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“History of anti-Black Racism in Canadian Schools and Universities” with Dr. June Francis. Saturday, Feb 5th 1:30 – 3:00 pm PT Livestream
Dr. June Francis, Director, Institute for Diaspora Research & Engagement at SFU and a Director of Hogan’s Alley Society. Dr. Francis will address, discuss, and answer questions on the “History of anti-Black Racism in Canadian Schools and Universities – the significance of the Scarborough Charter for addressing anti-Black racism in Canadian institutions of higher education.”
This talk will explore the ways in which the history of Canadian educational institutions have contributed to persistent and contemporary anti-black racism in the educational system.
Dr. June Francis PhD, MBA, LLB, is Co-Founder of The Co-Laboratorio (Colab Advantage Ltd.), Special Advisor to the President of Simon Fraser University on Anti-Racism, Director of the Institute for Diaspora Research and Engagement , Cofounder of the Black Caucus at SFU and an Associate Professor in the Beedie School of Business. As Chair of The Hogan’s Alley Society’s Board of Director, she also leads an organization whose mission is to advance the economic and cultural well-being of people of African Descent through the delivery of housing, built spaces and programming. She is an advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion for racialized groups as well as human rights through her research, consulting, the media and as a volunteer. June Francis’ extensive experience spans the private sector, public sector national, regional and local, as an entrepreneur with civil society on governance boards and as an academic.
June has been recognized by the Province of British Columbia and the National Congress of Black Women as a Trailblazer. The City of Vancouver also recognized her for her contributions to education and to the City, and she is also the recipient of the 2021 Rosemary Brown Award for her exemplary work to bring equality for girls and women both nationally and intentionally and received the Service Award from the Beedie School of Business for her contributions to the community among other accolades.
Register in advance for this free webinar
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Black History and Heritage Day
Saturday, Feb 12th 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in person. Free!
This year we are hosting Black History and Heritage Day at the Royal BC Museum. The exhibits include images, artifacts, and archival documents, and will take place around the “Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum” exhibition located in Clifford Carl Hall. This event is an opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history.
Your health and safety are important to us. We think our strategy to have the exhibits open from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm will be of benefit. The estimated time to see all the exhibits is about 60 minutes; so you can plan to arrive anytime between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm and not miss a thing. Please be mindful of others and practice physical distancing during your visit. Royal BC Museum COVID19 protocols.
Exhibitors
Underground Railroad with Ron Nicholson who is a twenty-year member of BC Black History Awareness Society and a fourth generation Canadian, whose great-grandfather was an actual traveler of the Underground Railroad. His display is a visual presentation featuring Harriet Tubman, a famous conductor of the UGRR, and other members of the Vigilance Committee who helped the fugitive slaves, along the many escape routes to freedom in the northern states and eventually into Upper Canada.
The Alexander Family and Saanich Pioneers Society– Karen Hoshal and Barbra Hudlin are direct descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander who were part of the 1858 migration of the Black Pioneers to B.C. from San Francisco. The Alexander’s settled in Saanich and were instrumental in building and establishing the Black Community, the Shady Creek Church and schools. The display includes photographs, archival materials and the actual dress made for Nancy in 1909 for their 60th wedding anniversary. Karen and Barbra will be joined by a member from the Saanich Pioneers Society, an archives and museum which houses collections from pioneer families, both textual and in artifact form.
Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria is dedicated to researching, preserving and encouraging the appreciation of Victoria’s heritage cemeteries. OCS members are involved in many volunteer activities which includes cataloging, cleaning and restoring monuments, computerizing burial records, combating vandalism, conducting historical research and giving walking history tours… and for more than a decade, Old Cemeteries Society has conducted a tour of some of the Black Pioneer grave sites at Ross Bay Cemetery; their display at this Heritage Day event will highlight information about some of these pioneers; the tour will take place on February 27th.
** Live music throughout the event with NOEDY HD Trio.
A conversation with Dr. Cornel West “Being a Hope Amid Crisis” Wednesday, Feb 16th 5:00 to 6:00 pm PT Livestream
This conversation will explore themes of economics, democracy, racial justice and Black identity. Dr. West is a professor at Union Theological Seminary and holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He has also taught at Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris.
Of the 20 books he has authored, Dr. West is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. He has also made frequent appearances on the Bill Maher Show, CNN, C-Span and Democracy Now. This event is co-sponsored by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) – BC Office
REGISTER NOW
Registrants will receive a link when they register and a reminder prior to the event.
Celebrate the power and joy of music with DAWN PEMBERTON and LOUISE ROSE
Monday, Feb 21st 7:00 to 8:00 pm PT at the Belfry Theatre
Vibrant, genuine and soulful, Dawn Pemberton has deep musical roots that take her powerful voice from gospel and soul to jazz, funk and world music. She has become a staple of the Vancouver music scene and can often be found tearin’ it up as a vocalist, teacher, facilitator, choir director and “go to girl” for live performances and studio sessions. A passionate songwriter and performer Dawn crafts her music with a sense of adventure, quirkiness, and serious groove and shapes it into her own unique and dynamic package. Tight, expressive and bold, Dawn will hit you where it counts, funk you up and make you say “Go ‘head!”
Louise Rose has been called a living Canadian treasure. She studied classical voice in Pennsylvania with John Duddy and Todd Duncan; pipe organ with Catharine Brooke Morgan; piano with Oscar Peterson; conducting with Leonard Bernstein and arranging with Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. Some of her independent studies have been with Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald and B.B. King. She has served as artist/mentor in residence at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA and at The Frank DeMiero and Soundsation Vocal Jazz Camps. Louise is a sought after vocal jazz ensemble clinician. She has played and sung with symphony orchestras in Canada and the United States, appeared in night clubs, operas, theatrical productions, touring shows and on cruise ships all over the world. She served as host of Vision Televisions long-time national show “Let’s Sing Again”. She is an accomplished choral conductor, accompanist and private voice teacher. Louise brings a wealth of experience and grace to all she does. And she loves teaching.
Tickets
IN PERSON: There are no advance sales for in-person tickets. Admission-by-donation at the door. Suggested minimum donation is $10.00/person. Masks and proof of vaccination with matching government-issued photo ID will be required. Be sure to review the
Belfry Theatre COVID-19 protocols
LIVESTREAM: The Belfry Theatre has kindly enabled Pay-What-You-Can ticket sales for the Livestream broadcast for anyone who wants to watch from home. The suggested minimum is $10.00/person. Tickets for the livestream will be available in advance, either by calling the box office (250-385-6815) or by using this LIVESTREAM Registration link
Note: Anyone who books a ticket for the livestream will be sent an email on the day of the event with a link to watch online.
“Dynamic Diasporas” Vancouver Mural Fest: Winter Arts Fest
Feb 25th – 27th; all day, in person downtown Vancouver and online
BCBHAS has partnered with VMF Winter Arts Fest to bring you “Dynamic Diasporas”. In the fall of 2021, Creative Doaa Magdy began doing collaborative research and project development with BCBHAS. Archival images will be utilized as part of the Augmented Reality artwork on display for Winter Arts Festival. “DYNAMIC DIASPORAS” highlights BC Black history through visual storytelling.
“I am a Nubian Afro-Indigenous interdisciplinary artist living on the unceded stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.”
Doaa works in documentary filmmaking, dance, and photography.
Black History Month Guided Tour at Ross Bay Cemetery
Sunday, Feb 27th 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Rain or sunshine. $5.00/person; $2.00 for OCS, BCBHAS Members
Did you know there are more than 50 Black Pioneers and/or their descendants at Ross Bay Cemetery? This is a guided tour of a few of their graves and others who were influential in the migration of Blacks to the British Colony. The tour hosts are Dr. Valin Marshall, BC Black History Awareness Society, life-time member and former Director, and John Adams, Old Cemeteries Society member and owner-operator of “Discover The Past Walking Tours”, Victoria.
REGISTER AT THE EVENT: By 1:50 pm, meet in front of Oregano Coffee Shop at the Fairfield Village Plaza, 1-1516 Fairfield Rd. This shopping plaza is across the street from the cemetery. The tour starts at 2:00 pm.
Please be mindful of others and practice physical distancing during the tour. Masks are encouraged.
BC Black History Awareness Society and Black History Month 2022 is funded in part through the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia
We also want to thank and acknowledge our partners in bringing this program to you. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives- BC Office, Belfry Theatre, Old Cemeteries Society, Royal BC Museum, and Vancouver Mural Fest.
All images courtesy of the speakers, performers, and BC Black History Awareness Society
© Dr. June Francis
© BC Black History Awareness Society, Our Heritage. Archival Images courtesy of City of Victoria archives, Royal BC Museum and Archives, Salt Spring Island Archives.
© Noedy Hecchevarria Duharte
© Dr. Cornel West
© Dawn Pemberton
© Louise Rose
© Vancouver Mural Fest, Doaa Magdy
© BC Black History Awareness Society – Ross Bay Cemetery Tour
August 14, 2021 to March 31, 2022
Exhibition Details
August 14, 2021 to March 31, 2022
* Extended to March 31, 2022!
Daily: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Clifford Carl Hall
(main floor of Royal BC Museum)
675 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C.
Free!
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. Some aspects of the exhibition can be viewed online.
**Visitor note: You can check the Royal BC Museum website or call 1-888-447-7977 for information on visiting the Pocket Gallery and Clifford Carl Hall during COVID-19.
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