RCMP Sgt. Craig Smith, Author/Historian from Halifax, Nova Scotia will speak about his book “You Had Better Be White by Six A.M.”: The African- Canadian Experience in the RCMP.
Since 1999, he has published four books, including The Journey Continues: An Atlantic Canadian Black Experience approved as a resource tool for African-Canadian classes. Smith is also well-known for his activities on behalf of youth. He is a former YMCA Director, Black Hockey & Sports Hall of Fame President and won the Harry Jerome Award in 2012. As the RCMP diversity policing analyst for Nova Scotia, he developed and delivers the African Nova Scotian cultural competency workshops for RCMP members and employees serving in the province.
February 9 2014
Unveiling of Plaque at Dandridge House
In 1861 John and Charlotte Dandridge built a house in a Victoria community now known as Fernwood. They lived there until circa 1871. The event to unveil this plaque was a cooperative effort by the Society and the current owners and restorers Linda and Davyd. They undertook an extensive renovation and it received heritage designation in 2003, and has won both Hallmark Society and Heritage Society of BC awards. Read the story “The House that John Built”
Dandridge House in 2021. This house is one of only a few surviving homes built in the 1860’s.
February 7 2014
Leon Bibb Plays at Government House, Victoria and it’s his 92nd birthday!
BC Black History Awareness Society organized a Leon Bibb Concert at Government House, hosted by the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, and Lieutenant Governor of BC. The event was also a celebration of Bibb’s 92nd Birthday. Bibb was accompanied by his friend and pianist of 30 years, Bill Sample. Sample said “We did this fantastic show. It couldn’t have been better planned. We played in Victoria at Government House, just he and I. It was a huge crowd. We were piped in no less and the Lieutenant- Governor introduced us.”
In celebration of Women’s History Month in Canada, local historian and writer Merna Forster spoke about notable Black women in Canadian History. The presentation included stories and images of some of the Black women featured in her books; e.g. Georgia Ann Robinson, the first Black female police officer in North American and Mary Ann Shadd, the first Black woman to found, publish and edit a newspaper in Canada.
June 16 2013
Blacks Today – History in the Making
“Many changes are happening all over the world. Millions of African-Americans have been changed to believe the power of ‘yes, we can!’ and how it can change history forever — for the first time in US history, a black president is seating in the ‘White House’. From Tunis to Cairo; and from Tripoli to Damascus, change is also sweeping through the traditional Arab world”
Moussa Magassa is the UVic Human Rights Education Advisor. Moussa is also an Adjunct Associate Professor and teaches courses on such topics as: Human Rights and Diversity; Intercultural communication and conflict resolution; Social justice issues in the multicultural society; Immigration and Settlement issues; etc. For this upcoming fall term, Moussa is teaching the course “Beyond Diversity & Human Rights: Creating Spaces for Social Change” which is open to the general public and community members. Moussa is also very involved in the community. He is currently the president of the Francophone Society of Victoria; A director on the board of the Francophone Federation of BC, representing Vancouver Island; and also an advisor on the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Committee.
April 21 2013
Growing Up in the South Sudan
William Goldiet, President of African Heritage of Vancouver Island (AHAVI)
William will share his story from growing up to becoming a refugee and beyond. William is originally from South Sudan. He left Sudan in 1994 to Lebanon where he lived as refugee for more than 15 years. He is now married and blessed with five children and they are expecting new baby this month.
William received formal training in political Science at the Lebanese university. Currently, he is a settlement worker at Inter-Cultural Association of Great Victoria.
He was a founding member and chairperson of the Fellowship of the Sudanese congregations in Lebanon (FSCL) from 2004-2008, an organization founded by four Sudanese churches and Muslim communities to serve and advocate refugees.
At this time William was serving as president of African Heritage of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) since 2009 and was the chairperson of St. Bakhita Anakdiar Peace Foundation.
February 28 2013
Black History Month 2013
February 4 2013
“Go Do Some Great Thing” – the film
Author: Crawford Kilian
Producer: Anthony Brown
February 4, 2013, Film showing at Greater Victoria Public Library – Main Branch, Broughton Street
