Mississauga is marking Black History Month with a full slate of programs through February, organized by the City of Mississauga in partnership with the Black Caucus Alliance, the city announced Monday.

This year carries extra weight. It is the 30th year of Black History Month in Canada, and the national theme is "30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow's Visionaries." The city said the theme recognizes the lasting contributions of Black Canadians to the country's past, present and future.

What's on this month

The city's Black History Month webpage gathers the month's learning and community activities. Among them:

  • A Black Heritage Month game as Raptors 905 host the Greensboro Swarm

  • REEL Thursdays: The Best of the Best: Jazz from Detroit, at the Living Arts Centre on Feb. 12

  • African drumming and storytelling

  • A book club reading Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

  • Midday Melodies: Chamber Music Live with Waleed Abdulhamid

  • Movie screenings at Mississauga Library branches

  • An online author talk with Antonio Michael Downing

  • Virtual Roots and Resilience fitness classes

Celebrating Black Excellence

The month builds toward the third annual Celebrating Black Excellence event on Friday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Mississauga City Hall. The evening will feature performances, keynote speakers and an awards ceremony. Residents who know someone deserving of a Black Excellence Award have until Feb. 13 to submit a nomination in one of nine categories, by email to BlackExcellenceAwards@mississauga.ca. Nominees must live or work in Mississauga and identify as Black.

Mississauga is now and has always been a proudly diverse city. It’s through our work with community groups including the Black Caucus Alliance that allows us to better understand the needs, the struggles and the history of our residents.

— Mayor Carolyn Parrish

Shelly Scott-England, chair of the Black Caucus Alliance, said this year's partnership with the city is putting a priority on youth well-being and equity.

By celebrating our ancestors' resilience, we reaffirm our commitment to dismantling anti-Black racism.

— Shelly Scott-England, chair, Black Caucus Alliance

Progress on the First Steps report

The city also offered an update on First Steps, a community-driven report on making Mississauga more equitable for Black communities that council received in April 2022. Of the 36 recommendations within the city's responsibility, seven were completed before the implementation roadmap was drawn up, 18 are now in place and operating, four are in progress, and 11 are awaiting a start or need more planning.

Council has also passed resolutions recognizing anti-Black racism as a crisis in the community and marking the International Decade for People of African Descent. Each Aug. 1, Emancipation Day, the city raises the Pan-African flag and lights the City Hall clock tower red, black and green.