Black History Month
About Black History Month
Every February, Black History Month is recognized in Canada. This is a time to honour and celebrate the contributions that Black Canadians have made to our country, educate ourselves on Black history, and continue to combat anti-Black racism in Canada.
Celebrate Black History Month at Together We Rise Durham’s annual event
Each year, the Region of Durham, in partnership with Durham Regional Police Service, local municipalities and community partners, hosts a free Black History Month event for the community.
This year’s theme is Together We Rise Durham: Legacy ignites the path for youth to lead the future, honouring the work of those who paved the way and recognizing the potential of youth as leaders of change.
Join us for an empowering evening featuring the Legacy Café—a welcoming space where youth and elders share stories, learn from each other, and celebrate Black heritage.
Enjoy meaningful conversations, performances like dance, spoken word, and music, plus opening speeches that set the tone for the night.
- Date: Tuesday, February 3
- Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
- 5:30 to 6 p.m. – networking
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Speeches, Legacy Café, artistic and musical performances
- Location: Milestone Christian Centre (610 Monarch Avenue, Ajax)
Performers:
- Impulse Steel Orchestra
- Pickering High School Choir
- Edify Youth Dance
Speakers:
- Legacy Leaders
- Dr Jean-Placide Rubabaza
- Dr Adwoa Onuora
- Legacy Youth
- Zacharia Thomas - Swift Hockey
- Jada Newland – Student, Trent University Student
- Khalil Emanuel – Student, University of Guelph
Black History Month is a time to honour the incredible contributions of Black people in Canada and Durham Region, a community that values diversity and inclusion and where everyone should feel respected and celebrated.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, celebrate, and build a stronger future—one story at a time!
Watch for the Black History Month Durham Region Transit bus
The artwork featured on the Black History Month Durham Region Transit bus, as well as in the Region’s campaign promotion is by artist Ken Daley and is entitled Legacy.
Legacy is a vibrant and introspective painting that celebrates the power of education and the enduring ties within the African-Caribbean diaspora in Canada. It is a testament to resilience and belonging. It speaks to the way knowledge anchors people in their culture and heritage and strengthens their connection to a global community shaped by shared history, migration, and the ongoing pursuit of self-determination. It conveys how the diaspora holds onto memory while shaping new identities across oceans.
You can learn more about Ken Daley online at kendaleyart.com.
About Together We Rise
Together We Rise Durham is hosted by the Region of Durham, Canadian Jamaican Club of Oshawa, City of Oshawa, City of Pickering, Durham Community Health Centre, Durham Regional Police Service, DurhamOne, Lakeridge Health, Municipality of Clarington, Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce, Town of Ajax, Town of Uxbridge, Town of Whitby and Township of Brock.