February is Black History Month, a time for Canadians to honour and celebrate the diversity, history, and culture of Black people in Canada and to acknowledge the many everyday contributions of Black communities from across the country.  

With the theme of “Ours to tell” we are encouraged to engage in open dialogue and commit to learning more about the stories of history, successes, sacrifices and triumphs within the Black communities across Canada.  

As we commemorate Black History Month, we also reiterate our commitment to address and remove racial inequities and barriers within our organization. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team, in collaboration with members of our DEI Council, is working on implementing our first DEI strategic plan with the goal of fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, especially for our staff members, volunteers, foster parents, donors, and clients who belong to underrepresented and equity-deserving groups.    

During Black History Month, as we pay tribute to Black Canadians and their immense contributions to the development of this nation, let’s also renew our commitment to learn, reflect, and advocate against anti-Black racism—not just during the month of February but always.   

Research Resources:  

• February is Black History Month – Canada.ca  
• Toronto Public Library’s list of BHM-themed events, podcasts, and readings lists  
• Compiled Documents from The National Film Board of Canada   
• Ontario Black History Society  
• City of Toronto