Black History Month
Black History Month honours the contributions and achievements of Black Canadians and provides an opportunity to showcase the past, present and future of community culture and innovations. It is a time of education, reflection and celebration.
Mississauga is one of Canada’s most culturally diverse cities and to reflect on that diversity and vibrancy this webpage has been created to spotlight talented artists, authors, musicians and more, amplifying the local voices and stories.
Learn about all the programming available in February below.
Celebrating Black Excellence Event
February 24 | 6 to 9 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Program to begin at 7 p.m.
Mississauga City Hall, Great Hall
A free evening to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Mississauga’s Black community. The celebration will involve musical guests, keynote speakers and an awards ceremony.
The Museums of Mississauga + Small Arms Inspection Building
Museum tours will be available throughout February at two locations:
Bradley Museum – Black History in Ontario
This tour explores the Black experience in Upper Canada in the 19th Century and local connections to Enslavement and the Underground Railway. Walk through the 1830’s Bradley House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities engaging visitors of all ages in Ontario’s Black History.
Benares Historic House – Cedar Park & Cherry Hill: Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History
This new tour explores the lives and experiences of Black families in the Peel region in the 19th Century and encourages visitors to examine the gaps in our historical record and sharing of local history. Walk through the WWI era Benares Historic House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities.
Unearth Uncover | February 7 to 25 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
An exhibition inspired by plaques that commemorate significant people, places and events in Black Canadian history.
Unearth Uncover is a project that was created by teachers and students from Cawthra Park Secondary School in 2021. The project was inspired by the Ontario Black History Society’s #BlackedOutHistory campaign, which calls for the immediate inclusion of Black history in the Ontario curriculum. Explore the Unearth Uncover collection of visual art and plaques created by students of Cawthra Park Secondary School, rooted in the history of the Black community’s resilience, strength and advocacy.
This exhibition is on display at the Small Arms Inspection Building, available to view during public hours.
*A modified version of the full Unearth Uncover exhibition will travel to and be showcased at select Mississauga facilities throughout the month of February.
| February 1 – 10 Mississauga Valley Community Centre Frank McKechnie Community Centre Mississauga Seniors’ Centre Erin Meadows Community Centre |
February 10 – 17 |
February 17 – 28 Meadowvale Community Centre Malton Community Centre River Grove Community Centre Courtney Park Community Centre |
Black History Month Market
February 24 | 4 to 9 p.m.
A Black History Month event hosted by The New Youth Council
Shop local Black-owned businesses, hear from community historians, and celebrate Black excellence in Mississauga. Event hosted in partnership with the Museums of Mississauga and Mississauga Recreation. Free and open to all.
Guest speakers: Leonard Paris and Channon Oyeniran
Vendors: Akachi Farms, Heroes of the World, Mia’s World Book Club with author Victoria Daley, OyES Education, ReLiv Organics, The Mississauga Soap Company, and many more!
School programs
The Black Settlers in Peel school program is available to book until June 2023. Within this program, held by the Bradley Museum, explore what we know and don’t know about the history of early Black settlers in Peel Region, and discover the experiences of people who lived in the past.
The session is offered virtually and in-person for Grades 6-12 for Social Studies credits.
Mississauga Library
Explore a variety of virtual offerings this February, with opportunities to engage in programs for all ages. Join author talks with renowned writers, instantly borrow eBooks on your computer or mobile device from our collection of Black History Month reads.
Author Talk: Zalika Reid-Benta
Toronto based award winning author
February 22 | 7 to 8 p.m.
Toronto-based writer, Zalika Reid-Benta’s story collection Frying Plantain won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Literary Fiction. Frying Plantain was also longlisted for Scotiabank Giller Prize, and was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award, and the Trillium Book Award. She received an M.F.A. in fiction from Columbia and her first novel River Mumma will be published in 2023.
Reading Lists
Looking for some recommended reading this February? Check out Mississauga Library’s fiction and non-fiction eBook reading lists for our picks of best Black Canadian authors.
Black History Month at Malton Library in partnership with Malton Neighbourhood Services
Thursday, February 2 | 6:30 pm
A special event, celebrating the Love of Literacy at the Malton Library and Community Centre in partnership Malton Neighbourhood Services. The event will include book readings, a meet and greet and a reception with Black Canadian authors.
Storytime at Malton Library
Throughout the month of February visit Malton Library for special Family Storytime events with guest readers from the Black community or to check out the Black Authors display in the library all month.
Mississauga Celebration Square
To recognize and honour local Black musicians and artists, a music playlist – Black Excellence in Sauga – has been curated to showcase the incredible diversity of musical talent in Mississauga.
The playlist has a wide range of music styles from punk-rock to hip-hop, jazz and pop, and will be in rotation all month long at the Mississauga Celebration Square ice rink.
Click the following link to view the playlist tracks on Spotify.
Sports and Shows
Raptors 905 vs. Cleveland Charge
Paramount Fine Foods Centre | February 2 | 7:30 p.m.
The Raptors 905 will dedicate their February 2 game to Black History Month with the team wearing special jerseys all month.
Africville Stories
Living Arts Centre | February 3 | 8 p.m.
Africville Stories is Joe Sealy’s new presentation that builds on his Juno award winning Africville Suite. Africville Stories will present poignant and uplifting new stories about the people and their community.
Show details | Get tickets
Cirque Kalabante – Afrique en Cirque
Living Arts Centre | February 23 | 7:30 p.m.
The Afrique en Cirque show symbolizes the strength, agility and joy of life found in African youth. A handful of daring acrobats, accompanied by their musicians, perform to the pulsating rhythm of the djembes of Guinea with their authentic and original choreography and acrobatics.
Show details | Get tickets
Community Celebrations
Reconciliation. Solidarity. Now.
With Larissa Crawford
Hosted by Sheridan College Student Union
February 16 | 1 – 2 p.m.
HMC Campus
Creativity Commons with live streaming
The event will feature Larissa Crawford, a published Indigenous and anti-racism researcher, policy advisor, and restorative circle keeper.
Her talk – “Skills to Advance Reconciliation and Solidarity” will explore how we can build our capacity to ethically and sustainably contribute to reconciliation and solidarity within and between communities.
Event details and registration
Black History Celebration
Hosted by the Malton Black Development Association
With support from the Malton Community Centre
February 24 | 6 to 8 p.m.
Malton Community Centre
Come out and help select the winners -1st, 2nd and 3rd place – of the Malton Black Development Association’s writing competition. The theme for the competition was “My Community, My Pride.”