Black History Month provides an opportunity to share and learn about the experiences, contributions and achievements of peoples of African ancestry. It was initiated in Canada by the Ontario Black History Society, which was founded in 1978.
Before we had Black History Month in Canada, there was a movement to recognize North Americans of African descent. In 1926, African American historian, Carter G. Woodson conceived of the idea to declare Negro History Week (which became Black History Month) to coincide with the birth month of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former enslaved person, Frederick Douglass. Later, sleeping car porters brought the idea north across the border into Canada.
Stanley G. Grizzle organized the first celebration of February as Black History Month at Toronto's African Canadian "Shaw Street" British Methodist Episcopal Church in 1950. At the time, no one could have imagined that it would grow to encompass the imagination of the entire country. The efforts of the Canadian Negro Women's Association kept it alive over the years.
Finally, through the efforts of the founders of the Ontario Black History Society, including Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks, a petition was presented to the City of Toronto to have February formally proclaimed as Black History Month. In 1979, the first-ever Canadian proclamation was issued by Toronto. In 1993, the Ontario Black History Society successfully filed a petition in Ontario to proclaim February as Black History Month.
Following its success in Ontario Rosemary Sadlier, President of the Ontario Black History Society, introduced the idea of having Black History Month recognized across Canada to Jean Augustine, MP and Parliamentary Secretary. The motion was unanimously passed in the House of Commons on December 5, 1995, and the first national declaration of Black History Month in Canada went into effect in February 1996. The Ontario Black History Society was the only organization advised of the imminent reading in the House and the subsequent vote, and the only non-governmental representation at the high profile inaugural reception with Prime Minister Jean Chretien held on Parliament Hill to mark the occasion.
