Celebrating Black History Month in Canada and the people who shaped it

Since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, an African heritage translator who accompanied European explorers in 1604, Black Canadians and their communities have played a vital role in shaping Canada’s heritage and identity.

Despite their substantial contributions, the roles of Black Canadians in shaping the country’s history have often been overlooked. Many are unaware that some Loyalists settling in the Maritimes after the American Revolution and soldiers in the War of 1812 were of African descent.

The presence of slavery in what is now Canada and the efforts to combat it by those who were enslaved have largely gone unrecognized. Black History Month serves as an opportunity to explore these underrepresented narratives and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by Black Canadians and their communities to Canada’s development as a diverse and inclusive society.

In British Columbia, Black history back to Canada’s colonial era. In 1858, nearly 800 free Black people left San Francisco for a new life on Vancouver Island.

From the 1920s to 1967, Vancouver was home to a thriving Black community at Hogan’s Alley. This area served as a cultural hub for the Black community. However, the decision to expand the highway system in Vancouver resulted in the expropriation of land in the area, including homes and businesses, for the construction of the Georgia Viaduct. This led to the displacement of the Black community from Hogan’s Alley and the loss of an identifiable Black neighbourhood in Vancouver.

Black History Month serves as a platform to highlight the achievements, struggles and cultural richness of Black Canadians. It provides an opportunity to educate the public about the often-overlooked contributions of Black individuals in various fields such as science, politics, arts, sports, community development and business.

Black entrepreneurs have historically faced challenges such as limited access to capital, both from traditional and venture capital firms, and a lack of generational wealth to fund their businesses. Additionally, they have encountered pervasive stereotypes, bias and discrimination, which can hinder their success. Despite these obstacles, Black entrepreneurs have continued to thrive and contribute to the economy.

One pioneer of Black entrepreneurialism in Canada was Elijah McCoy.

McCoy was born in 1844 in Colchester, Ontario, to parents who had escaped from slavery in Kentucky and arrived in Canada via the Underground Railroad. From a young age, he showed an early interest in machines and mechanics. At the time, schools in Upper Canada were segregated, so he was educated in schools for Black children in Ontario. Since it was difficult for Black people to obtain training in the United States, his parents sent him to Edinburgh, Scotland where he apprenticed and became certified as a mechanical engineer.

Upon his return to North America, he could only find work as a fireman (a worker who maintained the locomotive engine during its operation) and oiler on the railroads. Among his responsibilities, he lubricated the moving engine parts. Elijah soon saw that he could put his inventiveness to good use by improving the lubricating process, so he developed and patented a particular type of lubricating cup that dripped oil onto trains’ moving parts. This was a huge advancement as it allowed trains to run faster with fewer stops for maintenance. The expression “the real McCoy” possibly originated and most certainly was popularized, by buyers of McCoy’s invention because it was a reliable and superior product.

He went on to create 50 more patents, including the portable ironing board and a lawn sprinkler.

The Black History Month background in Canada has its origins in the post-Second World War era. During this time, “Negro History Week” celebrations took place in Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax, among other places.

In 1978, the Ontario Black History Society petitioned the City of Toronto to officially designate February as Black History Month.

The following year, Toronto proclaimed the first-ever Black History Month in Canada, based on the society’s suggestion. Nova Scotia initially observed it in 1988, later renaming it African Heritage Month in 1996. Ontario officially recognized Black History Month in 1993.

Rosemary Sadlier, President of the Ontario Black History Society, proposed the national recognition of Black History Month and presented the idea to Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian MP. The Canadian government began to officially recognize February as Black History Month in 2008, but individual provinces have been commemorating Black history since the 1970s in some form or another.

University Canada West’s Student Life team, as well as the UCW Library, has several events to mark Black History Month. They include:

Cinema at UCW: Black History Month

Join us for a film screening of the award-winning documentary Someone Like Me, directed by Steve J. Adams and Sean Horlor, in celebration and recognition of Black History Month. This film follows a group of strangers from Vancouver’s queer community as they prepare for and support Drake, a gay asylum seeker from Uganda, in his resettlement in Canada. Over the course of a year, they explore questions of freedom, sexuality, race, safety and belonging – all of which are complicated by the onset of the pandemic. Someone Like Me reveals the challenges of forging an identity, asylum-seeking, transition and what it means to support those in need. A short discussion period will follow at the end.

When: Friday, February 2, 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Where: Vancouver House Campus, East Building Lobby

Black Excellence Presentation: Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Impact

Featuring a presentation from Asha Wheeldon, founder of the Afro-Vegan meal kit business Kula Foods, Kula sprouted from Asha’s passion for her Kenyan roots and her desire to share the flavours and traditions of her upbringing. Kula Foods offers a range of plant-based products that capture the essence of Afro-Caribbean cuisine.

When: February 7, 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Where: Vancouver House, East Building Lobby

Register for this event via UCW Community Circle.

Black History Month Social

UCW students are invited to join Student Life as we gather to celebrate Black culture with delicious Caribbean-vegan food catered by Calabash Bistro, board games and more.

When: February 13, 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Where: Vancouver House, East Building Lobby

Register for this event via UCW Community Circle.

Black Pioneers: Discussing Black History in BC

Silvia Mangue from the BC Black History Awareness Society will present an informative session about the history of British Columbia’s Black Pioneers.

When: February 23, 11 am -1 pm

Where: Vancouver House, East Building Lobby

Register at UCW Community Circle.