Make History with Us!
The Society creates, promotes, supports and develops partnerships
* to implement innovative ways for community connections
* to build an inclusive society free of racism and discord
*to keep the contributions and achievements of people of African descent in the spotlight
Here are some of our continuing and planned programs and projects; and check our Events.
- African Ancestry: Identities and Lived Realities is a research and dialogue project exploring how identity shapes lived realities of Black people of African descent in British Columbia. This project is supported in part with funding from the Government of British Columbia. More
- Black & Rural Project. Honouring Rural Black Voices. Defying the Monolith. This project is an artistic inquiry into the hearts and minds of Black individuals tucked away on the Canadian Countryside. “Now, more than ever is it imperative to liberate “what it means to be black” from the confines of urban settings, and to add nuance to how we answer the question: What matters to black lives?” – Shayna Jones project lead. More
- Black History at the Royal BC Museum is a partnership between the Society, the community and the Museum. 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. Opened August 14, 2021. More
- As of November 2022, this exhibit is now a travelling exhibition. It is currently at: Greater Victoria Public Library, Central Branch, 735 Broughton Street, Victoria. The exhibit can be viewed on the main floor and the second floor. Free!
- As of November 2022, this exhibit is now a travelling exhibition. It is currently at: Greater Victoria Public Library, Central Branch, 735 Broughton Street, Victoria. The exhibit can be viewed on the main floor and the second floor. Free!
- British Columbia’s Black Pioneers: Their Industry and Character Influenced the Vision of Canada is a bilingual exhibit, designed and developed by us. It is hosted by Digital Museums Canada. The exhibit opened in December 2020. Visit the exhibit
- ‘Challenging Racist “British Columbia”: 150 Years and Counting’ is an illustrated booklet, released in February 2021, that ties the histories of racism and resistance to present day anti-racist movements; and dives into the long history of racist policies that have impacted Indigenous, Black and racialized communities in the province over the last 150 years since BC joined Canada. This resource is intended to assist anti-racist educators, teachers, scholars, and policymakers in “piercing the silences that too often have let racism fester in communities, corporations, and governments”. Co-authored by scholars and community activists: Nicholas XEMŦOLTW̱ Claxton, Denise Fong, Fran Morrison (BCBHAS), Christine O’Bonsawin, Maryka Omatsu, John Price, and Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra. Videos – Enhanced Digital Edition-Teachers Corner
- Colourful Business is a capacity-building conference and public exhibition to promote Indigenous, racialized and new immigrant businesses and enterprises. The first expo took place on November 26th, 2022, at the Victoria Conference Centre. We are looking forward to working towards an expo for 2023.
Sponsors: Kulea Culture Society, Songhees Development Corp., BC Black History Awareness Society, Here Magazine and the City of Victoria. Funding is provided by the Victoria Foundation, Vancity Credit Union, the City of Victoria and generous public donations. Colourful Business Website - Youth Engagement Program is intended to address knowledge of history and culture among young people and build anti-racist socially inclusive alliances among diverse sectors, using hip hop, graffiti and other contemporary means. More
- Below are examples of past events.
