall of Fame, and has been recognized at National Little League Park and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also a Little League Umpire Alumni and a founding member of the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society.
The Society promoted this event put on by the UVIC Office of Community-University Engagement. "A Queer Trial", written by University of Victoria professor Dr. Jennifer Wise, celebrates the sensational trial of an unsung hero of Victoria’s gay history—on the very site where the trial took place, Bastion Square. The play tells the real-life story of John Butt, an openly gay man who in 1860 was acquitted of sodomy charges by two successive juries—the first of which preferred to spend a night in jail themselves sooner than agree on a conviction. One of the jurors in the second trial (that also acquitted Butt) was Peter Lester, one of BC's early pioneers, real estate investor and a business partner of Mifflin Gibbs. “We’re going to be taking this beautiful message of tolerance and humanity right into the heart of the community.” says Wise. “As we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary this year, this play highlights an important part of our history and reminds us about how essential this message of tolerance is in our world today.” Jennifer Wise