Black History Month 2023 – BC Black History Awareness Society

For close to 30 years BC Black History Awareness Society has hosted a Black History Month program to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of historical and contemporary people of African descent. This year we have 6 public events!

We also want to thank and acknowledge our partners in bringing this program to you. Arts on View Society, Belfry Theatre, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – BC Office, Global TV (media), HERE Magazine (social media), Old Cemeteries Society, RBC Royal Bank, Royal BC Museum, Saanich Pioneers Society.

: camera angle is upward, gala setting with lighted suspended globes, upper torso of guests shown with glasses raised — **BHM LAUNCH AND RECEPTION** Wednesday, Feb 1st 6-8PM, Da Vinci Centre. 19+for general public. Click for details and to book a spot. Suggested donation is $20.00/person

table with numerous books, magazines, brochures, free-standing poster at back with images, maps, text — “*In 1858, nearly 800 free Blacks left the oppressive racial conditions of San Francisco for a new life on Vancouver Island*” **BLACK HISTORY AND HERITAGE DAY**, Feb 11th 1:00-4:00 PM at Royal BC Museum, Newcombe Auditorium Hall. Free!

Shady Creek Church in Central Saanich — **BLACK HISTORY MONTH CHURCH SERVICE,** Sunday Feb 12th. Service starts at 10:15 am.
Central Saanich United Church, 7180 East Saanich Road
Church offering

Out of the Sun: On Black History and Storytelling with award-winning Canadian author, ESI EDUGYAN.
Thursday, Feb 16th 5:00-7:00 pm PT. Livestream and in-person at Hermann’s Upstairs, 751 View Street, Victoria.
In-person: Suggested donation $25.00 regular/$15.00 for students, BCBHAS, and CCPA Members. Online: Please donate as you wish.

“Out of the Sun illuminates myriad varieties of Black experience in global culture and history.” Find out more and purchase tickets

Group of about 50 people, women, men and youth, wearing coats/hats gathered around gravesites at Ross Bay Cemetery, speaker stands in front of one of the grave markers, grass underfoot, trees in background

Join us for the ROSS BAY CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR Sunday, February 26th, 2:00-3:00 pm. Rain or sunshine. $5.00/ $2.00 for OCS and BCBHAS members. This is a guided tour of a few of pioneer r graves and others who were influential in the migration of Blacks to this British Colony. The tour hosts are James Gatsi, BC Black History Awareness Society member and John Adams, Old Cemeteries Society member and owner-operator of “Discover the Past Walking Tours”, Victoria.

CELEBRATE THE POWER AND JOY OF MUSIC AT THE BELFRY
Monday, February 27th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm.
Suggested donation is $10.00/person at the door.
The concert will also be livestream.

black man sitting on weathered bench looking directly at the camera, bent slightly forward, shrubbery in the background, foreground is saxophone on its side resting on low weathered table

Two exciting performances
NOEDY HD QUARTET and SADÉ AWELE Accompanied by SERENGETI

TICKETS AND DETAILS HERE

black women, face uplifted angled away from the camera, left arm bent with hand at side of head, wearing lime-green blouse-like halter top and white and dark patterned hip-hugger pants, at beach with buildings in the far background

BC Black History Awareness Society and Black History Month 2023 is supported in part by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia

Image/Photograph Credits for BCBHAS BHM 2023:
Launch and Reception: Caio, Pexels
© BC Black History Awareness Society – Heritage Display, Shady Creek Church, Ross Bay Cemetery
© Esi Edugyan, photo credit Tamara Poppitt, book cover – Lyceum Agency
© Noedy Hecchevarria Duharte
© Sadé Awele©

Read about the The History of Black History Month