Honouring the work, celebrating the progress

Black history is more than a single month—it’s woven into the fabric of our daily lives, influencing and enriching the world around us. The story of Black Canadians stretches far beyond civil rights movements of the recent past. It includes centuries of resilience, survival, and achievement that shaped Canada’s development. From early Black activists and leaders like Lincoln Alexander – first Black Canadian to be elected to Parliament in 1968, first Black Canadian to serve as a federal Cabinet Minister in 1979 and former Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) – to contemporary grassroots and community champions, Black leaders in Canada continue to open doors and inspire and guide future generations.  

Over the past year, the CRRF is proud to have supported a series of events, projects and initiatives that bring to life the legacy of those before us and pave the way forward. These include a historic national townhall and panel discussion on restorative and reparatory justice behind the National Black Justice Strategy, featuring issues experts from across the country, the Black Diplomacy Global Summit, bringing together international thought leaders, policymakers, academics, and advocates, and the “Afro-Diasporic Archives: Dialogues on Black Liberation” exhibit and panel on how to change the narratives in Black archives related to slavery from the view of slave owners or non-Black individuals.  

In 2024 we also released Reflection on the First Decade: Black Canadian Leadership at the UN Forum for People of African Descent, a documentation of the reflections of the first delegation of 24 Black Canadian civil society leaders, whose participation the CRRF facilitated at the Second Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Our call to action, which included the establishment of the National Institute for People of African Descent, has been answered, marking a pivotal moment in Canadian history. 

The work continues, and this year, the CRRF is excited to support the fourth National Black Canadians Summit, with 26 sessions and 5 plenary meetings exploring more than 15 key sectors, alongside the Summit’s very first Youth Forum, among other  events and initiatives across Canada that honour Black Canadians and the legacy of Black history month, while challenging anti-Black racism in Canada. 

Join us as we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Black Canadians, honouring the past, celebrating the present and building toward the future. 

Upcoming events: 

Michaëlle Jean Foundation; 4th National Black Canadian Summit
Jan 31, Feb 1-2, 2025 – Montreal, QC

Canadian Imperial Advantage; Live to Love Project
February 14, 2025 – Edmonton, AB

DIVERSEcity; Black in BC: Celebrating Black Excellence
February 14, 2025 – Surrey, BC

Nunavut Theatre Company; Bang Bang
February 13-15, 2025 – Iqaluit, NU

Artxperiential; The RBC Black Diamond Ball
February 22, 2025 – Toronto, ON

Le Pôle; Célébrons nos histoires
2025 February 26, 2025 – Montréal, QC

La Liberté podcast – À Voix Haute