February 1, 2021

Today marks the start of Black History Month! While we all know that acknowledgements of Black history can never be confined to just one month, this month is a special time to commemorate the history of Black People in this country. From the arrival of Black-Africans to Canada in the 1600s to now, this month is a reminder that Black History is an important part of Canadian History. This month we also remember that Black History isn’t just about celebrations, it’s about commitment to change. It has been 9 months since the death of George Floyd in the United States, which revived global interest in the Black Lives Matter movement. It has also been 9 months since Regis Korchinski-Paquet died during an interaction with Toronto Police, reminding us that we have work to do right here at home. Even though we are not actively protesting in public, the work still continues. At LAMP as an agency, we have committed to breaking the cycle, and making meaningful changes for Black lives in our community.

We pay tribute as well to our former Etobicoke Lakeshore MP The Honorable Jean Augustine for her leadership in Black History month in Canada. This month we mark the 25th anniversary since Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons, introduced a motion to designate every February as Black History Month. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of Viola Desmond resisting racial segregation and fighting injustice in Nova Scotia. Across the nation people are celebrating the achievements of Black Canadians and the need for change.