Speaker Series
Check our Events page for details about our next speaker.
VISION
True Black Strong and Free – Becoming Black in Canada
Annie Djoitsa
Annie Djiotsa was born in Cameroon. She has been living in Canada for over 25 years. She has been working 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.
Previous Speakers
Janie Cooper-Wilson
September 23, 2012
African-Canadian History
Janie Cooper-Wilson, artist, author and speaker on African-Canadian history. She has been featured in made-for-television documentaries such as Bloodlines: Famous Last Words and Raise the Spirit; written two full-length historical publications; and is a regular contributor to the Northern Terminus African-Canadian Journal.
Merna Forster
October 20, 2013
Notable Black Women in Canadian History
In celebration of Women's History Month in Canada, local historian and writer Merna Forster spoke about notable Black women in Canadian history. She shared stories and images of some of the Black women featured in her books, from the first female police officer in North America to the first woman to found, publish and edit a newspaper in Canada.
Dr. Michael Vaughn
October 19, 2014
The History of Jamaica and its Relationship with Canada
Dr. Michael Vaughan, the Honorary Consul of Jamaica gave an informative and entertaining presentation about the History of Jamaica and its long relationship with Canada. The presentation included information about a number of Jamaica's most prominent citizens, past and present, including Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and Usain Bolt.
Paul Winn
October 18, 2015
The Black Presence in Canada
Paul Winn's career experience includes Lawyer, Staff Liaison with the Multiculturalism Committee in the BC Law Society and Senior Staff at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation; at the Multiculturalism Secretariat; at the Affirmative Action for Visible Minorities Services; at the National Literacy Secretariat; and the Anti-Discrimination Directorate. He wrote and hosted "The Canadians" a weekly television program which looked at the various multicultural communities that make up Canadian society. The focus of the show was to emphasize the similarities shared by all Canadians regardless of background or ethnicity. Paul has won a variety of awards and certificates of appreciation for his work on race relations. He talked about Black individuals, groups, and organizations across Canada; historical perspectives and concerns for the present.
Officers Davindar Dalep and Alex Omoding
October 15, 2017
The Perspectives and Experiences of 2 Visible Minority Police Officers
These police officers from Oak Bay Police Department have combined experience of more than 25 years; with experience in various departments within the police force such as School Resource Officer, Community Liaison Officer and Homicide investigations as well as the RCMP. Both officers attend the Greater Victoria Diversity Committee as Oak Bay departmental representatives.
Bart Armstrong
November 18, 2012
Blacks in the Canadian Military
Bart Armstrong, Military Research Specialist. He served in 3 different regiments of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves; after 17 years of service he retired as a Master Warrant Officer. His presentation, in honour of Remembrance Day, focuses on Blacks in the Military in Canada.
Annie Djoitsa
June 24, 2018
True Black Strong and Free – Becoming Black in Canada
Annie Djiotsa was born in Cameroon. She has been living in Canada for over 25 years. She has been working 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.
Moussa Magassa
June 16, 2013
Blacks Today – History in the Making
Moussa Magassa, Human Rights Education Advisor from the University of Victoria.
Silvia Mangue
June 12, 2016
Workshop: Cultural Competency for Volunteers
Sylvia Mangue holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a major in Human Resources and a postgraduate diploma in Intercultural Education. BCBHAS Director and elected as President of the Society in 2017. This workshop focuses on the management of social interactions with diverse people in everyday life. As a human resources specialist, Sylvia seeks to create models of diversity in the area of human resources that can be used by organizations seeking a more just and equitable workplace.
Crawford Kilian
February 5, 2011
"Go Do Some Great Thing"
Crawford Kilian, author of the book "Go Do Some Great Thing – The Black Pioneers of British Columbia". Kilian shares his experiences in writing the 1st edition, published in 1978 and what compelled him to publish the 2nd edition in 2008.
John Adams
February 2, 2013
Victoria's Black Pioneers in the 1860's and Sir James Douglas
John Adams is an historian, author, founder, and owner-operator of Discover the Past, a history company in Victoria BC that specializes in research, writing, presentations and walking tours. For 17 years, until his retirement in 2004, John was the regional manager for southwestern British Columbia and Vancouver Island for the Heritage Branch, responsible for the overall management of thirteen historic sites. He holds a Masters of Museology, University of Toronto. As a member of the Old Cemeteries Society, John co-leads the BC Black History Ross Bay Cemetery Tour every February. John has a natural style that is lively and humorous which makes his presentations a memorable experience.
Michael Regis
February 18, 2018
Greater Victoria Police and Local Ethno-cultures
Michael Regis shared his graduate work on local police and local ethno-cultures of African-Caribbean, Indigenous, Muslim and Chinese. Michael holds a Masters in Dispute Resolution, University of Victoria. His research with the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC) and Victoria ethno-cultural communities is engaging and thought-provoking. Key points covered the negative and positive experiences and perceptions with the police and community concerns, vulnerabilities and recommendations for the Greater Victoria Police in trust-building best practices. The report "Policing in Greater Victoria: A Study in Addressing the Gaps in Engaging Greater Victoria's Diverse Communities (2017)" can be found on the GVPDAC website.
Sgt. Craig Smith
February 16, 2014
"You Had Better Be White by Six A.M."
Sgt. Craig Smith, RCMP Officer from Nova Scotia, who has been a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) since 1997. However, he is best known as an author and for his activities on behalf of youth and Black history.
Dr. John Lutz
February 15, 2015
The Mystery of Grafton Tyler Brown: Race, Art and Landscape in 19th Century British Columbia
Dr. John Lutz is Chair, History Department, University of Victoria; writer and art historian. Grafton Tyler Brown was a cartographer, lithographer, and painter and is considered the first professional Black artist, working and living at the time largely in the Pacific North West as well as British Columbia and California. Dr. Lutz talked about the life of Brown here and in the United States and presented examples of his work.
Handel Kashope Wright
February 13, 2016
Did you say "Black" British Columbia? The Politics of Absent Presence between the Black Pioneers and Present Day African Refugees
Handel Kashope Wright, Professor and Director of the Centre for Culture, Identity and Education, University of British Columbia. Wright addresses the purpose and effects of erasing a substantial part of Black history. He also names the projects that document Twentieth Century Black BC. There is an urgent need to strongly assert that Black Lives Matter, in historical, contemporary, geographical and political terms, despite constituting a small percentage of the BC population.
Michelle Jacques
April 27, 2014
Building Bridges Through Art
Michelle Jacques, Chief Curator of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria presented details about her projects in Toronto and her plans for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
William Goldiet
April 21, 2013
"Growing Up in the South Sudan"
William Goldiet, President of the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI), shares his story from growing up in South Sudan, to becoming a refugee and coming to Canada.
Beth Cruise
April 17, 2016
Climate Change, Racism. What's the Connection?
Beth Cruise, MA at the University of Alberta, Founder and Executive Director of the Canadian Earth Institute, a certified Teacher, and a Journal Editor for the international organization Sustaining All Life (SAL), BCBHAS Director and Treasurer. She presented details about her trip to the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris as a delegate with the non-profit organization 'Sustaining All Life'. This organization, to which Beth has been a member for 20 years, presented thirty-two workshops, forums, listening projects and caucuses there. She talked about the people and the work of 'Sustaining All Life', perspectives and tools on eliminating racism and racism's connection to climate change.