Black History Month: February 2025

Feb 6

“Black Legacy & Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History & Uplifting Future Generations”

Every month in February, Canada celebrates Black History month and seeks to honour and amplify all of the voices, achievements and stories of resilience of Black Canadians. Black Canadians and their communities have shaped Canada’s history and enriched Canada’s cultural diversity and compassion that have helped lead to the growth of a more equitable and inclusive nation. Black History month was first officially recognized in Canada in December 1995 in the House of Commons when this motion was put forward by Dr. Augustine and carried unanimously. 13 years after this, Canada’s first Black member of the Senate, Senator Donald Oliver, introduced the ‘Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History month’ in February 2008; and the motion was adopted into Canada’s parliament in March 2008.

The theme for Black History Month in February 2025 is “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations”. This theme celebrates the diversity, leadership and legacy of Black Canadians and how they have transcended great adversity to thrive, inspire and enrich the next generations.

One well-known example of Black excellence in Canada is Calgary’s own Violet King Henry who was Canada’s first Black female lawyer and was honoured with a Federal Building Plaza in Edmonton named after her. Other examples include Piercy Haynes from Manitoba who was a former Canadian musician and the first Black person to join the modern Royal Canadian navy and Rosemary Sadlier from Ontario who was a renowned Black activist, researcher and writer. In sports, one of the most well-known Black ice hockey players is Edmonton’s own Jarome Iginla who has had many stand-out achievements including playing over 1500 NHL hockey games (most as the captain for the Calgary Flames), assisting on Team Canada’s gold-medal clinching goal in the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 and being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the class of 2020.

All Albertans can join in the celebration of Black History month by attending local events and ceremonies to learn more about the history and celebrate the contributions of Black people in Canada. It is equally important to self-reflect on the harmful side of Canada’s history including oppression, enslavement, racism and discrimination to ensure that it is never forgotten and to prevent these past harmful actions from continuing today.

As social workers in Alberta, it is imperative to understand that despite any progress made towards a more inclusive nation, that Canada’s lengthy history of persecution against Black Canadians have caused generations of trauma and pain. For over 400 years, Canada has had a lengthy history of upholding oppressive practices and policies including anti-black racism and systemic discrimination leading to harmful outcomes such as the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system. In response, social workers and other professions continue to be needed as allies and advocates for Black communities to uplift their voices, advocate for social justice, challenge anti-black racial biases and anti-black racism and engage in ongoing work to dismantle systemic barriers oppressive to marginalized communities. There are numerous community organizations, resources and websites dedicated to supporting and lifting Black communities in Alberta, which are listed below.

One of these important organizations the Alberta Association of Black Social Workers (AABSW), formally established as an organization in 2020. For more information and to get involved please see their website at: Alberta Association of Black Social Workers (AABSW)

In celebration of Black History Month I will conclude with a quote by Black American Abolitionist and Social Activist Harriet Tubman, who once stated: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world”.

Written by MSW practicum student, Erik Yuson.