
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. We have put together another great month with 6 public events!

Wednesday, Feb 1st
BHM LAUNCH AND RECEPTION
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street, Vic West. Suggested donation $20.00/person. This is a 19+event.
Join BCBHAS President and Board Members. Learn about some of our collective BC Black History, Black History Month 2023 events, and enjoy the music of performer and songwriter Caleb Hart. Catered by “Stir It Up” – authentic Caribbean soul food. Dress: formal. Reserve your spot.

Saturday, Feb 11th
BLACK HISTORY AND HERITAGE DAY 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Royal BC Museum in Clifford Carl Hall. 1-4 pm. Free. Take this opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history. The exhibits include images, artifacts and archival documents. This year, we will have a special exhibit, by Ron Nicholson, to honor the members and descendants of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the all-Black Canadian Battalion that served in World War I.

Sunday, February 12th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CHURCH SERVICE Service starts at 10:15 am. Central Saanich United Church, formerly Shady Creek Church, 7180 East Saanich Road. Church offering.
Tea, coffee, and home-made baked goods are available after the service by donation.

Thursday, February 16th
Out of the Sun: On Black History and Storytelling with Canadian award-winning author ESI EDUGYAN
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm PST Hermann’s Upstairs, 751 View Street, Victoria.
Attend in-person or watch online.
Suggested donation: in-person: $25.00 regular/$15.00 students, BCBHAS, and CCPA members.
Online: Free, please donate as you wish.
Meet bestselling Canadian novelist ESI EDUGYAN, noted for writing “richly imagined and impeccably researched stories that illuminate complicated truths about race and belonging”.
A partnership with BC Black History Awareness Society and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives– BC Office (CCPA-BC) and sponsored in part by Hermann’s Upstairs, Government of Canada, Government of British Columbia, and CRD Arts.
TICKETS

Sunday, February 26th
ROSS BAY CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Rain or sunshine
A guided tour of Black pioneer gravesites and others who were influential in their arrival to BC
$5.00 regular/$2.00 OCS & BCBHAS Members
Monday, February 27th CELEBRATE THE POWER AND JOY OF MUSIC at BELFRY THEATRE
We are honoured to have two esteemed performers celebrate with us and you for Black History Month 2023. Performances by NOEDY HD QUARTET, and SADÉ AWELE with the SERENGETI band.
Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Ave, Victoria
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PST, doors open at 6:30 pm
TICKETS
suggested donation $10.00/person for in-person and livestream.
BCBHAS and our Black History Month program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Province of BC. Our partners in bringing this BHM 2023 program to you are: Arts on View Society, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives- BC Office (CCPA-BC), Belfry Theatre, Global TV (media sponsor) HERE Magazine (Social Media) Old Cemeteries Society, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, Royal BC Museum and Archives, and Saanich Pioneers Society.
Other BCBHAS Black History Month Events and more

*By invitation
Wednesday, February 15th
BC Black History Awareness Society
presents the inaugural Victoria’s Black Entrepreneurs Dinner at the University Club of Victoria at UVIC, with RBC Royal Bank sponsorship.
Nerissa Allen, President and CEO, Black Business Association of BC is the keynote speaker. Learn more
Gule Wamkulu Exhibit: Dancing Indigenous Governance
January 14 – April 8, 2023
UVIC Legacy Art Gallery, 630 Yates Street
SPECIAL OPENING EVENT: SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023 AT 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST
This is a Gule Wamkulu ceremony to honour Ubuntu and Indigenous Elders. Please bring loonies and toonies to offer as tokens of gratitude for the knowledge and teachings of the Gule Wamkulu mask carriers.
This immersive exhibition features photographs, films, and objects that celebrate how we, as diverse African Canadians, build community while being relationally respectful of all Coast Salish expressions of sovereignty.
February 11th : Second Dialogue Session for African Ancestry Project Youth Dialogue Series
Ongoing: “Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum”
is now a travelling exhibition

Missed an event? Check our Event Archive Information Page and our History of Events including access to the 2021, 2022 Black History Month guest speaker videos.