UNB is marking the 30th anniversary of national recognition of Black History Month in Canada by honouring this year's official theme: Black Brilliance Across Generations - From Nation Builders to Tomorrow's Visionaries. Through February, events across our campuses will shine a light on the scholars, artists, changemakers and visionaries whose impact has shaped our past and inspired the future.
Black scholars, leaders and innovators have shaped knowledge, leadership and innovation at the University of New Brunswick by pushing boundaries and expanding understanding. Their achievements, realized despite deep systemic racism and inequities long embedded in academia and society, continue to inform teaching, research and institutional practice.
As we recognize Black brilliance, we also recognize UNB's responsibility to confront systemic inequities, act with accountability and continue working towards building a more inclusive and equitable academic environment for all members of our community.
A short history of Black History Month in Canada
The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) was founded in 1978. That year, founding members Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks petitioned the City of Toronto to proclaim February as Black History Month. In 1979, the city issued a formal proclamation.
It wasn't until the OBHS successfully petitioned in 1993 that the province of Ontario followed suit. With that success, the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, proposed recognizing Black History Month nationally each February. In 1995, the House of Commons unanimously passed the motion.
Senator Donald Oliver the first Black man appointed to the Senate brought forward the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month in 2008. The motion passed unanimously, completing Canada's position on Black History Month.
Honouring Black history and scholarship at UNB
At UNB, this history highlights the need for institutional efforts to be grounded in the recognition of local, diasporic and international Black histories, communities, cultures and scholarship.
UNB acknowledges the existence and impacts of anti-Black racism in academia, and to combat this and foster Black brilliance, learning and scholarship, signed the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education: Principles, Actions, and Accountabilities, in February 2025.
This commitment aims to strengthen support for Black research, scholarship and knowledge production across artistic and cultural traditions, and to advance conditions for belonging within higher education. It also unifies UNB with more than 40 universities and colleges across Canada which together are working towards shared accountability, learning and collaborative action.
Black History Month events at UNB
While UNB supports and encourages learning, reflection and engagement year-round, several events honouring and celebrating Black history, impact and scholarship will be held at UNB in the lead-up to and throughout February. These include several UNB Art Centre exhibitions honouring Black identity and heritage, beginning with Gary Weekes' photographic exhibition, Trayces and Tributes: Celebrating Black Identity which explores "Black skin, memory and cultural lineage."
Weekes will deliver an Artist Talk in which he will share and explore the inspiration and cultural influence behind his work.
The centre is also continuing the Rediscovering the Roots of Black New Brunswickers exhibition, which honours Black New Brunswickers who fought and continue to fight for equality.
The department of history is hosting the 10th Annual Black History Month Lecture at the Fredericton Public Library, featuring Cervantine Blackness author, Dr. Nicolas R Jones.
In honour of the first anniversary of UNB signing the Scarborough Charter, and in collaboration with the Human Rights and Equity Office, the university is hosting its inaugural UNB Black Researcher Showcase, which will highlight the research and scholarship of Black students and faculty.
More initiatives and opportunities for learning will take place throughout February and into March. Please keep an eye on the Black History Month events page for up-to-date scheduling, and on the UNB Newsroom for stories and reflections that shine a light on Black brilliance.
In recognizing Black brilliance across generations, UNB is committed to building an academic community that supports Black scholars, students, staff and community members.
