Ways to mark Black History Month

Jan. 22, 2025

Feb. 1 marks the start of Black History Month. Many of the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians have been erased or excluded from our national narrative, and this is an opportunity to acknowledge, value and celebrate them.

It’s also a chance to recognize the transformative work of Black Canadians today and to give visibility to the people and organizations creating meaningful change.

There are a number of ways you can honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities and recommit to your own learning this month – and every day.

---

Attend an event at the college or in your community

Here are a few upcoming Black History Month events at Georgian. Please check back as more may be added. 

Join a thought-provoking book club  

• Tuesday, Feb. 4 | noon to 1 p.m. 

• Tuesday, Feb. 11 | noon to 1 p.m. 

• Tuesday, Feb. 18 | noon to 1 p.m. 

• Tuesday, Feb. 25 | noon to 1 p.m. 

Take part in a Caribbean beats dance class 

• Wednesday, Feb. 5, noon to 1 p.m. – Barrie Campus, C building second floor (across from Subway).  

• Thursday, Feb. 6 and 13, 1 to 2 p.m. – Orillia Campus, cafeteria  

The Caribbean Beats dance class offers a space to recognize and honour the cultural richness of the Black diaspora. Through dance, participants engage with stories of resilience, creativity, and community that are central to Black history. It also aligns with Georgian’s commitment to fostering equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging by creating opportunities for cultural learning and celebration.

Virtual panel discussion – Dismantling racism 

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1 to 2 p.m. – Virtual

This engaging session will feature a panel of colleagues sharing their lived experiences as racialized individuals and reflecting on the impact of systemic racism in the workplace. The discussion will focus on fostering accountability, allyship, and advocacy to build a more inclusive and equitable community.

Open to students only:

Afro-Caribbean food festival

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2 to 4 p.m. – Barrie Campus, C building (across from Subway) 

Listen to Afrobeat and Dancehall music while snacking on African and Caribbean foods. 

Stay tuned for details about activities hosted at Midland, Orangeville, Orillia, Owen Sound, and South Georgian Bay campuses that will be a combination of campus-wide engagement opportunities and activities aimed to provide students with experiential learning opportunities.

---

Educate yourself

More resources to learn from

• The Black Canadian Calendar 
• About Black History Month – Canada.ca   
• Black History Month: Honouring and Celebrating Black People in Canada – Statistics Canada   
• “Anti-Racist Checklist for Whites” by Robin DiAngelo, adapted from John Raible (2018)   
• “5 Black Women Talk About Their Lives in Canada—Past, Present and Future” by Eternity Martis (2020)   
• Continue your learning this month by exploring some resources and webinars from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI):    
  • CCDI Webinar: History of race and racism in Canada   
  • CCDI Webinar: Black History Month: Unlearning anti-Black racism   
  • CCDI Webinar: Addressing anti-Black racism in the workplace – Fireside chat   
  • Resources – Racism, anti-black racism   

---

---

Celebrate Black history and culture beyond February

Black Canadians have played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of our nation, contributing to art, music, literature, business and much more. To truly appreciate this influence, it’s time to shift from a one-month celebration to a year-round embrace of diversity. Here are some practical steps you can take to integrate, promote and engage with Black culture:   

1. Instead of confining cultural celebrations to February, actively attend events and festivals that showcase Black talent and creativity throughout the year. Whether it’s music festivals or art exhibitions, these gatherings offer opportunities to immerse yourself in the vibrancy of Black culture.   

2. Diversify your media consumption by including a broad range of voices and perspectives. Seek out literature, films, documentaries and podcasts that amplify Black stories and experiences.   

3. Seek opportunities to engage in conversations about race, culture and diversity. Meaningful dialogue fosters understanding and empathy, dismantling stereotypes and promoting a more inclusive community.   

4. Translate knowledge into action! Explore resources and tools that can help contribute to environments where individuals feel seen, heard and valued. 

---

Show your support virtually

Download our custom Microsoft Teams background to use virtually throughout Black History Month.

Together, and with the support of community members and allies, Georgian continues to cultivate a teaching, learning and working environment where everyone feels seen, heard, valued and knows they belong – where every voice is welcome and matters. This is reflected in our demonstratable, accountable and system-wide commitments to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, decolonization and anti-racism. I’m personally dedicated to this work, and I hope all students and employees will consider how they can amplify their commitments and celebrate the achievements of Black Canadians during Black History Month and every day. Thank you to all those who’ve planned activities across our multi-campus community and for sharing resources to help us on our journey of learning and unlearning.

Kevin Weaver, President and CEO

Originally published in January 2023 and updated in January 2025.