The Cochrane Public Library’s program and engagement manager Carmen Erison is excited to invite the public to come and experience Black History month, running until the end of February.
The activities planned include speakers, films, and other multimedia exhibits that highlight just one of the many cultures present in Cochrane and area, Erison said.
“It’s so important that everyone’s voice is heard, that everyone has a feeling of belonging, so with the theme ‘Finding Home: Belonging and Community’ we really wanted to feature speakers and films that touch on that.”
“We have such a great array of cultures in this community and Black History Month is just one of those celebrations,” she said.
The library’s webpage outlines all the programs available – and there are a lot – as well as describing the importance of Black History Month in general.
The month-long series of events are a celebration the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous country.
Black Canadians have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator and interpreter, whose presence in Canada dates back to the early 1600s.
The role of Black people in Canada, as a key part of its history, has largely been ignored. There is little mention of the fact that some of the Loyalists who came here after the American Revolution and settled in the Maritimes were people of African descent, nor that many soldiers of African descent made sacrifices in wartime as far back as the War of 1812.
Few people in Canada are aware of the fact that African people were once enslaved in the territory that is now known as Canada, or that those who fought enslavement helped to lay the foundation of Canada’s diverse and inclusive society.
Black History Month is a time to learn more about these Canadian stories and the many other important contributions that Black Canadians have made to the history and continued growth of this country.
This year, the library is focused on highlighting the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive community where we can all feel safe, valued, and respected.
Dr. Moussa Magassa, PhD, Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Mount Royal University, provided the library with a statement to go along with their web information:
"Like our ethical responsibility to embed anti-racism principles and values in all systems and structures of our organizations, we must think of our focus on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as not a burden or something that pits ‘us’ and ‘them,’ but rather, as a gift of humanity we give to one another as human beings. A community founded on the values and principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, anti-racism and anti-oppression benefits us all, regardless of our individual or social differences."
Some of the speakers will include:
Feb.10 - A Fireside Chat with Dr. Uchechukwu Umezurike, MA., PhD. Peter Umezurike is an assistant professor in the Department of English, University of Calgary. An award-winning creative writer, Umezurike is the author of literary works such as there’s more, Double Wahala, Double Trouble, Wish Maker, and a co-editor of Wreaths for a Wayfarer.
Feb. 24 - Finding Home: Belonging and Community - A Conversation with Santhia Locke, Author. Locke was born in Haiti and moved to Canada when she was adopted at the age of 11. She is the author of Hopeless to Hopeful!: How to Reclaim Your Voice Without Living in Fear. In collaboration with bestselling author, Dr Nikkie Pryce, she has also co-authored Let the Women Speak - Volume 2.
March 9 - Belonging and Community - Exploring Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with Dr. Moussa Magassa, PhD. Magassa is someone who has spent his life facing barriers to entry that were created to keep people like him out. This is, in part, what has directed his education and a career that centres around equity, diversity and inclusion.
The talks are free, but registration is required. To register or read more about the wide variety of events being offered, go to cochranepubliclibrary.ca.
