As we enter February, Toronto Humane Society proudly joins Canadians in celebrating Black History Month. This annual observance is a time to honour the remarkable achievements, contributions, and lasting legacy of Black communities throughout Canada. 

This year’s theme, “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations,” calls on us to recognize the immense contributions of Black pioneers while creating opportunities for the next generation to thrive. 

As we celebrate the immense contributions that Black Canadians have made to the building of this nation, we must also recognize the long history of anti-Black racism in Canada and its lasting effects. Dismantling systemic barriers and discrimination—across all institutions, including animal welfare—remains an urgent and necessary effort. 

At Toronto Humane Society, we believe a more diverse and inclusive animal welfare sector benefits everyone—animals, people, and communities alike. By fostering inclusion within our field, we can break down barriers to care, strengthen the human-animal bond, expand perspectives, and address the root causes of animal vulnerability. 

We invite our community to join us in celebrating the experiences, stories, and perspectives of Black Canadians—not just this month, but year-round—while also committing to meaningful action that promotes racial justice and inclusion. 

Here are some ways we, at Toronto Humane Society, are recognizing Black History Month: 

• Celebrating Black Leaders and Their Legacies: Displaying framed features of notable Black personalities in our communal room, including those who have made a lasting impact in the field of animal welfare across North America. 
• Talk on Advancing Diversity in Veterinary Medicine: In alignment with this year’s theme, we hosted Dr. Melanie Moore, co-founder of the Canadian VIBE Network, an organization dedicated to making the veterinary profession more inclusive for Black Canadians, on January 28th. In her talk, she discussed the historical challenges Black professionals face in veterinary medicine and explored pathways for uplifting the next generation through mentorship, allyship, and advocacy. 
• Discussion Circle on Racial Justice and Allyship: Using Layla F. Saad’s Me and White Supremacy as a reference, a group of staff members will engage in a discussion circle to explore white privilege, power dynamics, and meaningful allyship. 
• Building Partnerships with Black-Led, Youth-focused Organizations: Collaborating with Black-led, youth-focused organizations to promote volunteer and professional opportunities for BIPOC youth in our shelter and the sector as a whole.