Black history month

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.

Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary

In 2024, the City of Mississauga celebrates its 50th anniversary. Over the past 50 years and longer, Black residents have played an important role in Mississauga’s history. We celebrate the Black community’s achievements and thank them for their contribution to our city.

Learn more about Mississauga’s 50th anniversary.

Celebrating Black Excellence

In recognition of The International Decade for People of African Descent as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly, the City of Mississauga in partnership with the Black Caucus Alliance, recognizes the contributions of the nine recent winners of the Black Excellence Awards, which were publicly presented at Mississauga City Hall on February 23, 2024.

Congratulations to Mississauga’s 2024 Black Excellence Award recipients!

Award recipients

James Shipp

Business

Recognized for his entrepreneurial spirit and success in Mississauga.

Johanna Grant

Arts and Culture

Recognized for her commitment to community-engaged cultural events in and around Mississauga.

Mikey Bloom

Youth

Recognized for his musical abilities and for creating the winning anthem for Mississauga’s 50^th anniversary titled ‘Mississauga’.

Triston Brookes

Sports

Recognized for his excellence in sports, coaching and motivational talks with the city’s youth.

Simone Sealy

Education

Recognition for her exemplary contributions to the well-being of Black and racialized students, families and school staff.

Sharon Johnson

Hospitality and Food Services

Recognized for her leadership and mentorship in hospitality operations.

Delilah Ofosu-Barko

Health Services

Recognized for her incredible work in the field of health and wellness.

Cst. Joy Brown

Community Services

Recognized for her exceptional volunteer community service.

Loris Thomas

Legacy

Recognized for her significant contributions to the Black community to improve the quality of life for residents by going above and beyond, often without recognition, to positively impact the people of Mississauga.

The Museums of Mississauga

Museum tours are available at two locations:

Bradley Museum – Black History in Ontario

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. At this tour, you’ll learn about the Black History of Ontario. You’ll also explore the Black experience in Upper Canada in the 19th Century and local connections to Enslavement and the Underground Railway.

Each tour is an hour long, and will run between 12 to 3 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommend to guarantee a spot.

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

Book a guided tour

Benares Historic House – Cedar Park & Cherry Hill: Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History

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.

Each tour is an hour long, and will run between 12 to 3 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommend to guarantee a spot.

Book a guided tour

Mississauga stories: Generation X Marks the Spot: Black History in Mississauga | February to December

Curator Dayo Kefentse’s Generation X Marks the Spot will be on display at Bradley Museum starting February 1 to December. The exhibition features an audio documentary that looks back at the late 1980s and reveals how young activitists with the Black Action Defense Committee (BADC) sparked change after a shooting involving a Black teen (Michael Wade Lawson) in Mississauga. It also features an interview with Ingrid Pellew-Berkley, a former Deputy Chief with Peel Regional Police, about how Michael Wade Lawson’s shooting changed policing in the city.

The project was is funded through the Museums BIPOC Community Curator Program.

Plan your visit