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Black History Month

Black History Month honours the contributions and achievements of Black Canadians. It is a time of education, reflection and celebration, showcasing the past, present and future of community culture and innovations.

We spotlight talented artists, authors, musicians and amplify local voices and stories that reflect the vibrancy of Mississauga, one of Canada’s most culturally diverse cities.

Celebrating Black Excellence Event

The third annual Celebrating Black Excellence Event takes place on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Mississauga City Hall. This opportunity to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Mississauga’s Black community includes musical guests, keynote speakers and an awards ceremony for Mississauga’s 2025 Black Excellence Awards.

Nominations are now open

From January 15 until February 18, nominations are open for Mississauga’s 2025 Black Excellence Awards, presented in partnership with the Black Caucus Alliance. The awards focus on the efforts and achievements of Mississauga’s Black residents and volunteers.

Mississauga-based individuals can be nominated in one of nine categories:

Youth
Nominees must be between the ages of 15 and 24 and have volunteered for at least two consecutive years. They must act as role models for other young people and demonstrate all-around positive community involvement.

Arts and Culture
Nominees for this award are recognized for their involvement in or promotion of developing arts and culture within the community, with a combination of:

• A commitment to or focus on community-engaged art and expressions of culture in Mississauga
• Experience in art and culture for a minimum of three years
• Completion or involvement in one significant arts and culture project in the last 12 months

Business
Nominees must be currently engaged in business as an owner or entrepreneur. Ideal candidates should demonstrate a combination of the following criteria:

• Entrepreneurial spirit and success in owning and managing a business
• Significant contribution of new ideas, innovative practices, processes or inventions, or created employment opportunities
• A commitment to fairness and equality

Community Service
Nominees should possess an outstanding record of significant community involvement and service, with a strong commitment to enriching the lives of others by building meaningful collaborative relationships with the individuals and communities they serve.

Education
Nominees for this award are being recognized for exemplary contributions to the well-being of students or community members through their active involvement in education at the school, board, extracurricular activities or community.

Health Services
Nominees for this award are recognized for their involvement in the creation or promotion of methods to ensure the physical health or mental well-being of Black communities. They must be employed or studying in the field of health sciences and exhibit leadership in healthcare management administration.

Hospitality and Food Services
Nominees for this award are recognized as the best in food, drink and hospitality in African-Caribbean products and services with the following characteristics:

• Commitment to customer service and satisfaction seen in reviews and feedback from customers
• Leadership and management in hospitality operations
• Commitment to sustainable and ethical practices in the hospitality industry
• Active involvement in their local community

Sports
Nominees for this award are being recognized for their model contribution to sports at the community or national level as an athlete or official.

Lifetime Achievement Legacy
This is the highest community-based honour bestowed on an individual whose continued commitment has uplifted the lives of others.
Nominees have made significant contributions to the Black community for 15 years or more, improving the quality of life for citizens or bringing recognition to the City of Mississauga through their accomplishments.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the nominee must:

Live or work in Mississauga
• Identify as Black
• Stand as a role model for others
• Inspire volunteerism and civic engagement

Nomination process

To nominate an eligible resident for a Black Excellence Award:

• Review the award criteria and descriptions above to determine the most appropriate category
• Email BlackExcellenceAwards@mississauga.ca with all of the following information:

1. The nominee’s full name, preferred pronouns and phonetic pronunciation
2. Only one category for nomination
3. A brief description of why you are nominating the person

All details must be provided for the nomination to be accepted.

2025 Black History Month Programming

Black Excellence Playlist
Black Excellence Playlist

This Black History Month, check out the City’s “Black Excellence in Sauga” playlist. The powerful list features local Black artists the world needs to hear. It’ll be in rotation all month long at Celebration Square’s outdoor ice rink.

Black History Month Book List
Black History Month Book List

Ready to discover a new author or revisit a favourite from the past? Browse this collection of titles to celebrate Black History.

Author Talks: Ian Williams
Author Talks: Ian Williams

Ian Williams is a multiple award-winning author of seven books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. With his most recent title What I Mean to Say, Williams seeks to ignite a conversation about conversation, confronting the deterioration of civic and civil discourse and reconsidering the act of conversing as the sincere, open exchange of thoughts and feelings.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
7 to 8 p.m. | Virtual

Lecture Me! “Poetry is Not a Luxury": Resources for Survival in Black Women's Writing
Lecture Me! “Poetry is Not a Luxury": Resources for Survival in Black Women's Writing

Professor Anna Thomas from the Department of English & Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga will explore how Black women writers have turned to poetry and close reading to navigate both chronic and critical difficulties.

Close reading, a way to critically engage with writing, can attune us to ever-expanding meaning, reward re-reading and help us navigate the everyday conditions of life.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025
7 to 8:15 p.m. | Hazel McCallion Central Library and Virtual

Celebrate through music
Celebrate through music

Join us for a musical performance to celebrate Black History Month in partnership with the Chamber Music Society of Mississauga.

The Chamber Music Society of Mississauga (CMSM) has a rich 25-year history of enlivening the arts within the City of Mississauga.

Friday, February 28, 2025
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. | Malton Library

Raptors 905 Black Heritage Month Game
Raptors 905 Black Heritage Month Game

During the month of February, the Raptors 905 will be celebrating Black history by wearing themed jerseys and having an emphasized celebration during the February 7 home game.

Friday, February 7, 2025
7:30 p.m. | Paramount Fine Foods Centre

African Drumming and Storytelling
African Drumming and Storytelling

In African culture, drumming and storytelling are part of the celebration of life, especially its cycles and seasons. Presented by Drums et al., join us for an entertaining dance, hand drumming and interactive storytelling program. Drums provided.

Saturday, February 1, 2025
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Sheridan Library
2 to 3 p.m. | Courtneypark Library

Saturday, February 22, 2025
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Meadowvale Library
2 to 3 p.m. | Malton Library

Black History in Ontario at the Bradley Museum
Black History in Ontario at the Bradley Museum

Walk through the 1830s Bradley House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities engaging visitors of all ages in Ontario’s Black History. You’ll also explore the Black experience in Upper Canada in the 19th Century and local connections to Enslavement and the Underground Railway.

This tour provides information about experiences of enslavement, which may be difficult to hear.

Thursdays through Sundays, January 30 to February 28, 2025
One-hour tours starting at 12, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. | Bradley Museum

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended to guarantee a spot.

Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History at Benares Historic House
Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History at Benares Historic House

Walk through the WWI-era Benares Historic House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities. This new tour explores the lives and experiences of Black families in the Peel region in the 19th Century. It encourages visitors to examine the gaps in our historical record and sharing of local history.

Thursdays through Sundays, January 30 to February 28, 2025
One-hour tours starting at 12, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. | Benares Historic House

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended to guarantee a spot.

Lighting the clock tower
Lighting the clock tower

To recognize Black History Month, the Civic Centre clock tower will be lit black, red, yellow and green on February 1 and on all other evenings in February unless another cause is scheduled to be recognized.

Saturday, February 1, 2025
Evening | Celebration Square

Pan-African flag raising
Pan-African flag raising

Watch the raising of the Pan-African Flag at Mississauga Celebration Square (MCS) in honour of the Black History Month.

Friday, February 28, 2025
8 a.m. | Celebration Square

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