Event Archive
The Function
Culture Links
A Canada Multiculturalism Day Celebration
We partnered with some of Victoria’s most dynamic cultural groups for this FREE event with FREE Entertainment and FREE food for Family fun! The event took place at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria and featured cultural cuisine and performances representing Africa, the Caribbean, China, Cuba, India, The Philippines, and South America.
Black History Here, Now, Then, Always
“Black History Here, Now, Then, Always: A Conversation across Exhibitions” was a webinar hosted by Royal BC Museum and Archives bringing together the exhibition curators in a moderated conversation exploring intersections across these two powerful and important exhibitions that daylight Black History and Black Belonging in BC and beyond. The curators also talked about their experiences as curators of Black History generally, working in/with organizations that are generally white-centered and the challenges in working with archival records.
Panelists: Joshua Robertson, Hope Meets Action; Nya Lewis, Sankofa; Nuno Porto, Sankofa; Titilope Salami, Sankofa; Moderator: Rachael Otukol, BC Black History Awareness Society
“Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum” was open at the Royal BC Museum from August 14, 2021 to April 14, 2022 “…despite consistent efforts, our on-going story in these lands has yet to be heard when told by us. As stolen people on stolen land, our history is neither simple nor stagnant. In the face of racial discrimination… this exhibit daylights the living and on-going history of Black belonging in what is referred to as ‘British Colombia’.”
Sankofa: African Routes, Canadian Roots” was open at the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia from November 4, 2021 – March 27, 2022. “… draws connections to historical contributions and the growing vitality of Black Canadians in Vancouver; the exhibit celebrates different ways of understanding the world through the lenses of African and Black communities, the wealth of their cultural and art practices, and their inspiring legacy.
Vibes & Verses
Vibes & Verses stimulated your senses through the flow of jazz, the movements of afro-beats, the bounce of reggae, and the sways of R&B and calypso. Your journey continued through powerful spoken word performances and the art of some of B.C.’s most talented painters and photographers; held at the spectacular Victoria International Marina. The evening ended with a 1 hour Sip N’ Paint for VIP ticket holders.
Artists and Performers included *Valerie Mason-John aka Queenie *Yoro Noukoussi & Waaba Music, *Obed Psych *Dayo Fagbulu *Adelene da Soul Poet * Virline Leston *Noedy HD Trio *Sadé Awele with the Headliner CALEB HART . In love with a wide variety of music: Gospel, Soul, Pop, Rock, Calypso, Soca and more than anything Reggae, he has been taking his music across Canada, The Caribbean, Australia, USA and New Zealand since 2012, racking up over 800 shows releasing 5 records, 9 singles, and winning prestigious awards from Edmonton Folk Fest, the Western Canadian Music Awards and more.
Diverse Histories, Identities, and Experiences
This event was the launch of the report “Worlds Within: Diverse Histories, Identities, and Experiences of Black People of African Ancestry in British Columbia“. The report is the output of the African Ancestry Survey Project, highlighting the diversity of Black people in BC. It shares our stories in our own voice by centering stories of over 160 project participants.
“We hope this resource will inspire dialogue around emergent themes and issues including multiculturalism and anti-racism and contribute towards positive social change. The report will be a resource for everyone in British Columbia, and particularly Black communities and those engaged in work around multiculturalism and racial equity. Understanding and acknowledging the diversity of the Black communities is an important step towards building authentic connections. The report will also form part of our historical records.” Alice Mũrage, project lead and author
The report is based on surveys, community engagement and reviews that allowed for a quantitative data collection that gave context to the stories that were shared through the interviews and focus group discussions. More about this project and access the report
Black History Month 2022
“Dynamic Diasporas” at VMF Winter Arts Fest
BCBHAS partnered with Vancouver Mural Fest (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 to source archival images as part of the artwork on display for Winter Arts Festival.
“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.
Watch the live dance performance that took place on February 27th. Dancers personify 4 Black pioneers, highlighting their stories through visual storytelling while emphasizing Black joy.
A conversation with Dr. Cornel West “Being a Hope Amid Crisis”
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. Watch now
History of anti-Black Racism in Canadian Schools and Universities
Dr. June Francis, PhD, MBA, LLB, Director, Institute for Diaspora Research & Engagement at SFU. 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. Watch now
Dr. Francis’ extensive experience spans the private sector, public sector national, regional and local organizations, as an entrepreneur with civil society on governance boards and as an academic including 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, Chair of The Hogan’s Alley Society’s Board of Director.
Awards and recognition includes: Province of BC, National Congress of Black Women, City of Vancouver, recipient of the 2021 Rosemary Brown Award, and Service Award from the Beedie School of Business.
Graffiti Workshop
This two-day Graffiti Workshop, on August 16 and 17, 2021 brought together BIPOC professional artists and youth from around Lekwungen Territory. The event was free; the goal for youth to learn basic graffiti techniques and the history of graffiti in Hip-Hop. Their work was then featured in the Esquimalt Community Art Hub (ECAH), 901 Esquimalt Rd. Find out more about our Youth Engagement Project