Mayor Jeff Leal to Proclaim February As Black History Month

Mayor Jeff Leal will proclaim February as Black History Month during a Black History Month launch event hosted by Peterborough's Community Race Relations Committee at the Peterborough Public Library from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians in our City,” said Leal. “Please join our community as we mark the start of this important month.”

Resgistration is required to attend the launch event.

The Black History Month launch event keynote speaker is Shanique Victoria Edwards, the lead researcher for Black Mental Health Canada and a member of its circle of leaders. Edwards is a psychotherapist who specializes in racial trauma and BIPOC mental health.

Christine Maclin, a local activist and secretary/treasurer for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, will speak on her journey through mental health, self-discovery and healing.

Sahira Q, who is a local activist and artist, will also share a speech and performance during the Black History Month launch event.

For updates from Peterborough's Community Race Relations Committee, follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/racerelationspeterborough.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

Visit the Peterborough Museum and Archives for a children’s craft that recognizes Black History Month and children’s books in the Reading Nook. The activities are self-guided and available at no cost during the museum’s regular hours. Peterborough Museum and Archives admission is by donation.

Instagram Live conversation

Reem Ali, the City’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor, will be hosting an Instagram LIVE conversation with Patricia Wilson, the Community Race Relations Committee coordinator and founder of Diverse Nature Collective, starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 2. Everyone is invited to tune in at instagram.com/cityptbo. An Instagram account is not required.

Peterborough Public Library

Peterborough Public Library includes diverse voices in its regular library programming and collections throughout the year by selecting diverse authors for story times, book club, book displays and other activities. For Black History Month, it is offering:

• Feb. 5-17 - Book displays in both the Children’s and Adult areas – “Celebrate Black Voices”

• Feb. 10 – Children’s movie: Hair Love and The Princess and the Frog

• Feb. 13 – Film & Discussion: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

• Feb. 15 – Tween Book Club: Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

• Feb. – Adult Book Club In Person or Online: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

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Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal Proclaims February As Black History Month

City of Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal has proclaimed February as Black History Month, issuing the below statement on Wednesday.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

“On behalf of the City of Peterborough, it is my pleasure to recognize February as Black History Month,” begins Mayor Leal.

“Black Canadians have made significant contributions to the development and betterment of our community throughout our City’s history. During Black History Month, we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of these residents to the economic, cultural, and political life of our community and our country,” he says.

“Peterborough is a growing and increasingly diverse community. In 2021, almost 10 per cent of our residents identified as a member of racialized group, up from 6 per cent in 2016, with about 1.5 per cent identifying as Black. This diversity is a source of strength. Inclusive communities that embrace their diversity are more innovative, creative, dynamic, resilient, and prosperous,” says Mayor Leal.

“In 2019, City Council approved the City of Peterborough becoming a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. Member municipalities must advance initiatives to improve their practices for social inclusion, establish policies to eradicate racism and discrimination, and promote human rights and diversity,” he continues.

“Throughout February and all year long, I encourage all residents to learn more, to recognize, and celebrate the many important contributions of Black Canadians to the growth and development of our community and country,” Mayor Leal concludes.

For more on Mayor Leal’s statement, visit the City of Peterborough website.

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Electric City Culture Council Highlights Events Supporting Black Creators During Black History Month

To mark Black History Month, Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has put together a list of resources to help honour and inform about the legacy of Black Canadians, to support Black causes and Black creators, and to celebrate some of the art being created by Black artists in Peterborough and across Canada.

The founder of the Black Lives Matter movement presence in Canada and Black Lives Matter – Toronto, Sandy Hudson. Hudson will speak at The Trent Student Centre on Friday.

Below are links to events happening in Peterborough to commemorate Black History month, compiled by EC3:

Celebrating Black Joy with Sandy Hudson, founder of BLM Canada. At the Trent Student Centre, hosted by the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) and Black Student Support.
Feb. 18; 12 p.m.

Adult Book Club discusses Gutter Child by Jael Richardson. Presented by the Peterborough Public Library.
Feb. 22, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Diversity & Allyship in the Conservation and Environmental Industry. Live virtual panel discussion, Fleming College.
Feb. 24, 12 - 1 p.m.

Journey to Justice - Film Discussion. Hosted by the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, via Zoom
Feb. 25, 7 - 8 p.m.

3rd Annual Black History Month Blowout. Held by Black Lives Matter Nogojiwanong (OPIRG).
Feb. 26, details TBA

Local black creators highlighted include:

Black Girls Chatter. Podcast featuring "just a couple of black girls keeping the conversation going.”

Borderless Records. Peterborough-Nogojiwanong based DIY label and collective.

Local collections and organizations include:

Community Race Relations Committee Peterborough. A resource hub for educators, employers, students, youth, and anyone looking for info on race, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) - Nogojiwanong Chapter, in partnership with OPIRG.

Peterborough Public Library presents reading lists, events and more for Black History Month.

Trent Arthur Newspaper has published a series of articles throughout Black History Month, including "The erasure of Canada's racism in public school curricula" by Alicia McLeod; "Canada, the land of equality, diversity, and racism" by Sutton Hanna; and "No black educators" by Shaela McLeod.

EC3 also highlighted films and books that highlight black writers, directors, actors and creatives:

To read:
Borderless Discussions w/ Muna & Sahira Q. A late night roundtable discussion about gender, race, art, performance, community, intersectionality, and so much more. Part of the 2021 Borderless Music & Arts Festival in Peterborough.

Subjects of Desire. (2021). Jennifer Holness, Canada, 103 minutes.

The Porter. TV series (2022-), premiering on CBC Television February 21, 2022.

Learn to Swim (2021), Thyrone Tommy, Canada, 90 minutes.

Bringing Overlooked Canadian Black History to the Fore. The Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVO, February 7, 2022.

To read:
Black Lives Matter Reading List. From the Peterborough Public Library.

Dr. Afua Cooper. Speaker, scholar, historian, author, poet, performer, and social and cultural commentator. Published works include: Black Writers Matter; Dear Canada: Hoping for Home; A Fluid Frontier: Slavery, Resistance, and the Underground Railroad in the Detroit River Borderland; The Hanging of Angélique: the untold story of Canadian slavery and the burning of old Montréal

The Underground Railroad: Next Stop, Toronto!. Adrienne Shadd, Afua Cooper, Karolyn Smardz Frost, Dundurn Press, 2009.

Beauty in a Box: Detangling the Roots of Canada’s Black Beauty Culture. Cheryl Thompson, Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2018.

Inspired by Black Lives Matter, over 40 Canadian artists record Freedom Marching. Rebecca Zandbergen, CBC News (web article), February 9, 2022.

Gutter Child: A Novel. Jael Richardson, HarperCollins, 2021.

Black Writers - A Reading List. Published by the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia.

So Since I’m Still Here Livin’: A YouTube Reader. Ed. Kelly Xio, Domain, 2021.

Sisters of the Yam: black women and self-recovery. bell hooks, South End Press, 1994.

Talking Back | thinking feminist, thinking black. bell hooks, Between the Lines, 1989.

Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement. Angela Y. Davis, Haymarket Books, 2016.

How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective. Keeyanga Yamahtta Taylor, Haymarket Books, 2017.

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