During the month of February, the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) is proud to honour and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, both past and present, as we pay tribute to the diverse backgrounds, experiences, cultures and histories of Black individuals and communities.
Background
Black Canadians have played an important role in shaping our nation's heritage and identity, however Black History has not always been celebrated or adequately acknowledged.
- In December 1995, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion to officially recognize February as Black History Month in Canada. The motion was moved by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
- In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first black man appointed to the Senate, introduced a Motion to Recognize the Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. The motion carried unanimously.
Black Excellence Beyond February
While the month of February offers an opportunity for intentional focus on the histories and robust contributions of Black Canadians, we know that our commitment to centering Black excellence must extend beyond February. We also know that denouncing and dismantling anti-Black racism in our classrooms and across our community is our moral and legal obligation, and essential to ensuring our schools and workplaces are free of discrimination and harassment.
At HCDSB, we are committed to Human Rights and Equity and we undertake this commitment in a variety of ways, including shared leadership, professional learning, inclusive curriculum/assessment practices, and responding to discrimination and harassment. Through our Human Rights and Equity office, we have implemented a protocol that specifically outlines how we will disrupt incidents of racism and discrimination in our HCDSB schools. The protocol is posted on our Board website: Racism & Discrimination: Responding with Faith, Hope & Love.
While we have made some progress, our work is not done. We must be proactive and accountable to Black students, families and staff as we continue to denounce racism and centre Black excellence to create safe, welcoming and inclusive schools.
Black History Month Resources
The Learning Resource Centre at HCDSB offers a variety of educational material, including eBooks, videos, articles, websites, as well as a Black History Month topic guide. Visit the Learning Resource Centre online for details!
Upcoming Events
Throughout the year, a number of virtual events and learning opportunities are planned in Halton and in our schools in partnership with HCDSB and various community partners.
Special thanks goes out to community partners Alpha Education, Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton , Halton Black History Awareness Society and the Milton Public Library for their support of these school and system-wide events.